Transformative Faith: Embracing Metanoia and Discipleship
Summary
In my sermon today, I began by painting a picture of a group of old friends reflecting on their lives and the impact of their faith. This story set the stage for a deeper exploration of how our quiet acts of kindness and living by faith can have a profound impact on others, even when we are unaware of it. I then connected this narrative to the concept of metanoia, which we discussed last week. Metanoia, often translated as repentance, is about a paradigm shift from shame and guilt to being welcomed home by God. It's a call to align ourselves with God's will and to point others to Jesus Christ.
I emphasized that our heart's desire at Kingsford Church of Christ is for everyone to know Christ and make Him known through our words and actions. We are guided by New Testament practices, particularly the role of elders, deacons, ministry leaders, and pastors in equipping everyone to draw from the deep well of life found in Jesus. I reminded us that we are all living stones being built into God's spiritual temple and that we are all holy priests through Jesus Christ, offering spiritual sacrifices that please God.
I then spoke about the gifts that Jesus gave to the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people for service and to build up the church, the body of Christ. I stressed that the purpose of spiritual gifts is not for personal gain but to serve and build up the church. I also touched on the importance of knowing and using our gifts, as outlined in Ephesians 4, Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 12, to contribute to the body of Christ.
Moving on, I addressed the topic of evangelism and disciple-making. Evangelism, I explained, is about sharing stories of what God has done in our lives, focusing on Jesus Christ and the message of hope. It's about personal experiences with God, not debates or arguments. Disciple-making, on the other hand, involves nurturing relationships and helping others become apprentices of Jesus. It's about living out the Great Commandment to love God and our neighbors as ourselves.
I shared our church's ethos, which includes being sent with kingdom priorities, anchored in Scripture, empowered by the Spirit, welcomed into family, engaged in transformation, adventurous in restoration, and alongside in service. I suggested using these statements as markers of our progress in faith.
I concluded by encouraging both the older and younger generations to engage in intergenerational discipleship. I invited the older members to rediscover their passion for Jesus and to mentor the younger ones, while urging the younger members to learn from the wisdom and experience of the older generation. I called for everyone to be involved in ministry and life groups, to prepare for the opportunities ahead, especially with the new student accommodation nearing completion next to our church.
Key Takeaways:
1. The concept of metanoia is not merely about turning away from sin but about a transformative shift into God's embrace. It's about realizing that our past does not define us and that we are welcomed into a relationship with the Creator. This paradigm shift is the foundation for a life of purpose and service in God's kingdom. [02:35]
2. We are all called to be priests in God's kingdom, offering spiritual sacrifices through our lives. This democratization of priesthood means that every believer has direct access to God and the responsibility to live a life of worship and service, reflecting God's love and grace in our daily actions. [03:38]
3. The gifts given to the church, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, are meant to equip believers for service. It's crucial to recognize and utilize these gifts not for self-promotion but to strengthen and build up the body of Christ, ensuring that we all grow in unity and maturity. [04:39]
4. Evangelism is about sharing the transformative work of God in our lives, focusing on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ. It's a personal sharing of faith that brings hope and joy to others, inviting them to experience the same relationship with God that has changed our lives. [07:50]
5. Disciple-making is a relational process that involves walking alongside others, helping them to grow as apprentices of Jesus. It's about investing in people, teaching them to obey Jesus' commands, and modeling a life of love, service, and obedience to God. This is the heart of our mission as a church. [22:12]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Peter 2:5 - "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
2. Ephesians 4:11-12 - "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."
3. Matthew 28:18-20 - "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Peter 2:5, what are believers being built into, and what role do they serve?
2. In Ephesians 4:11-12, what are the roles given to the church, and what is their purpose?
3. What command does Jesus give in Matthew 28:18-20, and what promise does He make to His followers?
4. How does the sermon describe the concept of metanoia, and what does it signify in a believer's life? [02:35]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to be a "living stone" and a "holy priest" in the context of 1 Peter 2:5? How does this change the way believers view their daily lives and actions?
2. How can the roles mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-12 equip believers for service? What might this look like in a modern church setting?
3. In what ways does the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 challenge believers to live out their faith? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on evangelism and disciple-making? [20:36]
4. The sermon mentions that spiritual gifts are meant to build up the church rather than for personal gain. How can believers ensure they are using their gifts for the right purpose? [06:15]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the concept of metanoia. How can you embrace this paradigm shift from shame and guilt to being welcomed by God in your own life? What steps can you take this week to align more closely with God's will? [02:35]
2. As a "living stone" and "holy priest," what specific spiritual sacrifices can you offer to God in your daily life? How can you incorporate acts of worship and service into your routine? [03:38]
3. Identify your spiritual gifts. How can you use them to serve and build up the body of Christ in your church community? What practical steps can you take to start using these gifts more effectively? [04:39]
4. Think about a personal story of how God has worked in your life. How can you share this story with someone this week to encourage them in their faith journey? [07:50]
5. Consider the relationships in your life. How can you invest in disciple-making by nurturing these relationships and helping others grow as apprentices of Jesus? What specific actions can you take to mentor or be mentored? [22:12]
6. Reflect on the ethos of your church. Which of the statements (e.g., being sent with kingdom priorities, anchored in Scripture) resonates most with you? How can you live out this ethos in your daily interactions and decisions? [23:44]
7. For the older members, how can you engage in intergenerational discipleship? What steps can you take to mentor younger members of the church? For the younger members, how can you seek out and learn from the wisdom of the older generation? [33:42]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Metanoia's Transformative Shift
Metanoia is a journey beyond mere repentance; it is a transformative shift into the welcoming embrace of God. This concept invites individuals to realize that their past does not define them and that they are invited into a profound relationship with the Creator. This paradigm shift is not just about turning away from sin but also about turning towards a life filled with purpose and service within God's kingdom. It's a recognition that one's identity is not anchored in past mistakes but in the present and ongoing work of God's grace and love.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit." (Psalm 51:10-12)
Reflection: How can you embody the spirit of metanoia in your daily life, and what specific steps can you take to align more closely with God's will for you? [02:35]
Day 2: Every Believer a Priest in God's Kingdom
The democratization of priesthood in the New Testament reveals that every believer is called to be a priest in God's kingdom, offering spiritual sacrifices through their lives. This means that each person has direct access to God and carries the responsibility to live a life of worship and service. By reflecting God's love and grace in daily actions, believers actively participate in the priesthood of all believers, contributing to the spiritual edifice that God is building.
"You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5)
Reflection: What are some spiritual sacrifices you can offer in your daily life that reflect God's love and grace to those around you? [03:38]
Day 3: Utilizing Gifts to Strengthen the Body
The gifts of apostleship, prophecy, evangelism, pastoring, and teaching are given to the church to equip believers for service and to build up the body of Christ. Recognizing and utilizing these gifts is essential, not for self-promotion, but to ensure that the church grows in unity and maturity. Each member of the body of Christ has a unique role to play, and by embracing and exercising these gifts, the church can function effectively and reach its full potential.
"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12)
Reflection: What spiritual gift do you possess, and how can you actively use it to serve and build up your local church community? [04:39]
Day 4: Sharing Faith Through Personal Stories
Evangelism is not about winning debates or arguments; it is about sharing the transformative work of God in one's life, focusing on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ. It involves personal stories of faith that bring hope and joy to others, inviting them to experience the same life-changing relationship with God. By sharing these stories, believers can connect with others on a deeply personal level, demonstrating the impact of Christ's love and redemption.
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." (Revelation 12:11)
Reflection: What is one story of God's transformative work in your life that you can share with someone this week to encourage them in their faith journey? [07:50]
Day 5: Investing in Disciple-Making Relationships
Disciple-making is a relational process that involves walking alongside others, helping them grow as apprentices of Jesus. It's about investing in people, teaching them to obey Jesus' commands, and modeling a life of love, service, and obedience to God. This relational investment is at the heart of the church's mission, as it fosters a community of believers who support and encourage one another in their spiritual growth.
"Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." (1 John 2:6)
Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you can begin to mentor or disciple, and what is the first step you can take this week to initiate that relationship? [22:12]
Quotes
1. "Last week, we took this deep dive into discipleship and the word metanoia, commonly understood to be repentance, but more deeply and expansively is actually about a paradigm shift from feeling a sense of shame and guilt to experiencing a welcome home, embraced from God the Father, the creator of the universe." [02:35]
2. "In 1 Peter 2 and verse 5, it says, and you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God." [03:38]
3. "Now, these are the gifts Christ gave to the church, the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ." [04:39]
4. "Christian evangelism at its core is about sharing your faith in Christ Jesus with others. It's about spreading the good news of Christianity, the message that Jesus Christ not only died for our sins, but was raised back to life and offers salvation for all." [08:40]
5. "It's about this disciple making about being an apprentice of Jesus that's you and me and they're helping others to become apprentices of Jesus as well and while some of the work is done through preaching and teaching on a Sunday, the vast majority of this work is done by you by you forming relationships nurturing relationships building each other up through encouragement and correction." [22:12]
6. "Churches of Christ is about unity about restoration and about life our ethos the character our guiding beliefs being sent with kingdom priorities to be anchored in the in the scriptures to be empowered by this by the spirit to be welcomed into family to be engaged in transformation to be adventurous in restoration and to be alongside in service." [23:44]
7. "We have challenges ahead of us but I believe if we stay humble if we stay repentant teachable accountable and adaptable if we continue to gather in prayer to create environments for you to practice telling your story to create life groups for connection to and to apply the spiritual disciplines I believe all of this is actually in preparation for God what God will unleash and what we get to participate in." [32:10]
8. "And the thing is, you certainly don't have to be a Christian to have received them. For example, musicians, poets, artists, engineers, accountants, entrepreneurs, and inventors, they all exhibit the creativity and majesty of the one who is created in God's image." [06:15]
9. "Practically, or perhaps rather simplistically, this can be summarised into two words, evangelism and disciple-making. Evangelism is for many who've been part of the church for a long time, it's a scary word. But I've come to learn that it doesn't have to actually be this way." [07:50]
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