Built For This // Four Pillars of Discipleship

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Built For This // Four Pillars of Discipleship

January 14, 2024 • Ephesians 4:11–16, Hebrews 11:5–6, Luke 15:1–7, Acts 2, 2 Corinthians 5:17–21

Built For This – Four Pillars of Discipleship

1. Believe - Love of God

Matthew 22:36-39 (ESV)

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

2. Belong - Love others

Acts 2 (ESV)

3. Become - Mature and Grow

4. Build - Transform the World

Ephesians 4:11–16 (ESV)

“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, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

1. Believe

My Trust Pleases God

Hebrews 11:5–6 (ESV)

“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Jesus Came to Rescue Me

John 3:17 (ESV)

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

God Actually Wants Me

Luke 15:1–7 (ESV)

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, 'This man receives sinners and eats with them.

“So he told them this parable: What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “

Real Reconciliation Is Available Now

Colossians 1:19–23 (ESV)

“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard… “

The Ministry of Reconciliation

Acts 2:21 (ESV)

“Everyone who calls upon the name … will be saved.”

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 (ESV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Romans 10:8–15 (ESV)

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Who is in my Sphere of Influence?

Built for This // Building the Kingdom of God

February 18, 2024 • 2 Corinthians 4:18, 2 Kings 6:17, John 16:7, John 16:13–14, John 15:26–27

Building the Kingdom of God 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen” 2 Kings 6:17 (NIV) “Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” John 16:7 (ESV) “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:8 (ESV) “when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:” John 15:5 (ESV) “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit,” John 16:13-14 (ESV) “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 15:26-27 (ESV) “when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness…”

Built For This // Building the Kingdom of God

February 11, 2024 • Matthew 3:2, Acts 1:7–8, Matthew 6:9–10, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Corinthians 1:18–31

Building the Kingdom of God. What is God’s Kingdom? Matthew 3:2 (ESV) “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John 18:36 (ESV) “...My kingdom is not of this world...” Acts 1:3 (ESV) “...speaking about the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:6 (ESV) “...Lord will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:7-8 (ESV) "He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 1 Corinthians 3:9 (NIV) “we are co-workers in God’s service...” Matthew 6:9-10 (ESV) “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Philippians 3:20 (ESV) “our citizenship is in heaven..." Faithful ordinary People help build God’s extraordinary Kingdom on earth. 1 Peter 2:9,10 (NIV) “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 John 2:27 (ESV) “the anointing that you received from him abides in you...” Hebrews 13:7,17 (NIV) “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” God builds His Kingdom through ordinary ways. 1 Cor. 1:18-31 (NIV) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Built For This // Helping People Become Wholehearted Followers of Christ

February 4, 2024 • 1 John 4:19, Hebrews 12:1, Ephesians 4:11–13, Matthew 28:19, Mark 12:28–31

Helping People Become Wholehearted Followers of Christ Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV) “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 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Christianity is not for loners or individualists. Matthew 28:19 (ESV) “…make disciples of all nations…” 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.” Mark 12:28-31 (NIV) "One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important? The most important one: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 1 John 4:19 (ESV) “We love because he first loved us.” “It is very easy to build churches in which seekers congregate; it is very hard to build churches in which biblical faith is maturing into genuine discipleship.” - David Wells Colossians 2:2-3, 6-7 (NIV) “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” “…continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”