Connect – United with Jesus and His Family

24_08_03 -Ep.323 - Run With Horses Podcast - Connect – United with Jesus and His Family

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Last week we focused on the connection we have with Jesus and the church. This week we continue along those lines and consider how the church can be intentional about helping people build their relationship with Jesus and His family.

Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is both incredibly simple and potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to live intentionally and on His mission. It’s very cool that we can do that together!

Thank you for joining me today! If you are new to the show, you may want to check out our website, runwithhorses.net, and listen to some of the past shows to catch up. I have spent several shows focusing on a simple definition of the church and the current discussion we are having about a discipleship pathway is best understood in the context of the church. If you have been enjoying the show, I would appreciate it if you would leave a review wherever you are listening! And as always, your questions, comments and feedback are welcome. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net. And now, on with the show...

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Habits - **Community**
Acts 2:41-47 -
> 41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Romans 12:4-5 -
>4For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

Ephesians 2:19-22 -
>19Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

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MY WORKING DEFINITION OF CHURCH
A CHURCH is a group of followers of Jesus who worship Him in spirit and truth, humbly offering their lives as living sacrifices, together living out the MISSION of Jesus as His witnesses TO THE WORLD, by sharing the gospel and making disciples through teaching obedience to His commands as they edify and EQUIP OTHERS to join them on HIS MISSION.

The discipleship pathway is an intentional plan to equip others to be on the mission of Jesus.

Don’t forget the goals of the pathway. Clear goals are important. What are the goals of a discipleship pathway?
a. self-feeding Christians
b. everyday missionaries – everyone on the mission of Jesus
c. disciple-makers
d. pastors
e. new churches
f. all members of the church, shepherded well

We are still on the SECOND step in the Pathway;
ENGAGE, CONNECT, EQUIP, RELEASE

The church's role in connecting people to Jesus. What can the church do intentionally to help people connect their life, values, and purpose to Jesus?
1. Biblical teaching and preaching - the Bible is the foundation

a. Our identity in Christ-
>ACCEPTED
I Am God’s Child- John 1:12
I Am United with the Lord- 1 Corinthians 6:17
I Am Chosen and Adopted- Ephesians 2:3-8
I Am Complete in Jesus- John 4:1-45
I Have Direct Access to God Through Jesus- Hebrews 14:14-16
>SECURE
I Am Free from Condemnation- Romans 8:1-2 and John 8:1-12
God Is at Work in My Life for His Glory and My Good- Romans 8:28
>SIGNIFICANT
I Am Connected to Jesus as My Source of Life- John 15:5
I Have Been Called to Bear Fruit- John 15:16
I Am Seated with Jesus in Heaven- Ephesians 2:6
I Am God’s Workmanship- Ephesians 2:10
I Can Approach God with Freedom and Confidence- Ephesians 3:12
REF (https://rootedministry.com/how-im-teaching-students-to-ground-their-identity-in-christ/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5Ky1BhAgEiwA5jGujmbR95PXgQowc5t6NcSS8cXzKPrMbmAxT2k7yGq0Hb6T1fTk9EHcyhoC_E4QAvD_BwE)

b. The character and mind of Christ
Philippians 2 - 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

c. The mission of Christ
Matthew 28:18-20 - Be and Make Disciples (followers of Jesus)

d. Healthy relationships
aa. United in Christ
bb. New family
Answer the question, what does each believer need to grow to become more like Jesus and to embrace the mission of Jesus as their own?

2. Equipping and Training
a. Spiritual gifts
Romans 12:6-8
1 Corinthians 12:8-10

b. Spiritual disciplines
>1. Prayer
At least 25 times in the Gospels, we read of Jesus praying. According to Luke 5:16, Jesus prayed often by himself. In other words, He made a habit of it.
>2. Fasting
At the onset of His public ministry, Jesus took 40 days to fast in the wilderness. While it made His body weak, His spirit grew stronger.
>3. Public Worship
Luke 4:16 says that “on the Sabbath day [Jesus] went into the synagogue, as was his custom.”
>4. Bible Reading
Studying Scripture was an important part of Jesus’ life. In fact, by age 12, He was already as biblically literate as the leading teachers (Luke 2:41-47).
>5. Solitude and Silence
Jesus regularly ministered in front of large crowds. But He also made a habit of getting away from time to time (Luke 5:16). In fact, He even encouraged His disciples to get away to a quiet place and rest (Mark 6:31).
>6. Service
In Mark 10:45, Jesus said His goal in coming to earth was not to be served but to serve others and to give His life for our benefit.
REF (https://influencemagazine.com/practice/seven-spiritual-practices-of-jesus)

c. Practical ministry skills
Answer the question, what training or skills does each believer need to carry out their role in the church and on the mission?

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3. Introduction to Personal Ministry
a. Where has God placed you?
Our individual stories are part of a much bigger Story.

Ultimately, this Story is not about us, but about Him.

God works in unexpected, unexplainable ways to accomplish His purposes.

God sovereignly and purposefully ordains and orchestrates the circumstances of our lives.

What we see now is not the whole story.

We can trust Him to write the story of those we love.

The challenges we face may be a part of God writing someone else’s story.

Those who trust in Him will never be disappointed.

You can trust God to write your story…
REF (https://openthebible.org/article/10-things-to-remember-about-gods-providence-in-our-lives/)

All this also makes a difference when we consider:
b. Who has God put in your life?
> Home
> Work/ School
> Community – The Art of Neighboring
> Church
Encourage everyone to see the relationships around them and bring Jesus into them.

4. Corporate Ministry
a. How do we intentionally serve each other?
One Another's of the NT
Love one another (John 13:34 - This command occurs at least 16 times)
Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)
Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)
Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Be likeminded towards one another (Romans 15:5)
Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16) Greet one another (Romans 16:16)
Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)
Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13)
Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)
Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25)
Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19)
Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5)
Consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)
Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4)
Bear with one another (Colossians 3:13)
Teach one another (Colossians 3:16)
Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13)
Stir up [provoke, stimulate] one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)
Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
Employ the gifts that God has given us for the benefit of one another (1 Peter 4:10)
Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (1 Peter 5:5)
Pray for one another (James 5:16)
Confess your faults to one another (James 5:16)

b. How do my gifts build up the body of Christ?
You are part of something bigger than than yourself!
> Intro to church ministries
> Prayer service, prayer focus
> One Another’s of NT
> Intro to Small Groups - you can learn to help others grow, in individual relationships and in small groups or family units.

Help everyone ask and answer the question, what is my role in the local body of Christ? How does my church need my gifts?

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DOCTRINE
August – Jesus
September – Holy Spirit

Jesus - God Incarnate
Merriam-Webster: Incarnation - the union of divinity with humanity in Jesus Christ
"..at one point in time and space, God entered the world, in the person of Jesus Christ, as He had never done before or since. ...the doctrine of the incarnation means that God is in the world and at work there." - Millard J. Erickson

Hebrews 4:14- 16 - 14Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

He knows us and our need. He can relate to us.
He is the perfect one to represent us, as God He is able, as man He understand our need.

Hebrews 9:11-14 - 11But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

He is the perfect High Priest who alone can offer the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

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How is your church doing at helping new believers connect with Jesus in a real and meaningful way? Are relationships in the church growing and strong, able to handle the trials that always come our way? If we are too be intentional disciples of Jesus it is important that we make a genuine effort to live out the purpose of the church together.

Thanks for joining me again today! If you enjoyed the show you can listen to all the past shows wherever you listen to podcasts. A good place to start is at runwithhorses.net. You can also write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page. Take time today to pause and thank God for His work in your life and keep running.
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