Summer Blast- Week Four

Summer Blast – Week Four Notes

Core Focus Areas

We accomplish life transformation through four key areas:

1. Salvation – Leading people to the first step of life change: a relationship with Jesus.

2. Discipleship – Teaching people the life-changing truths of God’s Word.

3. Worship – Equipping and empowering people through encounters with God.

4. Service – Helping people grow beyond themselves and serve others.

Key Vision:
We are building a church that un-churched people love to attend.

When you focus on creating a church that un-churched people love, you naturally stop attracting only churched people.

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Following Jesus

Scripture: Luke 14:25 (NLT)

“A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them…”

• Multitudes followed Jesus because He was good.

• God is truly good, even though religion can be cruel at times.

• Despite shortcomings of organized religion, Jesus consistently attended synagogues and the temple.

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17 (NLT) – Healing the Crippled Woman on the Sabbath

• Jesus healed a woman crippled for 18 years, even on the Sabbath.

• Religious leaders were angry, but Jesus exposed their hypocrisy.

• Key Lesson: The thing that made Jesus most angry was when religious leaders misrepresented God.

• Jesus draws people with His goodness, but ultimately requires total commitment.

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The Cost of Discipleship

Scripture: Luke 14:25-28 (CEVDCUS06)

“You cannot be my disciple unless you love me more than your family… your own life… carry your own cross and follow me…”

• Unlike the devil, Jesus always tells you upfront the cost of following Him.

• True discipleship requires total commitment, planning, and willingness to sacrifice.

Scripture: Acts 9:10-16 (NLT) – Ananias and Saul

• God called Ananias to reach out to Saul, even though Saul had persecuted believers.

• Saul was God’s chosen instrument, but God revealed how much he would suffer for His name.

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Life Lessons on Commitment

• Our culture promotes the lie that you can have everything.

• Truth: You cannot have something without giving up something else.

• The reward of commitment far outweighs the sacrifices.

• Everything we do for Christ demands total commitment.

• There is no freedom like the freedom that comes through commitment.

• Joy is greatest when commitment is greatest.

Challenge:

Isn’t it time for you to make a total commitment to the Kingdom of God?