Main Point and Overview:
What is unique about our “journey of faith” is that it assumes that there will be “bumps and bruises” along the way. If fact, it’s a challenging process. We can all look back to the past, and in most cases, the person that we are today is vastly different. Change is hard. It will not happen apart from the intervention of our gracious God. When the disciples of Jesus asked him “how to pray,” they saw their need for clear dependence on the only One who was capable of guiding their steps. When Peter challenges the 1st century church to “prioritize strategic additions,” he was talking about spiritual growth that would position his listeners to be impactful disciples making more impactful disciples. In our Discover Emmanuel class, we call those who are considering becoming members of our church to a “high-level participation” mindset. Why? Because apart from God’s grace and strength, we will fail as a church. We need “prayer warriors!” What is a “prayer warrior?” Someone who has learned to passionately beg God that he would do “on earth what is in heaven” – his perfect will. We call people to “stretch themselves beyond their comfort zones” in spiritual growth that will drastically change their attitudes and aptitudes. We believe that God desires to do life-changing, community-saving, and family-thriving miracles through our “partners!” None of this will happen until we “look up” to God in dedication and “look within” ourselves for discipleship. It all comes down to our dependence on God and his mission. What “gain” is currently needed in your life? It was completely foreign to the 1st century church to be “filled” with spectators and not participators. We must be a church that expects growth – both numerically and spiritually for the glory of God!
What is unique about our “journey of faith” is that it assumes that there will be “bumps and bruises” along the way. If fact, it’s a challenging process. We can all look back to the past, and in most cases, the person that we are today is vastly different. Change is hard. It will not happen apart from the intervention of our gracious God. When the disciples of Jesus asked him “how to pray,” they saw their need for clear dependence on the only One who was capable of guiding their steps. When Peter challenges the 1st century church to “prioritize strategic additions,” he was talking about spiritual growth that would position his listeners to be impactful disciples making more impactful disciples. In our Discover Emmanuel class, we call those who are considering becoming members of our church to a “high-level participation” mindset. Why? Because apart from God’s grace and strength, we will fail as a church. We need “prayer warriors!” What is a “prayer warrior?” Someone who has learned to passionately beg God that he would do “on earth what is in heaven” – his perfect will. We call people to “stretch themselves beyond their comfort zones” in spiritual growth that will drastically change their attitudes and aptitudes. We believe that God desires to do life-changing, community-saving, and family-thriving miracles through our “partners!” None of this will happen until we “look up” to God in dedication and “look within” ourselves for discipleship. It all comes down to our dependence on God and his mission. What “gain” is currently needed in your life? It was completely foreign to the 1st century church to be “filled” with spectators and not participators. We must be a church that expects growth – both numerically and spiritually for the glory of God!
Posted in Devotional