SERIES OVERVIEW- No Excuses
Not just a hearer...I am a doer
Followers of Jesus have a few very clear commands. Scripture dictates that as believers, our primary purpose is to be and make disciples. As disciples of Jesus, we are commanded to love God and love others. While on the surface these commands seem simple, many of us are not quite living like true disciples. While we say we love God and may truly want to show that to others, our lives reflect a different set of priorities.
When confronted about our lack of spiritual growth or shortcomings as representatives of Jesus, more times than not, we are quick to come up with a reason our lives do not look like they should.
But what are these reasons really? Excuses.
No matter how strong or valid the excuse seems, it is still just an excuse. The truth is, if we are not living as disciples who love God, love others, and make disciples, we are choosing to prioritize other things before God. So what is the fix? How can we grow beyond just saying we love God to actually living it out? How do our lives become shaped into something that is undoubtedly Jesus-focused?
It is time to get disciplined. The word disciple shares the same root word as the word discipline. Disciples are students of what or who they follow. Discipline is the training and instruction a student receives. The difference between someone who SAYS they are good at something and a person who IS good at something is training, practice, and hard work. They put in the work even when they do not feel like it. In other words, the only way to become mature or skilled in anything is discipline.
How do followers of Jesus become mature disciples? THEY STOP MAKING EXCUSES AND THEY BECOME DISCIPLINED.
It is time to put away the excuses and to stop trying to fool others into thinking that we are okay and on track with this whole Jesus thing even though our lives do not bear fruit. It is time to truly put Jesus first and shape up as we shape into people who are unmistakably about the Gospel and Gods glory. Lets stop talking about and lets do it.
James 1:22 says, But do not just listen to Gods word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. Join us as we study the disciplines outlined by Gods Word and commit to not being just a hearer any longer. No excuses: be a doer.
When confronted about our lack of spiritual growth or shortcomings as representatives of Jesus, more times than not, we are quick to come up with a reason our lives do not look like they should.
- We are too busy and don’t have time to read our Bibles.
- We cannot be at church because a practice is mandatory or we simply have to work.
- We cannot possibly share Jesus with others because we just don’t know what to say.
But what are these reasons really? Excuses.
No matter how strong or valid the excuse seems, it is still just an excuse. The truth is, if we are not living as disciples who love God, love others, and make disciples, we are choosing to prioritize other things before God. So what is the fix? How can we grow beyond just saying we love God to actually living it out? How do our lives become shaped into something that is undoubtedly Jesus-focused?
It is time to get disciplined. The word disciple shares the same root word as the word discipline. Disciples are students of what or who they follow. Discipline is the training and instruction a student receives. The difference between someone who SAYS they are good at something and a person who IS good at something is training, practice, and hard work. They put in the work even when they do not feel like it. In other words, the only way to become mature or skilled in anything is discipline.
How do followers of Jesus become mature disciples? THEY STOP MAKING EXCUSES AND THEY BECOME DISCIPLINED.
It is time to put away the excuses and to stop trying to fool others into thinking that we are okay and on track with this whole Jesus thing even though our lives do not bear fruit. It is time to truly put Jesus first and shape up as we shape into people who are unmistakably about the Gospel and Gods glory. Lets stop talking about and lets do it.
James 1:22 says, But do not just listen to Gods word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. Join us as we study the disciplines outlined by Gods Word and commit to not being just a hearer any longer. No excuses: be a doer.
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2021
January
NAMES OF JESUS: Light of the worldNAMES OF JESUS: KingESSENTIALS: Salvation motivates growthESSENTIALS: Crave Spiritual Food Pt. 1ESSENTIALS: Crave Spiritual Food Pt. 2ESSENTIALS: To live GodlyESSENTIALS: One who loves wisdomESSENTIALS: Not worldly philosophiesESSENTIALS: So your ready to shareBIBLE: Inspired(Authored) by GodBIBLE: Is Inerrant (Free from Error)BIBLE: Is Infallible (will not fail)BIBLE: Helps me growBIBLE: Is Authoritative Pt 1BIBLE: Is Authoritative Pt. 2BIBLE: Obeyed through actionGOD: The trinity (3 in 1)GOD: Is perfectGOD: Is loveGOD: Is creator
2020
September
SERIES OVERVIEW- No ExcusesNO EXCUSES - True followers of Jesus are doers - NO EXCUSES - Doers love God -NO EXCUSES - Doers share the gospel & make disciplesNO EXCUSES - But First...IS NO EXCUSE!NO EXCUSES - Desiring the world...IS NO EXCUSE!NO EXCUSES - Being young...IS NO EXCUSE!NO EXCUSES - Being weak...IS NO EXCUSE!GOSPEL — Salvation is through faithGOSPEL - Works are evidence of true salvation (faith)GOSPEL - Believe and confess equals faith & worksGOSPEL - Faith leads to Jesus as Lord (of our works)GOSPEL - Knowledge does not saveGOSPEL - Faith and works modeled by the early churchGOSPEL - Doers (true disciples) are known by their fruitBAPTISM - What is it?BAPTISM - Why we do itBAPTISM - When we do itBAPTISM - Is sharing the gospelBAPTISM - Is a symbolBAPTISM - Is part of maturingBAPTISM - What is next?BIBLE - The Bible is foreverBIBLE - The Bible show us JesusBIBLE - The Bible gives lifeBIBLE - The Bible guides my life
October
BIBLE - The Bible changes me from the inside outBIBLE - The Bible corrects and teaches meBIBLE - The Bible helps me growPRAYER - How to prayPRAYER - PRAISE - Remembering God is in controlPRAYER - REPENT - When you need help doing what is rightPRAYER - ASK - pray for the work of the gospelPRAYER - YIELD - Pray for Gods willPRAYER - Keep praying...be persistent in prayer!PRAYER - Do not pray like this!FELLOWSHIP - Love one anotherFELLOWSHIP - Encourages maturityFELLOWSHIP - Stronger togetherFELLOWSHIP - Pursues unity & is others focusedFELLOWSHIP - Helps those strugglingFELLOWSHIP - What does it look like?FELLOWSHIP - Avoid fellowship with unbelieversWORSHIP - Worship is living with Jesus as LordWORSHIP - We were made to worshipWORSHIP - Changes our perspectiveWORSHIP GOD - For who He isWORSHIP GOD - For what he has doneWORSHIP GOD - To point others to himWORSHIP - Can only come from a pure heartGIVING - Is part of our worshipGIVING - To God because it is HisGIVING - We are commanded to giveGIVING - Give cheerfullyGIVING - God Blesses those who giveGIVING - God moves powerfully through givingGIVING - Heart Check!
November
SERVING - Because He saved usSERVING - Like Jesus servedSERVING - Equipped by GodSERVING - Through our GiftsSERVING - Serve God by serving othersSERVING - Points others to JesusServing - Requires sacrificeFASTING - Seeking God above all elseFASTING - As you wait on the LordFASTING - As part of repentanceFASTING - As you petition the LordFASTING - On behalf of othersFASTING - With right motivesFASTING - Jesus satisfiesCOMMUNION - As a regularly practiced disciplineCOMMUNION - The passover part 1COMMUNION - The passover part 2COMMUNION - A look backward to remember God’s giftCOMMUNION - A look inward for examinationCOMMUNION - Looking outward to proclaim the gospelCOMMUNION - Looking forward to Christ’s returnNO EXCUSES RECAP - Faith and WorksNO EXCUSES RECAP - FruitNO EXCUSES RECAP - Keep growing to stay on guardNO EXCUSES RECAP - Stay FocusedNO EXCUSES RECAP - Share the GospelNO EXCUSES RECAP - BE BOLD!NO EXCUSES RECAP - PassionFAMILY TREE - The family of JesusFAMILY TREE - The family of Jesus - Abraham
December
FAMILY TREE - The family of Jesus - IsraelFAMILY TREE - The family of Jesus - JudahFAMILY TREE - The family of Jesus - DavidFAMILY TREE - The family of Jesus - RahabFAMILY TREE - The family of Jesus - John the BaptistON THE MOVE - Journey of a young JesusON THE MOVE - Jesus in Bethlehem pt. 1ON THE MOVE - Jesus in Bethlehem pt. 2ON THE MOVE - Jesus in EgyptON THE MOVE - Jesus in NazarethON THE MOVE - Jesus in GalileeON THE MOVE - Jesus, Rescuer in JerusalemMOMENTS THAT MATTER - Forerunner Pt 1MOMENTS THAT MATTER - Forerunner Pt 2MOMENTS THAT MATTER - Virgin BirthMOMENTS THAT MATTER - Visited by ShepherdsMOMENTS THAT MATTER - Gifts from KingsMOMENTS THAT MATTER - Mourning the innocentMOMENTS THAT MATTER - Rejected by his ownPROCLAIMED - Angel proclaims to ZechariahPROCLAIMED - Angel proclaims to MaryPROCLAIMED - Angel proclaims to JosephPROCLAIMED - Angel proclaims to ShepherdsPROCLAIMED - Angel proclaims to SimeonChristmas Day Devotion - Needle in a HaystackPROCLAIMED - Angel proclaims to AbrahamNAMES OF JESUS: Price of PeaceNAMES OF JESUS: Immanuel - God with usNAMES OF JESUS: Rescuer and SalvationNAMES OF JESUS: Our RighteousnessNAMES OF JESUS: Savior