Living with Intention: Discipleship Through Love and Compassion
Summary
Living with intention is a call to align our daily lives with the mission and example of Jesus. It's about creating space for the Holy Spirit to work in and through us, even amidst the chaos and challenges of life. This week, many of us have faced difficulties, yet we are reminded to fix our eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. This focus allows us to run our race with passion and determination, letting go of the wounds and sins that entangle us.
Jesus exemplified intentionality in His ministry, moving with compassion and seeing people through the eyes of the Father. He didn't just make converts; He made disciples, inviting them into a relationship that transformed their lives. This is our mission too—to make disciples who follow Jesus and replicate His life and teachings. It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and forget this mission, but the call remains unchanged.
Intentionality is crucial in parenting and discipling others. It requires a vision for who people are meant to be, not just what they will do. We must see beyond their current state to their God-given potential. This involves engaging in everyday moments, whether in joy or pain, and using them as opportunities to teach and guide. Jesus modeled this by distinguishing between crowds and disciples, investing deeply in those He called to follow Him.
Our motivation in life should be love, not fear. Fear can hinder us from seeing and seizing opportunities to disciple others. We must chillax and trust the Holy Spirit to guide us, knowing that we don't have to have all the answers. Discipleship is not about perfection but about being real and allowing God to work through our imperfections. It's about living life with gospel intentionality, showing and telling others what worship of Jesus looks like in everyday life.
Ultimately, the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God's glory as we partner with Him in this mission. We are called to be representatives of Jesus, living with intention and allowing His love and goodness to flow through us to others.
Key Takeaways:
- Living with Intention: Aligning our lives with Jesus' mission requires intentionality. We must create space for the Holy Spirit to work, even amidst life's chaos. By fixing our eyes on Jesus, we can run our race with passion and determination, letting go of the wounds and sins that entangle us. [01:35]
- Compassionate Discipleship: Jesus moved with compassion, seeing people through the eyes of the Father. Our mission is to make disciples who follow Jesus and replicate His life and teachings. This requires seeing beyond people's current state to their God-given potential. [12:14]
- Intentional Parenting and Discipleship: Parenting and discipling others require a vision for who people are meant to be. We must engage in everyday moments, using them as opportunities to teach and guide. Jesus modeled this by investing deeply in those He called to follow Him. [16:45]
- Motivation of Love, Not Fear: Our motivation should be love, not fear. Fear can hinder us from seeing and seizing opportunities to disciple others. We must trust the Holy Spirit to guide us, knowing that we don't have to have all the answers. [35:52]
- Partnering with God: The earth will be filled with the knowledge of God's glory as we partner with Him in this mission. We are called to be representatives of Jesus, living with intention and allowing His love and goodness to flow through us to others. [26:51]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [00:44] - Encountering Jesus in Silence
- [01:35] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
- [03:02] - The Life of a Disciple
- [03:52] - Jesus' Intentional Ministry
- [05:34] - Making Disciples, Not Converts
- [07:05] - Jesus and the Woman at the Well
- [08:19] - The Harvest is Ready
- [10:07] - Living as a River, Not a Reservoir
- [11:35] - Compassion and Miracles
- [12:52] - Intentionality in Parenting
- [16:45] - Vision for Discipleship
- [19:19] - Discipleship Beyond Programs
- [22:29] - Living with Margin
- [26:51] - Partnering with God in His Mission
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living with Intention
Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 12:1-2
2. Matthew 4:19
3. John 4:34-35
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Hebrews 12:1-2, what are we encouraged to do in order to run our race with passion and determination? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on fixing our eyes on Jesus? [01:35]
2. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus calls His disciples to follow Him and promises to teach them to fish for people. How does this passage illustrate the concept of intentional discipleship mentioned in the sermon? [06:14]
3. John 4:34-35 describes Jesus’ nourishment coming from doing the will of God. How does this passage connect to the sermon’s message about finding joy and purpose in partnering with God’s mission? [07:05]
4. The sermon mentions Jesus’ compassion as a driving force for His actions. How is this demonstrated in the story of Jesus and the woman at the well? [07:05]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "fixing our eyes on Jesus" in Hebrews 12:1-2 help believers navigate the chaos and challenges of life? [01:35]
2. What does it mean to "fish for people" in the context of Matthew 4:19, and how can this be applied to modern-day discipleship? [06:14]
3. In what ways does Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:34-35) challenge cultural norms and demonstrate intentionality in ministry? [07:05]
4. The sermon emphasizes living with gospel intentionality. How does this align with the idea of being continually sent disciple-makers as described in the sermon? [23:32]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your past week. Were there moments when you felt overwhelmed by chaos? How can you practice fixing your eyes on Jesus in similar situations moving forward? [01:35]
2. Identify one area in your life where you can create more space for the Holy Spirit to work. What practical steps can you take to make this happen? [00:44]
3. Think of someone in your life who might benefit from intentional discipleship. How can you begin to build a relationship with them that reflects Jesus’ example of compassion and intentionality? [12:14]
4. The sermon suggests that our motivation should be love, not fear. Is there a specific fear that holds you back from engaging in discipleship? How can you address this fear with God’s help? [35:52]
5. Consider your role as a parent, mentor, or friend. How can you apply the principles of intentional parenting and discipleship to help others see their God-given potential? [16:45]
6. The sermon encourages living with margin to allow for divine encounters. What is one practical way you can incorporate margin into your daily routine to be more open to God’s leading? [22:29]
7. Reflect on a recent interaction where you felt led to share your faith. How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time to live with more gospel intentionality? [23:32]
Devotional
Day 1: Aligning Life with Jesus' Mission
Living with intention means aligning our lives with the mission and example of Jesus. This involves creating space for the Holy Spirit to work in and through us, even amidst life's chaos. By fixing our eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him, we can run our race with passion and determination, letting go of the wounds and sins that entangle us. This focus allows us to live purposefully, ensuring that our actions and decisions reflect our commitment to following Jesus. [01:35]
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you can create more space for the Holy Spirit to work? How can you intentionally align this area with Jesus' mission today?
Day 2: Seeing Potential Through Compassionate Discipleship
Jesus exemplified intentionality in His ministry by moving with compassion and seeing people through the eyes of the Father. He didn't just make converts; He made disciples, inviting them into a relationship that transformed their lives. Our mission is to make disciples who follow Jesus and replicate His life and teachings. This requires seeing beyond people's current state to their God-given potential, recognizing that everyone has a unique role in God's kingdom. [12:14]
Matthew 9:36-37 (ESV): "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.'"
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who may feel overlooked or undervalued. How can you intentionally see and encourage their God-given potential today?
Day 3: Visionary Parenting and Discipleship
Intentionality is crucial in parenting and discipling others. It requires a vision for who people are meant to be, not just what they will do. We must engage in everyday moments, whether in joy or pain, and use them as opportunities to teach and guide. Jesus modeled this by distinguishing between crowds and disciples, investing deeply in those He called to follow Him. This approach helps us nurture others towards their full potential in Christ. [16:45]
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Reflection: In what ways can you be more intentional in your interactions with those you are discipling or parenting? How can you use a specific everyday moment today to teach and guide them?
Day 4: Motivated by Love, Not Fear
Our motivation in life should be love, not fear. Fear can hinder us from seeing and seizing opportunities to disciple others. We must chillax and trust the Holy Spirit to guide us, knowing that we don't have to have all the answers. Discipleship is not about perfection but about being real and allowing God to work through our imperfections. It's about living life with gospel intentionality, showing and telling others what worship of Jesus looks like in everyday life. [35:52]
1 John 4:18 (ESV): "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."
Reflection: Identify a fear that is holding you back from discipling others. How can you replace this fear with love and take a step of faith today?
Day 5: Partnering with God in His Mission
Ultimately, the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God's glory as we partner with Him in this mission. We are called to be representatives of Jesus, living with intention and allowing His love and goodness to flow through us to others. This partnership with God is a privilege and a responsibility, as we work to spread His love and truth in the world. [26:51]
Habakkuk 2:14 (ESV): "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
Reflection: How can you intentionally partner with God in His mission today? What is one specific action you can take to represent Jesus to those around you?
Quotes
1) "Are we living with intention? Are we leaving some space for the Holy Spirit to work? Or are we just going about the day, about our business, to accomplish what's on our list to do? How many of you had a great week? How many of you had a stinky week? How many of you, it was rough, but you persevered through it and all that, right? Okay. Yeah, I like when somebody asks how I'm doing. You know, it's just like I'm good and challenged, right? So, you know, because I am. And I know, like, this week, I don't know, it was tough sometimes. And just sometimes it felt like the hits kept coming." [00:00] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "We have this commission, this command, this thing that we're supposed to be doing and following. He didn't say go and make churches just to make churches. He didn't say go and make converts. He said go and make disciples, those that will follow me, that they will pattern their life, their thinking, their actions, their way of life after me, and then they will go and do the same thing. That all of us are going, we're making copies of the original. And it's easy for us to get caught up in life and forget that we have this mission." [05:34] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God who sent me and from finishing his work. You know the saying. Four months between planting and harvest. But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. Everybody just look around you. Look around you. Look it out there, right? Or if you won't, because you don't like being told what to do, which I totally understand. I totally get it. Just picture it though, right? Like, wake up and look around, he says. Wake up and look around. Wake up and look around, he says, right? The fields are already ripe for harvest." [08:19] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Parenting requires intentionality. It does. It requires intentionality, whether we do it or not, right? I think we try, like I think we, to the best of our ability. Listen. There is no perfect parent. Except for these two right here. I want to be clear right now. These two, right? And they'd be the first to tell you. They weren't perfect parents. We weren't perfect parents. And you know, we're, we're all trying. Like we're, we're raised and we're raised by people that do the best that they know how we go. And then we try to take that. We try to improve on it. We do the best. And we make a whole bunch of other mistakes, right? It just is what it is. It's the grace of God, though, working in all of that, even in our imperfection." [13:44] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "When you're mothering and fathering, and I would say the same applies, it's very similar to discipling others. That you're coming to God. You're coming alongside as a mother and a father and that you are, you catch a vision for who they are. God, show me who this person is. Show me beyond the pain and the hurt, whatever it is, to who they've really made, that you've made them to be. The reality is, oftentimes, people are not acting as who God's made them to be. They're acting from the place of pain and hurt and not having a vision. And we get the privilege of coming alongside and going, this is who you really are." [16:45] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "You don't have to be perfect and have it all together to come to Jesus. And you don't have to be perfect and have it all together to begin the process of leading others to Jesus and discipling them. Because if that's what you're waiting for, you'll never get to it. Honestly, I think there's something incredible about leading people when you're in your own messes that demonstrates hope to them. That even in the midst of my... My messes and my imperfections still, that God's still working in me. I think it actually gives hope to others that they can follow Jesus too." [27:52] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "So if we were to live with the opposite, there's people to see, there's places to go, and as a result, there'll be things to do. And he's able to supernaturally increase our time, right? And that we still get the things done. But I think there's something about living with margin in our life that's so critical. Because it's in the margin. It's in the margin that we've left time and space for the waiting on the Lord, right? It's the still, silent, you know, that's what Dave and Sherry were talking about, like, Thursday night. It's like this leaving place, and like, living from that place again, that we forget. It doesn't even have to be a long time. Honestly, a minute with Him, just taking a minute to find His eyes, can reset us in an instant." [22:29] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "And so, Jesus was intentional. Think about this. Jesus could distinguish between crowds and disciples. He took the disciples with Him wherever He went. He got them alone to teach them. He demonstrated to them. He sent them. He corrected them. He gave them second chances. He didn't worry about what others thought. How many of you know that other people can be critical of those you are raising? I don't know if you've experienced that before, but you're doing the best you can to partner with God to parent your children. And you know them. You know their heart. You know the pain and the hurt that they've experienced. You're trying to guide them and navigate them." [17:46] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9) "And so, each person is different, but we're looking for the moments. Do you realize, like, the moments happen naturally? I loved how Lisa and Chelsea were talking about that. That our teachers back there, they have a plan, they have a lesson, but they're looking for the moments because there are these God moments all the time. And when we're leading with intentionality, when we're serving people with intentionality, we find the moments, the teachable moments. And it's the moments to speak into their lives. We're utilizing those. And those moments are the wins and celebration, but they're also the hurt, loss, and disappointments." [17:46] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10) "And so when we meet and we interact with people, what are our intentions when we meet people? Like, so first of all, when we're out in everyday life. We're at the job, we're at the store, whatever. Like, are we living with intention? Are we leaving some space for the Holy Spirit to work? Or are we just going about the day, about our business, to accomplish what's on our list to do? I mean, if I'm honest, right? Like, I've got things to do, places to go, people to see. Say that again, though. I have things to do, places to go, people to see. Maybe I have people to see, places to go. And as a result, there will be things to do." [21:36] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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