A. Introduction

Rev. 4:11b (NLT)  “You (God) created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.”

Rom. 12:1 (TEV) “Because of God’s great mercy to us...Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him.  This is the true worship that you should offer.”

1. Worship is my response to God’s love.

2. Worship is giving back to God.

    * The 1st Purpose in Life is to worship God.

Matt. 22:37-38  “Love the Lord your God...This is the first and greatest commandment.”

 Mark 12:30 (NCV)  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”

a. Thoughtfully – “with my mind”
b. Passionately – “with my heart and soul”
c. Practically – “with my strength”

1. Focus my attention on God.

Rom. 8:7 (Msg) “Focusing on yourself is the opposite of focusing on God.  Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, and ends up thinking more about self than God.”

Rom. 12:2a (Msg)  “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.  Instead, fix your attention on God.”

2. Expressing my affection to God.

1 John 4:19 (KJV)  “We love Him, because He first loved us.”

Hosea 6:6 (LB)  “I don’t want your sacrifices – I want your love!  I don’t want your offerings – I want you to know Me!”

3. Using my abilities for God.

Col. 3:23 (TEV)  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.”

A. Introduction

    1. My 2nd purpose in life is fellowship.

Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)  “His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 2:17b (Msg)  “Love your spiritual family!”

1 Timothy 3:14-15 (NCV)  “I’m writing …so you’ll know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church…”

1 John 4:21 (GW)  “The person who loves God must also love other believers.”

    1. Level 1: Membership - Choosing to belong.

Ephesians 2:19 (LB)  “…You are members of God’s very own family…and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.”

Other references: Romans 12:5 (NIV) and Romans 6:3 (Msg)

Acts 2:44 (LB)  “All the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other.”

a. Our experiences (Proverbs 27:17)
b. Our homes (1 Peter 4:9)
c. Our problems (Galatians 6:2)

1 Corinthians 3:9a  (TEV)  "We are partners working together for God."
Reference: Ephesians 4:11 (NLT)

 Acts 2:42c (CEV)   “…they were like family to each other.”

 Romans 12:10 (GW)   “Be devoted to each other like a loving family.”

I. What is discipleship?

    Disciple – a student of Jesus Christ

    Discipleship – the process of becoming like Christ (Rick Warren)

 Romans 8:29 (LB)   “From the very beginning, God decided that those who came to Him – and He knew who would  - should become like His Son…”

        References: Mt. 28:19-20; Phil. 3:14; 1 Cor. 9:24-27

II. How is discipleship measured?

    Are we growing in greater love for  God  and people?

    References: Lk. 14:26-27;33 and Jn. 13:35, 15:8

III. Why should we become disciples?

    1) It glorifies God. (Why we were created!)

    2) It brings us ultimate joy and satisfaction.

IV. Elements God uses to grow us as disciples:

    1) A true connection   with other  Christians.

        References: Ps. 133:1,3; 1 Jn. 1:3-4

    2) Consistency in scripture and prayer.

        References: Ps. 19:8,10-11; Rm. 15:4; Jn. 8:32;  (c.f.Jn 17:17); Jn 15:11, 16:24

    3) Circumstances which build character.

        References: Jam. 1:2-4; Rom. 8:17-18

I.  Serving like Jesus means being available. (Matt. 20:30-32)

    Barriers to this characteristic:

    1) Self-centeredness (Phil 2:3-4)

    2) Timing (Eccl. 11:4,6)

    3) Materialism (Matt. 6:24)

II.  Serving like Jesus means being grateful. (Jn. 11:41-42)

Psalms 100:2 (NASB) “Serve the Lord with gladness…”

    1) Complaining & criticizing.

1 Corinthians 12:18, 22-23   “But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them,  just as he wanted them to be…those parts of the body that seem to be  weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor…”

        a) Pride. (Matt. 6:1)

        b) Paying back. (1 Cor. 15:10)

III.  Serving like Jesus means being faithful.

John 17:4  “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”

1 Corinthians 15:58  “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Being a missional Christian is about:

Recapturing what it means to be a Christian.
    John 17:13

Recapturing what it means to "evangelize".
    Psalms 46:10
    Matthew 5:16

Recapturing what it means to impact the world.
    Isaiah 58:3-4,6