Messengers, Part 2 (31)
Discipleship in Luke
We are messengers, but it’s not our message – it’s God’s. We had better be extra careful to check our sources, be silent until we know what we’re talking about, and then deliver an accurate message – or better yet – show people where to learn for themselves. Good News that’s false – is not Good at all. Nothing hurts more than false hope.
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Messengers, Part 1 (30)
Discipleship in Luke
In Luke 14 at the dinner, Jesus tells a story about another dinner – the Kingdom feast. We will look at the characters in Jesus’ story and we find ourselves there: we are the “slaves,” the messengers. Scriptures used: Romans 10:1-2 James 3:1-2 Luke 14.15-24; Matthew 22.1-14
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Satan’s Sirens, pt2 (29)
Discipleship in Luke
Practical steps for killing Excuses, Justifications and Rationalizations, and replacing them with adaptations, improvisations and overcoming. We can categorize our lives, and look for them – to root them out. Then, connect with a Godwor disciple for accountability & help. Finally, choose one or two and work on them one bit at a time.
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Satan’s Sirens (28)
Discipleship in Luke
Satan’s Sirens … Excuses, Justifications and Rationalizations. These three are alluring, enticing, just like the beautiful singing sirens of mythology that lured sailors to their death – Satan’s sirens kill us. The solution is for us to recognize things that tempt us to these things, then treat them as challenges and opportunities. We should adapt, improvise, overcome … we should put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6).
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Grow Some Go Some (#27)
Discipleship in Luke
Grow Some Go Some … congratulations are due to those of you who are still listening & studying, and especially to those of you who are DOING the assignments. Following Jesus was hard when he was in human form, and it’s still hard. Now … time to get to work for real.
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From Now On (#26)
Discipleship in Luke
From now on … these lessons will be less formal, shorter … and use excerpts from Luke to continue our studies. Most importantly, it’s about helping you to start actually doing the stuff Jesus did … on purpose. Make a real change. Do three things, right now:
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Wrap Up (#25)
Discipleship in Luke
it’s time for us to review and settle some things. Remember our purpose, our actions and our priority. And then … DO what Jesus said.
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Talents (#24)
Discipleship in Luke
This lesson is about the parable of talents (found in Matthew 25.14-30 & Luke 19.12-27). It’s about how you live as a disciple of Jesus … steadily giving more in quality and quantity purely for the purpose of bearing increasing fruit and glory to God.
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Recovering the Lost (#23)
Discipleship in Luke
Jesus explains why he left the religious folks to go seek sinners and call them to repentance. We are introducing the “Lifecycle” of disciples … those who come to Jesus for various reasons, then go all-in, are born again, and then live and grow. Scriptures highlighted in this lesson include: Luke 15, Matthew 6.20-21, Colossians 3.1-2, Philippians 3.12-21, and Matthew 25.14-30.
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Teleios (#22)
Discipleship in Luke
Teleios is a Greek word used commonly to describe a certain kind of maturity – the maturity which is understood to include productivity. Only when a thing has reached ‘teleios’ is it considered to have arrived at its full potential. Each one of us should strive to arrive at our full teleios state
info_outlineLiving and growing as a disciple is the most rewarding life possible, and it offers each of us an opportunity to serve, love and care for others in the best possible way. We get to be rescuers, and grow stronger while we’re in training.
Discipleship is very hard and very expensive. We discussed this in the last episode, and will see it in explicit detail as we work through Luke. And though it’s hard and expensive, God has provided two things that can be helpful to us all: the bible, and the church. Sadly, we fail to recognize the value of each of these. As we proceed through these lessons, we’ll learn a lot about the bible, and by the end of it, you’ll understand how to use it.
In this episode, I’m going to explain the way churches are; and the way God intended church to be. God specifically commands certain things for churches, and they ALL have to do with the purpose, or function of church.
This should be our last ‘overview’ lesson, and next time we’ll get into the text of Luke itself. But hopefully you’ll find some partners and form your own “church” – your own group with whom you can study and grow as fellow disciples. This “church” is something you should do whether or not you already attend a “regular” church, but don’t try to force a regular church to fit this model. Rather than rebel against your church … look for a few people who you can partner with and help one another to grow.
Scriptures mentioned in this lesson include:
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1 Corinthians 14.26
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Hebrews 10.24
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Ephesians 4.11-16
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Luke 3.3-17