Transformative Discipleship: Living Out Christ's Mission

Devotional

Day 1: The Church as a Mission Delivery Device

A church is not a social club or a service organization, but exists to deliver on the mission Jesus gave: to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything He commanded. This mission is not something we invent, but something we receive from Jesus Himself, who modeled a life fully oriented around loving God and neighbor. Our calling is to learn from Him, to apprentice ourselves to His way, and to help others do the same, so that together we can experience and share the abundant life He offers. [03:10]

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Reflection: In what specific way can you participate in Jesus’ mission this week—whether by reaching out to someone new, sharing your faith story, or serving someone in need?

Day 2: Authentic Following of Jesus vs. Mere Religion

Mere religion can make us more self-righteous, but authentic following of Jesus leads to abundant life that overflows to others. Self-righteousness is a human problem, not just a religious one, and it can manifest in many ways—through pride in our actions, beliefs, or even our causes. Instead, Jesus calls us to a life that is not about checking boxes or comparing ourselves to others, but about being transformed by His love and grace, becoming people who genuinely reflect His character in the world. [07:40]

Luke 18:9-14 (ESV)
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Reflection: Where do you notice self-righteousness creeping into your heart or actions, and how can you intentionally choose humility and authentic love instead today?

Day 3: Divine Power and Promises Fuel Godly Living

Jesus’ divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life, and God’s great and precious promises enable us to participate in the divine nature, escaping the corruption of the world and our own evil desires. This means that no matter our circumstances or struggles, there is real power available to us through Christ to live abundantly, to be transformed, and to become more like Him. By anchoring ourselves in God’s promises, we are invited into the very life of God, sharing in His joy and love both now and forever. [16:06]

2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV)
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Reflection: What is one promise of God you need to cling to this week, and how can you let it shape your thoughts and actions each day?

Day 4: The Character Map of Authentic Followers of Jesus

Authentic followers of Jesus are called to grow in a series of virtues: faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. These are not items to check off a list, but qualities to be cultivated in partnership with the Holy Spirit, as we fix our eyes on Jesus and allow His life to shape ours. Each of us is invited to consider which of these virtues God is highlighting for us to grow in right now, so that we might become more fully formed, authentic followers of Christ. [33:12]

2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV)
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

Reflection: Which one of these virtues is the Spirit inviting you to focus on this season, and what is one practical step you can take to cultivate it?

Day 5: The Power of Community and Reconciliation

A distinctive mark of the church is not the absence of conflict or hurt, but the commitment to pursue reconciliation, forgiveness, and mutual love as family. In a community full of imperfect people, we will inevitably annoy or wound each other, but what sets us apart is our willingness to repair, heal, and love one another deeply. This kind of brotherly and self-giving love is at the heart of Jesus’ movement, and it is through these relationships that the world will know we are His disciples. [32:02]

John 13:34-35 (ESV)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Reflection: Is there someone in your church community with whom you need to reconcile or have a healing conversation? What step can you take today to pursue peace and mutual affection?

Sermon Summary

We gather as a community not to simply check a box or fulfill a social obligation, but to participate in a mission that Jesus himself has given us: to make disciples, to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is not a mission we invent or control; it is a calling we receive. The church is not a social club or a service organization, but a mission delivery device—an instrument through which God’s purposes are carried out in the world. Our vision is to be force multipliers for kingdom good, connecting more people to God and each other, developing authentic followers of Jesus, and engaging our world for good.

Authentic discipleship is not about mere religion or self-righteousness. In fact, religion without transformation can make us more self-righteous and toxic, both to ourselves and to others. Self-righteousness is a universal human problem, not just a religious one. We all have ways of propping ourselves up, whether through our actions, our causes, or our lifestyles. But Jesus calls us to something deeper: a life that overflows with his abundant love, grace, and power.

The good news is that Jesus, in his excellence and glory, calls us not because of our own goodness, but because of his. His divine power gives us everything we need for a godly life, no matter our circumstances. We are invited to participate in the divine nature, to escape the patterns of this world and the corruption of our own desires, and to live lives marked by faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love.

This journey is not a checklist to complete, but a continual process of growth and transformation. We become like what we fix our hearts and minds on, and as we fix our eyes on Jesus, we are shaped into his likeness. The promises of God are the fuel for this transformation—promises that invite us to trust, to hope, and to participate in God’s eternal life starting now. Each of us is invited to examine which aspect of this character map the Spirit is prompting us to grow in, and to partner with God in cultivating authentic, abundant life.

Key Takeaways

1. Mere religion can actually be spiritually dangerous, fostering self-righteousness rather than transformation. Authentic discipleship is not about checking boxes or comparing ourselves to others, but about being genuinely changed by Jesus’ love and power. The world does not need more self-righteousness; it needs people who overflow with the life of Christ. [07:26]
2. Jesus calls us to himself not because of our own excellence, but because of his. Our worthiness is not the basis for God’s pursuit; it is his character—his love, kindness, and faithfulness—that draws us in. This frees us from striving for approval and invites us to rest in his grace. [14:07]
3. The divine power of Jesus is available to us in every circumstance, enabling us to live godly, abundant lives even in the midst of pain, struggle, or uncertainty. We are not left to our own resources; God’s power is present and sufficient for whatever we face. [16:06]
4. The promises of God are not just nice words, but the means by which we participate in the divine nature. Meditating on and trusting in these promises lifts us out of the patterns of this world and shapes us into authentic followers of Jesus. We are invited to anchor our lives in these promises, allowing them to transform us from the inside out. [16:06]
5. Authentic Christian character is a dynamic process, not a static checklist. Faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love are virtues to be continually cultivated. The Spirit invites us to examine which of these areas needs attention in our lives, and to partner with God in becoming more like Jesus for the sake of others and the world. [33:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - The Church as a Mission Delivery Device
[03:00] - Jesus’ Mission and the Problem We Face
[05:37] - The Danger of Mere Religion and Self-Righteousness
[07:26] - Self-Righteousness: A Human Problem
[10:26] - The Power of Excellent Character
[13:00] - The Excellence and Pursuit of Jesus
[14:07] - God’s Divine Power Fuels Godly Life
[16:06] - Participating in the Divine Nature
[19:00] - The World, the Flesh, and the Devil
[22:30] - The Transforming Power of God’s Promises
[25:00] - Peter’s Character Map for Authentic Followers
[29:37] - The Role of Perseverance
[32:02] - Mutual Affection and Agape Love
[33:12] - Examining and Cultivating Christlike Character
[35:37] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Peter 1:3-9 (ESV) — 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) — 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Mark 12:28-31 (ESV) — 28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Observation Questions

According to 2 Peter 1:3-4, what has God given us, and for what purpose?
In the sermon, what is described as the difference between “mere religion” and “authentic discipleship”? [[05:37]]
What are the qualities or virtues Peter lists that should be growing in the life of a follower of Jesus? [[16:06]]
What mission did Jesus give to his followers in Matthew 28:18-20?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that “mere religion can make you more self-righteous” and even toxic. Why might religious activity without transformation be spiritually dangerous? [[05:37]]
The passage in 2 Peter says we are invited to “participate in the divine nature.” What does it mean to participate in the divine nature, and how does this relate to escaping the “corruption in the world”? [[16:06]]
The sermon describes Jesus as calling us not because of our own excellence, but because of his. How does this understanding change the way someone might approach their relationship with God? [[14:07]]
Peter’s list of virtues (faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love) is described as a process, not a checklist. Why is it important to see Christian character as a continual process of growth? [[33:12]]

Application Questions

The sermon warns that “just showing up at church can be one of the most toxic things for your soul if you’re just checking a box.” Have you ever found yourself going through the motions spiritually? What would it look like for you to move from “checking boxes” to seeking real transformation? [[05:37]]
The message says, “Jesus calls us to himself not because we’re so great, but because he is.” Is there an area of your life where you feel you have to earn God’s approval? How might you rest more in his grace this week? [[14:07]]
Peter says God’s “divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life.” Is there a current struggle or circumstance where you need to rely on God’s power instead of your own strength? What would it look like to ask for his help? [[16:06]]
The sermon encourages us to “anchor our lives in God’s promises.” Is there a specific promise of God that you need to hold onto right now? How can you remind yourself of it daily? [[16:06]]
Looking at Peter’s character map (faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, love), which one stands out as an area where you sense the Spirit inviting you to grow? What is one practical step you could take this week to cultivate that virtue? [[33:12]]
The sermon says, “We become like what we fix our hearts and minds on.” What are you currently fixing your attention on most? How might you intentionally fix your eyes on Jesus this week? [[16:06]]
The church is described as a “mission delivery device,” not a social club. How can you participate in the mission of making disciples and loving your neighbor in your everyday life? Is there a specific person or opportunity God is putting on your heart? [[01:10]]

Sermon Clips

Scripture shows, and kind of all church history shows, and that is this, that mere religion could just make you more self -righteous. So don't settle for mere religion. Mere religion can make you more self -righteous. So don't settle for mere religion. Like, actually, just showing up at church can be one of the most toxic things for your souls if you're like, look how good I am. I'm just showing up at church. I'm checking this box. Right? Now here's what I want to make sure you're clear on. Self -righteousness is not just a religious problem. It's a human problem. Humans want to make us have a sense that I'm right. I'm doing things the right way. [00:06:43] (36 seconds) #beyondReligionAuthenticity

``He is the one who invented love. He introduced grace into the world. He is the chain breaker, the liberator, the bondage breaker. He breaks addictions. He heals bodies. He heals marriages. He heals kids and families. He turns whole corrupt systems upside down. He is the liberator. He is the freedom bringer. He is the one who is king of kings, lord of lords. He can step into any mess and bring order out of the chaos. He is the redeemer, the sustainer. He is love incarnate. He calls all people lovingly and fiercely to leave sin behind, to leave death behind, to no longer be people tangled up in sin and death and lostness. Give up your ambivalence about spiritual things, to leave behind broken things, to no longer lie, cheat, steal, don't grasp anymore, to be people who live joyfully in God's light. He pursues and calls people. Come in, come in, come in. Come all the way into the light. Share in the joy of the Lord. [00:11:57] (56 seconds) #graceOverSelfRighteousness

God's pursuit of you has nothing to do with how good you are. It has everything to do with how great he is and particularly how loving, kind, gracious, persistent Jesus himself is. And so Peter here gives us a guideline. So the fuel for godliness, for a .k .a. the life that Jesus had overflowing with abundance and generosity and love. This is the fuel for godliness. First off, Jesus' glory and excellence, not ours, is why he calls us to himself. That's why it's not about self -righteousness because it's not about how great you are. Self -righteousness is, look how good I am. Of course God loves me. I'm awesome. Versus, look how good God is. So of course he loves me because that's what he does. His excellence, his love, his character is why he pursues us, not ours. [00:13:32] (44 seconds) #divinePowerForAbundance

The only way you get perseverance is by persevering. It's like a muscle. You just have to keep building it. And some of you are here today and you are on the struggle bus and you're just trying to like, hang on, hang on, hang on. I'm here to tell you, the Lord has not forgotten about you. The Lord's not forgotten about you. The Lord's not forgotten about you. One step at a time, he's walking with you. He has, his divine power is available for you today to persevere. Just take the next step today. And we'll deal with tomorrow when that comes. But his promises and his power are available to build in you perseverance. That is the mark of an authentic follower of Jesus. [00:30:15] (43 seconds) #authenticLifeNotReligion

Jesus said, the world's going to know you're my disciples by how you love one another. Now, here's the thing. We're a church. A church is a community. You know what a community is full of? People. You know what people do? Annoy each other. People annoy each other. They hurt each other. We sin against each other. What's going to make us different as a church is not that we don't annoy each other or sin against each other. What's going to make us different as a church is we reconcile, forgive, repair, heal, love. [00:31:28] (25 seconds) #fixingEyesOnJesus

So there's this Philadelphia, this familial love, brotherly love, and then there's this agape. So this agape word is funny because here's the thing. It's almost nowhere else in the ancient Greek world. Like it's a word that no one hardly ever used. So Christians said, perfect. There's a word that no one uses. We're going to take that word and we're going to define it however we want to. And so they took this word that no one used. They put it at the center of this movement that has changed the world. Sacrificial, self -giving love. That's what that means. No one else knew it. No one else had a definition for it. Here's agape. Here's what this means. It means Jesus. That's what that means. Agape is exactly what Jesus has done. Agape is who Jesus is. He is this divine, self -giving love. [00:32:33] (40 seconds)

Mere religion can lead to just more self -righteousness, so don't settle for mere religion. Instead, authentic followers of Jesus overflow with abundant life for them and others. So pursue that life with Jesus. Coming to church can be one of the most toxic things for your soul. Because if you stop at church, you stop at religion, and don't ever get to Jesus, you just become more self -righteous rather than being more generous, more holy, more whole as a Jesus follower. [00:34:09] (24 seconds)

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