Call to Discipleship Week 4

INTRODUCTION :

We all commit ourselves to do that which is important to us. Our lives reflect our purpose. But foggy lives are a product of a foggy purpose. Confused lives are a result of a confused purpose. Unbiblical lives come from an unbiblical purpose, and it goes on.

In order for a disciple to live a distinctly Biblical life, we must commit to a clear and distinctly Biblical purpose. Clarity of commitment will lead to confidence and effectiveness in day-to-day living. Before we get into the purpose for specific areas of our lives, let me begin by recapping the past few weeks.

Week 1 Recap- Calling and Cost

Being a Disciple is not some fairy tale story but a call to action for the individual believer.  A call to carry our cross, to die to ourselves, set aside the distractions of the world and root, or abide ourselves in him.  He doesn't just want our temporary allegiance here on Earth, but he desires our eternal company with him forever.  Yes, the cost is high but our reward is greater than anything we could possibly imagine or ever deserve. 

Week 2 Recap- Character

In week 2 Greg shared that the character of a disciple is of one who is all in, holding nothing back. It requires selflessness and shifting our total reliance on Jesus and His priorities over ours. 

We are to plow forward and stay focused on what's ahead.  This can be a challenge as we get caught up looking behind at “what was” ...He wants our focus! He knows that idols will distract us from the work He has for us to do. 

Week 3 Recap- Purpose

Last week we talked about Purpose.  We used that word a lot!  We talked about how we are called to a personal holiness in the Scriptures all the while remembering, personal holiness is not about being perfect, but about growing in our relationship with God and striving to live according to His word and His will, which is our personal ministry. We don’t have to wait until we have received our “Certified Pure Heart” certificate from the Holy Spirit to begin - This work on the inside of us is ongoing throughout our entire lives, but God can use us wherever we are on that journey to still reach out to others who are ready to be taught. It’s a journey that helps us become more like Jesus, who is our ultimate example of holiness and along the way be an amazing witness to others.

So here we are at week 4 and Personalizing your Purpose:

In general, our purpose is to follow Jesus, be willing to obey him whatever the cost, and to bring others along with us. In regard to our more specific purpose, we have to stop and consider many things. We all have several aspects to our lives, and we have a purpose in each area. You’ve got your time, your finances, your spouse if you’re married, your children if you have those, your family and friends, your job inside the home and/or outside the home, your church, your ministry, and even your hobbies. The bible has something to say about all these areas of your life and the purpose within each. Hold on and I’ll give you some examples to consider…

• Time

• Colossians 4:5 - Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

• Ephesians 5:15-17 - Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

• Finances

• Matthew 6:21-24 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

• Hebrews 13:15 - Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

• Mal 3:10 - Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

• Spouse

• Ephesians 5:25-33 - 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

• 1 Corinthians 7:3 - Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to the husband.

• Children

• Psalm 127:3-5 - Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

• Proverbs 20:7 - The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.

• Deuteronomy 6:5-7 - You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

• Family

• Exodus 20:12 - Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

• 1 Timothy 5:8 - But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

• Prov 17:17 - A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

• Friends

• 1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

• 1 Corinthians 15:33 - Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.

• Colossians 3:13 - bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

• Work

• Colossians 3:23 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

• Prov 16:3 - Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

• Church

• Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

• Eph 4:11-13- 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 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.

• Gal 6:10- Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

• Ministry

• Rom 12:3-7 - For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;

• 1 Peter 4:10 - As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

• Hobbies

• 1 Corinthians 10:31 - So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God

• Ecclesiastes 8:15 - So, I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.

CONCLUSION:

Every day, every interaction with another is a reflection of our relationship with Jesus.  If you remember what I said at the beginning…In order for a disciple to live a distinctly Biblical life, we must commit to a clear and distinctly Biblical purpose. 

Clarity of commitment will lead to confidence and effectiveness in day-to-day living. May we have CLEAR purpose for each area of our lives and apply the biblical principles we learn. Use the examples provided today or search the scriptures for yourself and ask God to reveal His purposes for you. 

Call To Discipleship Wk 4- Message Notes- 4/28/2024 

Personalizing our Purpose as a Disciple

• Time- Col 4:5 Eph 5:15-17

• Finances- Matt 6:21-24 Heb 13:15 Mal 3:10

• Spouse- Eph 5:25-33 1 Cor 7:3

• Children- Psa 127:3-5 Prov 20:7 Deut 6:5-7

• Family- Exodus 20:12 1 Tim 5:8 Prov 17:17

• Friends- 1 Thess 5:11 1 Cor 15:33 Col 3:13

• Work- Col 3:23 Prov 16:3

• Church- Heb 10:24-25 Eph 4:11-13 Gal 6:10

• Ministry- Rom 12:3-7 1 Pet 4:10

• Hobbies- 1 Cor 10:31 Ecc 8:15

Communion Scripture:      1 Cor 11:23-26

Thoughts/Questions To Consider:

• How do all of these relate to your calling to be a disciple?

• In John 17:4  Jesus summarized his purpose/mission here on earth when he said to the Father, “ I have glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.”  With this in mind, what are some practical ways we can use the areas and verses discussed to glorify God through our own lives? Personal holiness (Vertical) and Personal Ministry (horizontal)