The Bible teaches that Christ was made perfect through suffering. As imitators of Christ we should expect that our lives will involve some suffering as well. Greg discussed self-sacrifice and other principles of Christian discipline.
The Bible teaches that Christ was made perfect through suffering. As imitators of Christ we should expect that our lives will involve some suffering as well. Greg discussed self-sacrifice and other principles of Christian discipline.
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Point: If you give the mustard seed (God) room to grow, it will dry up the weeds around you. Unfortunately, we often try to dig up the weeds ourselves by our own power, not by God’s power. We need to trust God instead.
It is crucial that we yield to God and let the mustard seed grow into what God wants for us. When God works in our life, we are supposed to “brag on God” with our testimonies.
Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)
7During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
How can we mimic Jesus Christ?
Discipleship:
Getting the weeds out of the way so that the mustard seed of God can grow. Unclogging the pipes so that the Spirit of God can flow in your life (get out all that earthly, fleshly garbage!) The more you yield to God in discipleship, the more rewards you get (but remember God already loves you; you don’t have to do “good deeds” to win God’s love).
Discipleship: sacrificing through…
Don’t pig out (pagan-out) on the things of this world, but strive for the Kingdom of God. Don’t put the worldly stuff at front and center.
Where your treasure is, your heart will be also. Thus, you cannot serve both God and money – you’ve got to serve one or the other.
Analogy:
You can workout without the reward of the smoothie. God says, “Give up the smoothie”. Don’t need a carrot at the end of a stick as a reward. Say yes to the mustard seed of God, not the stuff of this world. Invest instead in the Kingdom of God.
The sin of today’s culture is materialism.
See Isaiah 58. If you want to have revival happen, you need to have a concern for those around you. Money takes on meaning when it is given.
Live with a view of: “What can I give with this money, these resources?” In trying to hoard the things of this world (e.g. money, gold, etc.) you end up with nothing (it is merely transitory).
Hide Extended Summary7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
"Thank you all the way from Oregon. I deeply appreciate being shepherded by Pastor Greg and everyone else on the panels. You are a rare find in the church nowadays. Tackling tough questions with humility and a kingdom perspective. It has been life changing for me in such tumultuous times."
– Heather, from Oregon