Navigating Discipleship in a Digital Age

Devotional

Day 1: Abiding in the Word Amidst Digital Noise

In a world overflowing with digital distractions, it is crucial to intentionally make our home in the teachings of Jesus. Abiding in God's Word means finding comfort and truth in His teachings, allowing them to guide our thoughts and actions. This requires a conscious effort to prioritize time with God over the endless stream of digital content vying for our attention. By immersing ourselves in Scripture, we can anchor our lives in the unchanging truth of the Gospel, which offers freedom and clarity in a culture often characterized by confusion and moral relativism. [47:46]

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to ensure that God's Word is the primary influence in your life, rather than the digital content you consume?

Day 2: Holding Fast to Absolute Truth

In a society where moral relativism is prevalent, it is essential to hold fast to the absolute truth found in Jesus' teachings. The truth of God's Word is not just a set of guidelines but a source of freedom that liberates us from the bondage of sin and deception. As disciples, we are called to stand firm in this truth, allowing it to shape our worldview and inform our decisions. By doing so, we can navigate the complexities of the digital age with discernment and integrity, resisting the temptation to conform to the shifting standards of the world. [01:01:51]

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you tempted to compromise on the truth of the Gospel? How can you reaffirm your commitment to living by God's absolute truth today?

Day 3: The Depth of Real-Life Relationships

While technology offers numerous ways to connect, it can never replace the depth and authenticity of face-to-face relationships. True discipleship involves life-to-life impartation, where spiritual gifts and wisdom are transferred through genuine interactions. Digital platforms, though convenient, often create a false sense of community that lacks the richness of real-life connections. As followers of Christ, we are encouraged to prioritize meaningful relationships that foster spiritual growth and accountability, recognizing that these cannot be fully realized through digital means alone. [01:23:00]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life can you reach out to today for a face-to-face conversation that encourages spiritual growth and accountability?

Day 4: Cultivating Habits of Wisdom

In the digital age, it is vital to develop habits of wisdom that guide our use of technology. This involves setting boundaries on screen time, being mindful of the content we consume, and prioritizing real-life interactions. Our time is a valuable resource, and we are called to use it in ways that glorify God and build His kingdom. By intentionally managing our digital consumption, we can ensure that technology serves us rather than enslaves us, allowing us to live purposefully and with discernment. [01:09:31]

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to set healthy boundaries on your technology use, ensuring it aligns with your values and priorities?

Day 5: Embracing Our Identity in Christ

In a world where technology often seeks to define us, it is crucial to remember that we are not just products of algorithms but human beings created in the image of God. We must resist the dehumanization that technology can bring and instead live out our faith authentically. By embracing our identity in Christ, we can reject the false narratives that technology may impose and live in the freedom and purpose that God has designed for us. This involves a conscious effort to let our faith shape our identity, rather than allowing technology to dictate who we are. [01:13:41]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively embrace your identity in Christ today, resisting the temptation to let technology define your worth and purpose?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound impact of technology on our spiritual lives and how we can navigate this digital age as disciples of Jesus. We began by acknowledging the rapid technological advancements that have transformed our world, drawing parallels to historical innovations like the printing press, which revolutionized access to the Word of God. While technology itself is not inherently evil, it requires wisdom and discernment to ensure it does not replace our connection with God or become an idol in our lives.

We delved into the concept of discipleship in a digital age, emphasizing the importance of abiding in God's Word. Jesus calls us to make His teachings our home, our place of comfort and truth. In a world saturated with digital content, we must be intentional about where we direct our attention and how we spend our time. The truth of God's Word is absolute, and it is through knowing this truth that we find freedom.

We also discussed the dangers of allowing technology to create a false sense of connection and community. While digital platforms offer numerous ways to connect, they can never replace the depth and authenticity of face-to-face relationships. True discipleship involves impartation, a life-to-life transfer of spiritual gifts and wisdom, which cannot be fully realized through digital means alone.

As we navigate this digital age, we must develop habits of wisdom, such as setting boundaries on our screen time, being mindful of the content we consume, and prioritizing real-life interactions. We are called to reject the dehumanization that technology can bring and to remember that we are not just products of algorithms but human beings created in the image of God.

Ultimately, our goal is to be disciples who are free in Christ, not bound by the distractions and deceptions of the digital world. By abiding in His Word and living out our faith in tangible ways, we can be effective witnesses for His kingdom in this generation.

Key Takeaways

1. life relationships. True discipleship involves life-to-life impartation, which cannot be fully realized through digital means. [01:23:00]
4. Developing Habits of Wisdom: We must be intentional about how we use technology, setting boundaries and prioritizing real-life interactions. Our time is valuable, and we should use it to glorify God and build His kingdom.

5. Rejecting Dehumanization: We are not just products of algorithms; we are human beings created in God's image. We must resist the temptation to let technology define us and instead live out our faith authentically.

** [83:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:22] - Praise and Worship
[17:47] - Announcements and Events
[31:16] - Trunk or Treat Planning
[32:12] - Midweek and Outreach Plans
[32:57] - Deep Dive Bible Study
[33:46] - Tithes and Offerings
[36:38] - Church Planting Vision
[40:04] - Reflections on Discipleship
[46:59] - Technology and the Church
[47:46] - Abiding in God's Word
[60:24] - Habits of Wisdom
[69:31] - The Value of Time
[83:00] - Analog vs. Digital Discipleship
[96:04] - Communion and Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

1. "It's not about one individual person. It's not about a preacher or a teacher individually. It's about we as the people of God. And as the body of Christ coming together for His purposes. And we want to receive the Lord's tithes and offerings this morning as we invite our ushers to come forward. We're going to do that together as we provide for all the needs of His house. I want to encourage you. Again, no one individual is able to do all of what we need. No one individual is able to pay all of our bills. But as we come together, as we follow the leadership and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can do something. We can do something incredible for the kingdom." [33:46] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The theme of the conference was discipleship in a digital age. And there was some incredible things. Some incredible messages that were preached. I'm not trying to re-preach other people's sermons. But I do want to kind of share with the congregation the heartbeat of what I took away from the conference and what I believe is important for us in this generation that we're living in. As we think about the times that we're living in, you know, sometimes we can look back on previous times with some sentimentality. Oh, how we could go back to the days of the great revival eras in United States, in England. You know, there was great moves of God in the past." [40:04] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "God did not call us to those times. You have been born in this generation. You and I, we live in this time and in this place. And God has called us to bring His kingdom to our time. And to be fruitful, to be effective with His kingdom, with His message, with His gospel in 2024. And in Virginia Beach, Virginia. So our job is as believers of Jesus, as followers and disciples of Jesus, our job is to take what God has done in our lives and to express His gospel message to this current world. That is so important for us to do." [42:34] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We are living in a digital age. And we as a church, how are we supposed to react to this? How are we supposed to handle this? The power of technology is something that many Christians have not considered nearly enough. Here in this digital age we have focused often exclusively on the content that our TVs, computers and smartphones deliver to us. Rather than from the form by which that content is delivered. So I want to encourage you this morning. I want to speak about discipleship in a digital age. And let's go back to the Word of God. Where we hear from Jesus." [46:59] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him. If you abide in my word. You are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth. And the truth shall make you free. Verse 36 then. Says therefore if the Son makes you free. You shall be free indeed. Let's pray. Lord we come. This morning by the blood and in the name of the most holy God. We thank you for your spirit and your grace. Thank you for salvation. God I pray. Give your people wisdom in these difficult times. Help us to navigate this changing world God." [47:46] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "We are living in strange times. We are going through. The greatest amount of technological change that the human race has ever known. The last 500 years. Starting with the invention of the printing press by Johann Gutenberg. In Germany. That was a technological innovation that changed the world. How many know that? With the invention of. The ability to spread mass amount of information. With the ability of people to read the word of God for themselves. That technology of printing and specifically printing Bibles. The ability to put the word of God into people's hands. It transformed the entire Western world." [49:04] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Technology is not evil in itself. Inventions and advancements by themselves are not evil. But we have to be aware and use wisdom with how these technologies affect our lives. We can see this at work in the Bible. We can turn to the book of Genesis chapter 11. And read about a man who came up with a technological advancement. His name is Nimrod. Anybody heard the name Nimrod before? He according to history was a contemporary in the time of Abraham. They would have lived around the same time. And they offer two alternative and two contrasting ways of life." [51:36] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Innovation is going to happen. Technology is going to advance. And we have to learn with wisdom how to deal with these things. We don't want to become those luddites. Those people who are stuck in the past. There were at the time someone invented the sundial in ancient Rome. Everybody seen a sundial? Pretty cool little invention. When they invented that there were some ancient Romans. Who resisted the novelty. And cursed it. Cursed the sundial. And the man who first discovered the hours. They said we don't like this thing." [53:58] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The most valuable asset you have in this life is your time. Your time. As I was silent for the last few seconds, do you realize we're not getting those seconds back? Every moment you spend, you're not getting it back. How are you spending your time? How are you spending your attention? You know, it breaks my heart to see parents, their children are being raised by devices. Being raised by YouTube kids. Being raised by TikTok. And the attention span of children these days, you know, when they're seeing these TikTok shorts, the 60 seconds or less, and you either got to make me laugh or make me cry or I'm moving on." [01:09:31] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "The only way that that process of discipleship works, it's an analog process, not a digital process. Don't, don't be deceived by the water of technology that we're swimming in. We can serve Jesus if we're intentional about what we abide in. Let's bow our heads and close our eyes for just a moment this morning. God is so faithful, and God is so good. Jesus is an analog Savior. And what I mean by that is He did not send down a projection of Himself. He did not send His message in the clouds. The Bible says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." [01:26:36] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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