Sunday, January 10, 2016

Christian Commitment

Discipleship is always guided by purpose.  Christian discipleship is committed to helping people grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 3:18).  It is the process of becoming more like Jesus (Rom. 8:28,29).  What is often overlooked is that Jesus was guided by purpose.  To become like Jesus is not simply a character issue, but a life purpose issue.  Jesus was living out commitments that had begun with creation.

He was committed to:

The Great Mission: The Call to Stewardship
26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” 27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” Genesis 1:26-28 (NLT) (Gen. 1:22;8:17;9:1,7)

The Great Vision: The Call to Purpose
 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.  I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. Genesis 12:1-2 (NLT)

 The Great Commission: The Call to Discipleship 
19  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT


The Great Commandment: The Call to Relationship 
36  “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37  Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38  This is the first and greatest commandment. 39  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40