Sunday Morning Service: 5/17/2026 [Discipleship Lifestyle: Journey]

Devotional

Day 1: Drawn by the Father’s Line

Jesus told His disciples, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them.” Picture a fisherman patiently reeling in a catch—not by force, but with steady purpose. The Father’s Spirit tugs at hearts long before we name Him as Lord. He awakens hunger in the unborn soul, stirring questions that only grace answers. [41:23]

This is God’s kindness: He initiates what we could never finish. Salvation begins not with our decision, but His pursuit. Like Nicodemus drawn to Jesus under night’s cover, we come because He first calls.

Where do you sense the Spirit’s gentle pull today—a conversation, a longing, a quiet ache for meaning? What deadened place might He be reviving even now?

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
(John 6:44, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to show you one way He’s been drawing you this week.

Challenge: Write down three moments in your life when you felt God’s pursuit—share one with a friend today.

Day 2: Milk and Stalled Appetites

The writer of Hebrews rebukes believers stuck on spiritual milk: “By now you ought to be teachers.” Imagine infants refusing solid food, content with bottle-fed basics. Some in Ephesus treated faith like a graduation cap—once worn, never revisited. Spiritual infancy thrives on routine, not relationship. [45:54]

God designed growth. Just as a child learns to feed themselves, believers must chew Scripture, pray boldly, and serve actively. Stagnation isn’t neutral—it risks regression.

What’s your diet: repetitive rituals or transformative truth? When did you last crave “meat”—the challenging parts of God’s Word?

“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again.”
(Hebrews 5:12, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one area where you’ve settled for spiritual baby food.

Challenge: Read Hebrews 5:11–6:3. Underline one verse to discuss with a mature believer this week.

Day 3: Straining Toward What’s Ahead

Paul admits he hasn’t “arrived,” but presses on like a runner leaning into the tape. Forget past failures or successes—both distract. The disciple’s race requires forward focus: “I press on toward the goal.” [46:37]

Sanctification is active, not passive. Jesus doesn’t transform spectators. He redeems those who grip His grace and move—repenting, learning, obeying even when it costs.

What backward glance holds you hostage? What “weight” (habit, mindset, sin) do you need to drop to run freer?

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
(Philippians 3:12, NIV)

Prayer: Name one area where you’ll “press on” this week instead of coasting.

Challenge: Set a 15-minute timer today to pray about a habit you need to release.

Day 4: Alive from the Graveyard

Paul reminds the Ephesians: “You were dead in your sins.” Picture a corpse—no pulse, no hope. But God’s voice pierces death: “Live!” Mercy breathes life into dry bones, making rebels into sons. [56:55]

Resurrection isn’t a metaphor. Conversion isn’t self-improvement. It’s a grave-to-grace miracle—the same power that raised Jesus now pulses in believers.

When did you last marvel at your “aliveness” in Christ? Who needs to hear how He resurrected you?

“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.”
(Ephesians 2:4–5, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for three specific ways He’s brought you from death to life.

Challenge: Text one person your salvation story in 3 sentences before bedtime.

Day 5: Entrusting to Reliable Hands

Paul charges Timothy: “Entrust these truths to reliable people.” Disciple-making isn’t optional—it’s the overflow of a full heart. Like Tom turning down promotions to invest in others, parents in faith prioritize legacy over comfort. [01:09:15]

Maturity multiplies. What we’ve received, we give. Not just teachings, but time—walking with others through their questions and crises.

Who’s watching your faith? Who could you intentionally encourage this month?

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
(2 Timothy 2:2, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to highlight one person He wants you to disciple.

Challenge: Invite someone to study a Bible book with you—propose a date/time today.

Sermon Summary

We celebrate spiritual markers like graduations as useful signposts for progress, and we apply that same clarity to our walk with Christ. We name salvation as a decisive moment when the Spirit draws us, but we insist that the journey toward Christlikeness begins well before and continues long after that event. We call sanctification the ongoing work the Spirit performs in us to reshape our affections, habits, and character so that we increasingly reflect Jesus. We refuse to treat salvation as the finish line; instead we press on, forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what lies ahead.

We identify clear stages of growth so we can know where to invest time and energy. We describe seekers who still stand outside, infants who depend entirely on others, children who learn to form godly habits, young adults who lead themselves spiritually, and parents who make disciples and entrust truth to reliable people. We insist that growth requires both divine action and human responsibility. The Spirit transforms and guides, creating fruits like joy and patience, while we must intentionally pursue, encourage, teach, coach, and pray for those in our care.

We point to practical practices that move us forward. We call for engagement with Scripture, prayer, life groups, mentoring, and the use of resources designed to build spiritual maturity. We highlight a simple assessment that helps determine current stage and next steps, and we commit to walking with one another through those next steps. We expect multiplication: when we reach the parent stage we will not hoard growth but will invest in others so they, in turn, disciple. We end with a direct invitation to examine our hearts, take the next step we need, and enter into a rhythm of growth that honors the work God has already begun in us.

Key Takeaways

1. Sanctification begins before salvation Sanctification shows up as a long work of the Spirit that begins drawing us before we consciously accept Christ. We must recognize that God has been shaping desires and conscience even while we wandered. That awareness humbles us and motivates steady cooperation with the Spirit rather than complacency after conversion. [40:10]
2. Growth progresses through distinct stages Mapping seeker, infant, child, young adult, and parent helps us meet people where they are and plan faithful next steps. Each stage has specific marks such as dependence, habit formation, independent spiritual discipline, and responsibility to disciple. We avoid shame and aim for movement, understanding that maturity looks different in each life season. [55:18]
3. The Spirit transforms and guides us The Spirit functions both as agent and guide, producing inner change that only God can create and steering our steps toward Christlike character. We watch for fruit like joy in trial and patience in conflict as signs of his work. Our role is to cooperate, not to manufacture what only God can produce. [44:09]
4. Disciple making requires intentional responsibility Disciple making demands that we choose people, invest time, teach truth, and pray faithfully for their growth. We should not wait for perfect candidates; God places people in our proximity and calls us to be intentional. When we take responsibility, multiplication follows and the church moves from consumption to commissioning. [51:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:58] - Opening and announcements
[35:01] - Markers and graduation
[39:11] - Journey begins before conversion
[40:49] - Salvation and new birth
[42:35] - Sanctification explained
[44:42] - Growth beyond infancy
[51:16] - Role of a disciple maker
[60:24] - Stages of spiritual growth
[73:29] - Assessment and next steps
[75:34] - Prayer and commissioning

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)
"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others."

Observation questions

What does Paul mean by "forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead" in Philippians 3:13? How does this relate to the idea of spiritual growth as a journey rather than a finish line?
In the sermon, infancy in faith is described as relying entirely on others for spiritual nourishment. What specific marks distinguish an "infant" believer from a "young adult" believer? [45:54]
According to 2 Timothy 2:2, what four actions are involved in disciple-making? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on intentional responsibility?

Interpretation questions

Why does Paul use the analogy of infancy in Ephesians 4:14 to describe stagnant believers? How might complacency in spiritual growth leave someone vulnerable to being "tossed back and forth"? [44:42]
The sermon states that sanctification begins before salvation. How does this reshape our understanding of God’s work in someone’s life even before they consciously follow Christ? [40:10]
What does it mean to "entrust truth to reliable people" (2 Timothy 2:2) in practical terms? How does this create a ripple effect for multiplication in the church?

Application questions

The sermon outlines stages of spiritual growth (seeker, infant, child, young adult, parent). Where would you honestly place yourself in this progression, and what specific "next step" could you take this week? [55:18]
Reflect on a time when you experienced the Holy Spirit’s guidance in reshaping a habit or attitude. How can you intentionally cooperate with Him this month in an area where you feel stuck? [49:50]
Who is one person in your life (friend, coworker, family member) that God might be calling you to intentionally pursue, encourage, or teach? What is one practical way to start? [51:16]
The sermon warns against treating salvation as a "finish line." What rhythms or practices (e.g., prayer, Scripture engagement) have you neglected that need renewed focus to keep "pressing forward"?
If you assessed yourself as a "young adult" believer, what would it look like to transition toward being a "parent" who disciples others? What fears or obstacles might you need to address? [01:08:28]

Sermon Clips

Now we talk about that s word salvation. Right? And it's an important part. It's a marker. But what happens after that? And that's always like a question mark, I think, for a lot of believers. It's like, where am I at in process? What happens next? Well, it's this other word that we throw out that starts with an s and it's sanctification. Okay? A real big theological word for what I'm gonna be talking about today. Your journey is growing as a Christian. Okay? That's what that word means. [00:42:14] (30 seconds) #SanctificationJourney

Sanctification is the process of the Holy Spirit, right, actually working on our character and working on our heart to make us become more like Jesus in the image of him. I've got about three or four verses that speak to that, that are super important that that we need to focus on today and that we need to think about because they're gonna speak in to these stages that we go through of growth in Christ that I want to help you figure out where are you at today? [00:42:44] (30 seconds) #SpiritShapedLife

And it's just a way to always guide yourself, to do a little self evaluation, to ask where's my heart? What am I focused on? And that can be true whether we're kids sitting in this room, preteens, teenagers, adults. We can always have that check-in and ask ourselves, where's my heart? What am I focused on? What do I treasure the most? And what's guiding me? And if it's God and what He's directing you in, then you're always gonna have the right next step. [00:38:17] (31 seconds) #CheckYourHeart

We will no longer be infants as the goal, Caught up in schemes and all the other things that Satan wants to do to try to distract us and pull us away from him. Growth is expected. That verse speaks to me. You should no longer be infants. And yet there are some of us that sit in this room each and every week, and that's the extent of our Christian growth. We come here on Sunday. We sit here in this room. We sing a few songs and we listen to some scripture and we get up and we go. And that's the extent of our growth in Christ. [00:45:29] (39 seconds) #GrowBeyondSunday

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Sunday Morning Service: 5/17/2026 [Discipleship Lifestyle: Journey]

Devotional

Day 1: Drawn by the Father’s Line

Day 2: Milk and Stalled Appetites

Day 3: Straining Toward What’s Ahead

Day 4: Alive from the Graveyard

Day 5: Entrusting to Reliable Hands

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Sunday Morning Service: 5/17/2026 [Discipleship Lifestyle: Journey]

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