Oct 24 2023 From Thought to Action: Chapter 25
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Before we begin, remember…making disciples can be as easy as reading a chapter of The Four Priorities and discussing it with someone else. This blog series is designed to supplement your journey. Feel free to take what you need and leave the rest! And remember, please share this post with your disciple so they can subscribe, too!
KEY QUOTES from Chapter 25: Your Culture and Your Calling
- Generally speaking, people in the United States don’t have trouble with Jesus; they simply don’t like His wife. The Bible calls the church, “the bride of Christ,” and we often reflect poorly on our husband. Jesus predicted that the world would hate His followers “for My name’s sake” (John 5:21), and history has certainly borne out His warning. However, much of the hatred directed against the church is, unfortunately, earned, and in some ways, justified.
- The trouble with simply accommodating culture is that you are quite likely to be more changed by it.
- 3 aspects of divine calling:
- passion,
- giftedness,
- and role preference.
- The Lord has called you and equipped you for a role on His kingdom-building, world-redeeming team. Your responsibility then is to determine how your calling– as evidenced by your passion, your giftedness, your role preference – can be used to bring others into a relationship with Christ.
REFLECT:
Psalm 139:13-16 describes how God endows each individual with gifts and ordains his or her purpose before birth. If you know your calling,
- How do you engage the world with your gifts, talents, skills, and passion?
- How does this activity create opportunities to share the gospel?
PRAY: We have a tendency to overcomplicate things – especially our prayers! One way to simplify your prayer life is to pick two phrases or truths from scripture and attach them to your breath pattern. As you inhale, internally say the 1st phrase. As you exhale, say the 2nd phrase.
INHALE: You made me with intention
EXHALE: You love me unconditionally
MEMORIZE: Remember memorizing the first part of this passage a few weeks ago? Take this week to memorize the second part of this passage of Psalm 139:13-16 with your household. Write it on a sticky note to place on your car dashboard, your bathroom mirror, or wherever you will view it often.
Psalm 139:13-16 “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
WORSHIP: Listen to this song called Psalm 139 by Shane and Shane.
TABLE TALK:
- How has God made each of us different?
- What do you think God loves about you––specifically?
TEACH/PLAY:
- Experiment: “The egg that always falls into the water” (God’s love / God’s calling).
Jesus came to change the planet by changing people. As we become like Christ, we also set about doing the things He did. In Matthew 4:19 Jesus said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men,” So, let’s go fishing!
Remember Bob’s tips for being a great fisherman:
- Be POSITIVE. Jesus desires us to be positively convinced that Jesus is the answer to the deepest needs of men and of women.
- Be PERSISTENT. Jesus wants men and women who will never ever give up on someone who needs Jesus.
- Be PATIENT. Jesus desires that we be patient and creative in loving people to Him. Hang in there – God will bring people in.
- Be PASSIONATE. Jesus wants us to be passionate about fishing for people who are lost and who desperately need Him.
That’s it for Chapter 25!
Now…go! And make disciples!