There is a big difference between being a believer and a disciple. Most people probably don’t stop and really think about this. Most people probably picture a bearded man in sandals when the hear the word disciple. What’s more, most people probably tend to think that the end of their faith journey culminates in their belief, in their salvation moment. A lifetime spent away from God pivots upon the events of one morning, wherein a person’s heart becomes inexplicably soft—by a pointed sermon or a moment of worship or even the power withheld in the very name of Jesus himself—they respond to that altar call, confess their sins, give their life to Christ, and then for many, they’re done. Not so for the disciple.

Getting saved by Jesus is the easiest task one could ever hope to perform. One doesn’t have to accomplish anything by their own cleverness or effort. One doesn’t need to do anything period. Except surrender their pride and accept the gift. It is, after all, the Holy Spirit who is doing the saving anyway. It’s his work to his glory; not yours. Consider it this way: if salvation were the goal for humanity, if it alone was the charge of the Great Commission, then Scripture would read, “Go into all the world and save people.” Instead it reads, “make disciples of all nations.” Disciples, unlike Christians, are not born. They are made.

Concerning the passage from Matthew above, before the charge to his disciples to go make more disciples, Jesus commands the remaining eleven to go to “the mountain” in Galilee. Scholars have debated to which Galilean mountain he directed them. Some have argued that it was perhaps Mt. Carmel, where Elijah slew the false prophets of Baal. Others have suggested Mt. Table. I personally believe that it was Mt. Hermon, a coastal mountain overlooking Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus had once taken his disciples and proclaimed “I will build my church” (Matthew 16: 13-20). It is this same mountain that Peter, James, John, and Jesus ascend in Matthew 17, where the Lord appears transfigured and meets with Moses and Elijah. Mt. Hermon is, in short, a significant site to the disciples, and thus likely the one mentioned in this week’s passage.

So here Jesus takes all eleven disciples and, overlooking the pagan colony of Caesarea Philippi and all the sinners within, he commands, “Go and make disciples of all the nations.” What, then, is the difference between the saved and the disciples? For one thing, discipleship is necessarily beyond salvation. It’s the next, big step in one’s faith walk. Again, being saved is easy; becoming a disciple, on the other hand, takes work. It takes, according to this passage, first being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Now, this naturally constitutes an actual physical water baptism by which one publicly and symbolically demonstrates their physical death and rebirth in Christ, but it also suggests that we are to be baptized in the name, or, in other words, immersed in the spirit of God. God has a hand in our salvation, to be sure, but He also guides us toward discipleship after He finally gets His hands on our lives.

We must get out of His way so that He may do so, however. One must never underestimate the power of his own will. As C.S. Lewis once suggested, the spirit of God “cannot ravish. He can only woo.” So if the God of Heaven, who merely spoke the cosmos into existence, can approach the door of your spirit but cannot (or rather, will not) force His way through, then we can conclude that a man’s will is a strangely powerful thing. So to become a disciple, finally, we must allow God to take our hand and lead us deeper into Himself. Once this happens, we’ll begin to feel convicted about our sin. We’ll begin to actually want to spend time in prayer, in worship, and in the Word. Getting saved, you see, cleanses our spirit but doesn’t change our bad habits or attitudes. Going deeper into God’s teachings and truths is what ultimately transforms our lives from believers to disciples. We begin to talk differently, act differently. We begin, in short, to live our faith as well as believe it.

A challenge facing Christianity today is that we have a great many Christians and too few disciples. We need more disciples in the kingdom, more Christians walking out, not just believing in, their faith. If the original eleven disciples multiplied and, in time, transformed the the Roman Empire from a land of unrestrained paganism to the site of the early Church, how much more of an impact will a kingdom of disciples have today? Certainly have we more than eleven disciples at the present moment. Our focus, then, as a Church should be to foster a community of discipleship, and not belief only.

You can’t do anything to win God’s favor. Those who believe that God loves them and believe they are His children are elevated into God’s presence.

Some people think that poverty equals holiness. John 10:10 says My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. (NLT)

How can the church help the poor if it has nothing to give? Charity came out of the church. If I am called to help people in need, how can I help if I don’t have anything to give?

The Good Samaritan was able to treat and care for the wounded man. How many of us can carry someone into a hospital and offer to pay for it all?

We are called to be the light of the world…be the church. Somebody better have some money…some extra so we can do these things. Living with “just enough” is not biblical.

God is the governor of the earth and He created the Church to meet the needs of the people.

There is a way to live that leads you into a life of abundance.

The Wheel is not The Answer. It is a basic tool that allows you to evaluate where you are so you can live in abundance.

God has this universal way in which He takes us through a renewal process spiritually. This happens when I connect with God. This is not when we get saved. That refreshing of the spirit happens instantaneously. After salvation, a renewing process begins. God knew us before we were born. He formed us. Before the foundation of the world, he knew everything about us. So when we finally come back to our Creator, to the Cross, spiritually, it begins the return to perfection, the state when God created us and knew us. When I was born I inherited sin because of the Fall, and I been disobedient until I came to the Cross but now I am being renewed…how I think, what is important to me…this renewal is reflected through new actions and new attitudes.

Before Christ, I was sowing selfishness, self-centered seed and a distorted, selfish love into the field that is my life.

After the Cross, God has plowed the field and given me a fresh field fertilized by the Holy Spirit so I am sowing different seed and reaping a different type of life. As a result, I am experiencing a life I didn’t know before…a life of abundance.

Abundance in God is not measured materially, how the world measures. That is the paradox of the Kingdom. God wants us to be blessed, but He is not going to measure us by what we have.

The biggest difference in living a life in the midst of the renewal process is that we don’t live by what we see. We live by what we believe. In our old life, we lived by what we could experience through our physical senses. Now, we live by hope, faith and love. When other hurt you, turn the other cheek. When you’re not getting any love, you love anyway. You don’t have to have love to see love. Even if I don’t receive what I need, I can still love because I believe that God is in control. (II Cor 5:7) Acts Chapter 7 talks about when Stephen was being stoned to death by the Jewish leaders and yet he still asked God to forgive them.

Jesus is the example of how to live in abundance. God’s abundance is immeasurable. Abundance means more than you ever dreamed so you can give it out when other hurt you, slander you. You give love to them and that is how you discover the life that Jesus wanted us to have.

www.ChristianCityChurch.com

Faith & Finance

Matt 20:1-16 – NLT

We’ve been talking about the Wheel of Life for the past few weeks, and today we will continue finance & career. The most important thing is that we understand the proper place for our financial spoke, within the bounds of the kingdom of Heaven.

In the church, there has been a stigma related to money. People sometimes think that being wealthy and being a Christian cannot go together, or that we are not supposed to talk about money in church. God doesn’t want us to hesitate to talk about money, but we also need to realize the most important part of being in the kingdom of God is BEING in the kingdom of God. That is where our financial life HAS to begin…we also need to realize that our finances ARE a pretty big part of our life. There is a place and a purpose for your job and finances in the kingdom of Heaven.

What does Matt 20:1-16 mean to us? The first workers symbolize the jews – they were the first people that God reached out to. The second round of workers that were hired late in the day symbolized the Gentiles. Jesus was preparing the disciples for the idea that the Gentiles would be coming into the kingdom of God. The point, however, was not that the Gentiles were TAKING the blessing of God…the point was that they were all going to receive the same reward! God wasn’t holding anything back for the Jews – He gave them the same blessing as the Gentiles.

The next question that we always have about money is, “How much??” – that is our culture of living in America. The master did not tell the workers how much they were getting paid for the day – He told them it would be a fare wage. None of us would have gone! We would have demanded a written contract and made sure there was an overtime clause. )

Its not fair for us to talk about money and not talk about how much. In the kingdom, how much is too much? How much is not enough? That all comes for people’s perspective – not from God. The great thing about our God is that He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Our God has abundance, and He knows abundance. King David was very wealthy. God isn’t concerned about how much we have. He didn’t set us up to be in a rat race – always trying to get more and more. He set us up to live an incredible life and touch people’s lives. When He looks at us, He isn’t thinking about our finances – He is thinking about building His kingdom and fulfilling His plan. The Bible teaches us not to worry about money because we have no idea what tomorrow holds.

The real question is: Is it enough to move us along the path that God has cleared for us? God knows how much we need, and He sees it all. When Jesus had the perfume poured on His feet, He didn’t say, “You could have sold that and gotten the cheap stuff!” God has a kingdom perspective on our finances. He is telling us that it doesn’t matter what anyone else has! He has told us that He would take care of us! We shouldn’t care who has what. God has promised us an abundant life – we need to be happy for others. We aren’t about a socialist platform that preaches equality across the board. It doesn’t work like that in the kingdom of heaven. The bible says that God has an abundance for us! It doesn’t say that if we work harder, we will get more. It doesn’t say that if we receive salvation when we are 8, we get a greater blessing than if we get saved when we are 22. We are IN the kingdom of heaven, but we LIVE in the United States. We can’t forget that – it gives us our perpective. But, God doesn’t have our perspective. He doesn’t care about consumables. He cares about what it will take for us to accomplish His purpose on this earth and what it will take to walk out the destiny that He has for us!

Paul had joy overflowing even in prison because he was right in the middle of the path that God had laid out for him. Money doesn’t bring that joy to us. The only joy that will fulfill us is the joy that comes from knowing that we are doing what God has called us to do. In America, all we do is compare – clothes, cell phones, cars – whatever it is. Our real joy comes from the realization that we are in the middle of God’s plan for us and that He has provided for us! Its not about MORE – its about God’s plan for where you SHOULD be. When we are in alignment with the kingdom of heaven, our lives are fulfilled.

The blessings that God gives are the same today as it is for the people that have been saved for 20, 30, or 40 years. It is the BEST that He has for our lives. He is not holding back for any one of us. Look to God to find joy in your finances and in your career.

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Physical & Health
· Life Style
· Habits we create
· You are what you eat
· Don’t go it alone – Group accountability
· Perspective – what is your focus / what are you measuring against
· Adapt your perspective according to your age, body type, etc
· Know your #s (HDL, LDL, BMI, etc)
· Its not just for me / my health & fitness is for my family
· Obtainable & Sustainable – look at things realistically – (don’t set a goal of working out 5 hours a day when you don’t have 5 hours in your day to work out)
· Daily Choices
· Discipline
· Research – read books, get a mentor, etc

When you focus on an area for a period of time it begins to come natural – once it becomes a lifestyle it sustains there

Family & Home

· Live for them (Wife/Husband & Kids)
· Serve them
· Togetherness
· Talking
· Empathy (verbally describe the other persons position)
· Understanding where someone comes from & evaluate their position
· Accepting that position
· Forgiveness
· Recognition / Appreciation
· Edification / Building up
· Quality time not quantity
· All in perspective of the stage of life you are in with your kids
· Family Team – do things together (turn off the TV and play a board game together where there is interaction)
· Honesty / Trust
· Understand the temperament of your children
· Understand who deals best with each child / Mom or Dad
· Fun – Incorporate fun / enjoying each other
· Balance the extras – don’t do every extra curricular activity
· Common vision for family – then work toward that vision
· Security / Stability

(Input from staff meeting 4/5/07)

Social & Cultural

Social – Social Skills
1. How we communicate within our families, friends, and people we don’t know
2. How well your friendships work / How many friends do you have
3. Some have 1 best friend – not good…narrows your world
4. The Kingdom Mindset – you reach out

Social Skills:
· Considerate
· Positive
· Light – Fun
· Inclusive
· Not insecure
· Available
· Hygiene
· Focused
· Sense of Humor – Funny
· Not Demanding
· Encouragement
· Selfless – focused on others
· Welcoming

Sizing up the space
· Learn to size up what’s going on around you – big room or small room
· How close are you to other tables (if in a café or restaurant)
· Sizing up your environment determines how you speak – loud or soft
· Then size up the people

Totem Pole – know where you are in any situation
· There are different levels on a totem pole
· Know where you are and act accordingly
· If you are young you are at the bottom – respecting your elders
· There is leadership in every room – announced or unannounced. When you understand where you are shift accordingly:
o During worship – Johanna has the mic – she is on top (Steve D. would follow Johanna’s lead)
o Dean comes up and starts to speak – he is now at the top and Johanna shifts accordingly
o Where we are determines how we act

Social Setting – What happens when you don’t know the person
· KEY – read people
· Know how to read people
· Have self understanding
· It takes 30 seconds to size up the environment & the person

When you have good social skills you can control the environment to your advantage. You can be a chameleon & shift – become what the situation needs. You have to learn to adapt to every situation you are in.

Send a message through your interaction. At church what are the signals we send? (go back to the social skills list)

*Developing your social skills is about growing the Kingdom. People will connect on the human level before they connect on a God level – people come to church for social reasons – social skills create the environment.

Cultural

· Breaking out of your comfort zone
· The world is more than just where you are from
· When you are culturally boxed in you are very narrow – you won’t live life to the fullest without getting out of your culture.
· Look outward from your little world

Mental & Emotional

Emotional

A high scoring emotional person would have what traits:

· Balanced
· Stable
· Calm
· Confident
· Processing emotions properly / Self manage your emotions
· Guard against depression
· Manage the tough times

How do you stay balanced?
· When you start focusing on other people’s problems your problems will
be taken care of.
· Surround yourself with those friends that have access to your emotions
· Guard your heart
· Recognize symptoms and deal quickly
· Keep perspective
· Know your emotional capacity – know yourself
· Don’t wear your heart on your sleeve exposing yourself and don’t be all shut up with walls – learn the right people to open your heart up to

Communication is the key to emotional stability

www.ChristianCityChurch.com

Hey guys – We are continuing this week on our Wheel of Life series, using practical application of the Scriptures to create growth, momentum and fulfillment in all areas of our lives and to find God’s will for our lives.

Pastor Jeff gave a powerful message Sunday concerning Finance and Career and how to bring this area into the context of our Christian walk.

Context: Matthew 6: 19-24

Store your treasures in heaven. Wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be also. No one can serve two masters, because you will hate one and love the other. You cannot serve God and money.

This is NOT saying that you cannot have any money. We should aim to live our financial and career lives within the boundaries and context of our Christian lives. Either our finance will be in the context of our Christian walk, or our Christian walk will be in the context of our finance. You can’t have it both ways. You will love one and hate the other. But, if you can make your finance and career fall into the context of your Christian life, you can love them both. Your career and finance will be a sense of joy and every spoke of your wheel will be working together for good, in synergy, toward God’s perfect plan for your life. The only true fulfillment we get in this world is when we submit to his will.

Stewardship: Matthew 25:14-16 (NLT): Parable of the talents

This parable is a beautiful story. In the beginning of the story, the master invested in his servants. The master loves his servants, who are his children. He gave them gifts in proportion to their abilities – not in punishment or favoritism. God has given you something. If we can take stewardship over what we have been given, we will fulfill our destiny, reap God’s blessing for our lives and live in abundance.

Here is the key: The servant with five immediately began to invest what the master gave him, and God doubled it. You focus on the gifts that God gave you. Cultivate it and make it happen to bring your dreams into fruition. Trust the gifts God gave you.

Practical: How to improve your Finance and Career spoke

1. Our financial and career spoke should never go out of the context of our Christian walk because when that happens you find misery in that area. If your job is falling into the context of what God has for you, you will love your job because you know it is part of the calling that God has for you. The first step on any journey is that your need to figure out where you are – where you are starting from. Where are your finance and career? Be honest and start from there.

2. You have got to set a goal. Figure out where you want to be. If you don’t, you will pretty much end up back where you were. Set your eyes on your goal.

3. Plan out ways to get there. Develop a detailed plan to get there. I know that seems obvious, but have you done it? Take time to learn how to plan, invest and manage.

4. Write it down. Get it in front of you everyday. See it – focus on it. Write down the vision, see it and run to it. Take hold of it.

The most important thing about your finance and career spoke is this - this spoke provides you either an abundance of or a lack of choices. Your finance can take every bit of choice out of your world. If you can’t serve God in the capacity you want to because of your financial and career situations, that will hold you back and bring you misery. We want to release people out of that. It’s not about money. Rich isn’t the call. Abundance is the call and abundance brings joy, fulfillment and the ability to serve God in the way that you were called to serve.

www.ChristianCityChurch.com