Together We Go
Notes
Transcript
John 8:31–32 (ESV)
31 “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Want to abide in Word, but easier to abide in other things.
Want to abide in Word, but easier to abide in other things.
Abide: LITURGY (work) --- Sports!
Abide: LITURGY (work) --- Sports!
Plan for it, protect occasion
Know rules, cadence, strategy
Practice when to stand, know the cheers, even get superstitious
Outside of the game, lore of rivalries, history, drama, players, stats
That’s abiding! Liturgy to Movies, Shopping, Art, Theater, News, Politics, Star Wars, Cars, Video Games, School, Parenting, Cooking, Traveling...
“Together We Go” is about liturgy of discipleship. That “lay-it-all-on-the-line” kind of faith, mentality and commitment.
So why is it that abiding in Jesus seems so much more difficult?
So why is it that abiding in Jesus seems so much more difficult?
Going to church every week, getting into Word everyday, praying at all times, growing in faith, even talking about Jesus...
Going to church every week, getting into Word everyday, praying at all times, growing in faith, even talking about Jesus...
Fact that it’s hard to abide in Christ when it’s not hard to abide in other things proves spiritual warfare is real. Sin & false freedom!
But the fact that abiding in Jesus is hard ALSO proves that faith is a miracle!
But the fact that abiding in Jesus is hard ALSO proves that faith is a miracle!
It is IMPOSSIBLE to have faith on your own: blind, deaf, dead enemies of God
Against every natural urge to do anything but abide in Jesus, we’ve been given miraculous gift of faith.
Explanation to Third Article of the Creed:
Explanation to Third Article of the Creed:
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
What does this mean?
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.
Key to abiding as a disciple: not about what you can do for Jesus, but in what Jesus has done for you.
Key to abiding as a disciple: not about what you can do for Jesus, but in what Jesus has done for you.
Abiding in Jesus is not superficial belief, but all-in discipleship
Abiding in Jesus is not superficial belief, but all-in discipleship
Jesus has made you all-in as a disciple by His cross and empty tomb.
Jesus has made you all-in as a disciple by His cross and empty tomb.
Abiding is a new kind of existence; a whole new life. Discipleship.
Discipleship isn’t abstract faith in a God up there some where. Liturgy of Discipleship is real, down-to-earth, here and now.
It’s gathering with God’s people around God’s table & remembering your baptism every day when you wake up.
It’s hearing the promises of Christ proclaimed every Sunday and being declared forgiven.
Being a disciple more than just accepting Gospel at face value & moving on. It’s sticking to Word at all times, even when things are hard.
That’s abiding: building your whole life around Jesus’ Word & promises every day, everywhere, in every season of life.
Abiding in Jesus is not individual, but communal
Abiding in Jesus is not individual, but communal
Remember 9/12 - something special about coming together
Explanation to Third Article of the Creed, continued:
Explanation to Third Article of the Creed, continued:
In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.
People tend to put more trust in their ability to have faith more than they trust in Jesus. Being a lone-ranger Christian is putting faith in your faith!
“Abiding in the Word” is the intersection of liturgy and community.
Spirit gives miracle of faith in liturgy of God’s people coming together
Just like liturgy of sports/cooking/movie theater, liturgy of coming to church, remembering our baptism, being forgiven, hearing Word, & receiving Lord’s Supper.
All happens in community, in & with Body of Christ, church
That’s why we go together as disciples; coming together makes us focus on Spirit’s miracle of faith instead of focusing on our own abilities.
Liturgy is a life of abiding in the Word together as disciples.
Abiding not for fear of condemnation, but for forgiveness & freedom
Abiding not for fear of condemnation, but for forgiveness & freedom
Explanation to Third Article of the Creed, continued:
Explanation to Third Article of the Creed, continued:
In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.
On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.
We abide in Word of Christ because it does not condemn us, but gives us freedom beyond imagination.
Jesus says, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free....if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Jesus’s truth is freedom; every other “freedom” is either false or doesn’t hold a candle to the freedom of Jesus (sports, politics, Star Wars)
Freedom from sins that are no longer yours…buried in Jesus’ grave!
Freedom of guaranteed eternal life in Jesus’s new creation.
Freedom under reign of Christ knowing the God who was crucified for you is Master of your destiny!
That’s why together we go.
That’s why together we go.
Ministry Fair! Outreach, ELEVATE, Missions, volunteering, Military, Confirmation, New Member class
Abiding in Jesus is not a superficial confession of faith, not just something we’ve dreamed up and called faith.
Abiding in Jesus is a daring, bold, confident faith that we hold together because Christ has set us free.
We know Jesus by His cross. We abide in His Word of the cross. We are known by Jesus’s cross. That’s the liturgy of discipleship
As Jesus disciples, together we go.
This is most certainly true.
