Sermon Central
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Sermon # 1- Go And Make Disciples Series
Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Aug 21, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: This series is a sequel to the series of devotions that were shared with me by spiritual friend Michael Collins and is also found on Sermon Central entitled “The Church Called Jonah.” I hope that these sermons will encourage the church at large.
There is also the indiscipline of not keeping our word. David explains this in Psalm 15:1, “Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?” (NLT)
David gives the answer in Psalm 15:4, “They despise those whom God rejects, but honor those who obey the LORD. They always do what they promise, no matter how much it may cost.” (GNB)
Among the many things that David mentions, note how he explains in the last part of Psalm 15:4 that such privilege will be for those who are faithful to keep their word, no matter what.
In the New Testament James elucidates the power of our words in James 3:2, “All of us do many wrong things. But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body.” (CEV)
Some people have shared with me of how they have out of pity, gone out of the way to help someone, sometimes borrowing from someone else to give to them, and when the time comes to repay the people they helped, will completely ignore them. It is vital for a disciple to be one who is disciplined in every area of our lives. We must learn to be disciplined in our words and our actions, and do our best to fulfill all the commitments we make, no matter how hard it is.
2. A disciple is a learner
The next mark of a disciple is that he is teachable, and willing to learn. It is a very good practice for us to have our bibles open, and to take notes whenever we hear the word being preached. Churches are locked up now, but when they open up, let us go with an open-mind and a heart to learn. After we hear the message being preached, it is also important for us to meditate on it and to search the scriptures again. A humble person will want to constantly learn, and will not take the word of God for granted. Every time we listen to the word of God with a teachable spirit, we will most certainly learn new truths from God, and will be able to benefit from the same as we apply it to our lives.
Oftentimes we miss out on the enhancement that God’s word can bring to our lives because after hearing a message, we divert it to someone else, and convince ourselves that it was aptly spoken for the other person. Such an attitude will not benefit us in any way. Read the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples, He said pray, ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ Not only do we need physical food, but we also daily need our personal share of God’s word which is the true bread of life for our spiritual well-being. We must be willing to receive the word of correction and rebuke from God, and not try to pass it off to others. Irrespective of who is preaching we must have the attitude and openness to receive the word as from God, and not be distracted by the one who is sharing it.
With the onset of online church, many have the habit of multi-tasking, wherein they are hearing the word, but also engaged in other chores. These people are a combination of Mary and Martha I think. There is a blessing when we take time to quieten ourselves, and hear the word of God. The transformation that God’s word brings in our lives cannot be brought about by money or position, friends or any other thing. There is life in God’s word and we need to listen to it with sincerity and genuine zeal. The Holy Spirit of God will surely bring about all the needed changes in our lives when we are willing to learn and receive the word with humility.
