The first message in our Summer Series of Walking With Jesus: Learning to Be a Disciple was about the DNA of being a Disciple.
That DNA of being a Disciple was described as:
• Divine Truth. Truth comes from God. It is the revelation of God to humankind. This comes from the Son, the Spirit, and the Scriptures. The Son (Jesus) is both God and human and came to reveal to us in his person what God is like and what God requires. The Scriptures were authored by God and reveal God’s unfolding plan for humanity. The Spirit of God is also Divine Truth, since he brings revelation and direction to believers.
• Nurturing Relationships. Humans were never created to be alone. We are social creatures and have an intrinsic need for relationships. Our relational orientation is a reflection of the image of God in us. God Himself is relational and exists in a community—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is love because God is relational. To the Christian, God is love because he has always existed in relationship. Is love possible without someone to love? This should be the defining characteristic of our faith. All men should know that we are Christ’s disciples by the love that we have for one another.
• Apostolic Mission. Apostolic means that someone is sent as a representative with a message. We are here for a purpose. We have been given a prime directive to fulfill—to make disciples of all the nations. This part of us also comes from the nature of God. Jesus is an Apostle. He is the Chief Cornerstone of the apostolic foundation. Before he left this planet, he sent his disciples into the world with a mission.
One of the key tools we talked about in Walking With Jesus was Life Transformation Groups. Find out more on our website.
Below is the full Sunday Morning message by Phil Helfer:
Phil Helfer - January 19, 2020
The Gospel Of Grace
We continue our series; "Live Free or Die" (Paul’s letter to the Galatians). Pastor Phil led us on a closer look at Galatians 2:1-10. There is always a temptation to begin with Jesus, receive His saving grace, but then try and add something to the Gospel -add our own good deeds to somehow try and make God love us more-. God gives, and gives, and gives freely of His love. The cross is a gift for us, we simply say thank you Lord and receive all He has for us. The sacrifice He made is enough. Jesus Saves (He does it all) = True Gospel. Jesus + anything else = False Gospel. Apostle Paul was called by Jesus himself, to be a minister of the Gospel to the Gentiles. In Gal. 2:1-10 Paul wanted to make it clear that he was not influenced by the leaders in Jerusalem but rather Jesus was his teacher. Paul was sent by the Lord to go to Jerusalem. He was defending himself against the animosity of those who would add rule keeping to the simple Gospel. Paul wants to emphasize that the “law” simply points us to reality that we can’t keep the rules and we need a Savior. There were those who were called specifically to reach out to the Jews, but Paul had been called to reach out to the Gentiles (the very ones he had spent so many years hating, until Jesus saved him). All of them (us) are called to love people; rich, poor, Jewish, Gentiles, those we love and are comfortable with and those we have been against in the past. This is our call -simple, Jesus saves. Lord, give us grace to receive all you have and then to give your love away today. Amen.
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