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 - September 22, 2019
The Upside-Down Kingdom.-Mark 8:27-9:1
“The Upside Down Kingdom” This week in our “It’s Like This” series, Pastor Phil explained to us how the kingdom of heaven operates in a way that is very counterintuitive to what society usually looks like. Matthew 20 tells us that that leadership and servanthood are switched: “whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” Our perceptions of rich and poor are challenged when Jesus tells us “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” and Paul says “Though (Jesus) was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” Being humble and proud carry different weights, according to Peter: “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Even death is backwards! Jesus tells us, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Kingdom living is a higher calling such that our entire worldview has to be shifted. The following reminders prove helpful in living that out: -Kingdom living is counterintuitive. -Jesus in you is more important than You in you. -Put His agenda ahead of your own. -Take up your cross daily and follow Him.
Scripture References: Mark 8:27-38, Mark 9:1
Recent Comments