Day 10:The Gospel

Day 9:Discipleship

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Disciple [dih-sahy-puh] noun

1. Religion
   1. One of the 12 personal followers of Christ.
   2. One of the 70 followers sent forth by Christ. Luke 10:1.
   3. Any other professed follower of Christ in His lifetime.
2. Any follower of Christ
3. A person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another; follower: “a disciple of Freud.”

Disciple: Your Identity

We spend much of our lives trying to get approved. Jobs have rigorous interviews. Colleges – and even some preschools — have intense application processes. Even getting a credit card requires a certain level of financial stability.

It’s in the midst of our performance-based culture that God offers us a free gift: becoming his disciple.

Surprisingly, Jesus doesn’t have a list of prerequisites we have to fulfill before becoming his disciple. He walked up to Matthew’s tax collector booth – maybe even while Matthew was in the middle of overcharging the poor and pocketing the surplus – and called him to be a disciple.

Action Step: As we near Thanks Giving, thank God for the gift of becoming his disciple. Express to God how much learning at his feet means to you.

Discipleship: Your Calling

As disciples, our mission is to follow God. We’re also called to disciple others. Take a look at Matthew 28:19-20 again. These were the last words Jesus spoke before leaving the earth. We should treat them like we would the dying wish of a loved one – with great weight and importance.

Jesus’ last words call us to not only be disciples, but also to make disciples. The Greek word for this is matheteuo. According to Bible Hub, it means, “helping someone to progressively learn the Word of God to become a matured, growing disciple.”

Action Step: Ask God who in your life he is calling you to disciple. Then, reach out to them and help them learn what it means to live as an authentic Christ follower.

Discipleship Resources

The idea of discipling someone is intimidating for many people. If the prospect feels a little overwhelming, start with these fantastic resources:

• 7 Principles of Biblical Discipleship
• 10 Ways to Disciple Brand-New Christians

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Bio:

Our guest poster, Amber Miller, is a board game fanatic, coffee enthusiast, and proponent of loud laughing. She lives in St. Louis with her husband, trying to further God’s kingdom one small step at a time. Visit her blog at liveandlaughloud.com.

[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/discipleship?s=t]

Day 8:Purpose

 “But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Exodus 9:16

Day 7:Redemption

redemption [ri-demp-shuh n] noun

1. an act of redeeming or atoning for a fault or mistake, or the state of being redeemed.
2. deliverance; rescue.
3. atonement for guilt.
4. repurchase, as of something sold.
5. recovery by payment, as of something pledged

Redemption is one of the most beautiful words in the whole of human language. The fact that One would atone for  the sin of another is inhuman … in fact, it’s divine. In Hebrew the word redemption transliterates as peduwth, which means, “a division or distinction; from the primary sense of cutting.” Cutting. The cutting of the whip in the flesh of Jesus … the cutting away of the bonds of sin from our hands and feet. The cutting away of old habits, attitudes and mindsets of the old life. The cutting away of sin and shame by the cutting of Jesus. Redemption enables us to live as God created us to be, righteous and free.

This Thanksgiving, let’s give thanks  to God for His gift of redemption.

Redemption of Purpose: Father, Your Word says we are Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which You prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  Thank You that You created us on purpose, for purpose. We confess we have used our gifts and talents for our own purposes. Please redeem every sinful act. We ask You to recommission our lives  for Your purpose. Thank You for calling us to live effective, significant, purposeful lives for You.

Redemption of our Mind: We thank You, Father, that You have given us a sound mind.  Your word says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength. May we use our mind as tools to pursue You rather than instruments of sin. Please redeem every sinful habitual thought pattern  by the truth of your Word. Thank you that You train our mind to think Your thoughts, that we might not sin against You.

Redemption of our Past: Dearest Father, we thank You that in Christ Jesus we have been completely redeemed. You have bought us back from the  bondage of the Enemy with the precious blood of Christ. We are now free to live as slaves of righteousness. Where we have squandered our talents and treasures on sin and pleasure, Your Word promises to restore the years “the locusts have eaten.” We give thanks that You give beauty for ashes. Every act and deed of our past has been redeemed for our good and Your glory. We truly thank you.

 More Redemption

Redeeming the Time a blog post by Jane VanOsdol

Walking with God a Bible study by Mary Kane

Comment

Please leave a comment below in the Speak Your Mind section on what God teaches you today about redemption.

redemption. Dictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sacrifice (accessed: November 15, 2014).

“Psalms 111 (New King James Version).” Blue Letter Bible. Sowing Circle. Web. 22 Nov, 2014. <http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Psa&c=111&p=0&rl=0&t=NKJV>.

Day 6:Service

“There was an abundance of burnt offerings, along with the usual liquid offerings, and a great deal of fat from the main peace offerings. So the Temple of the LORD was restored to service.” 2 Chronicles 29:35

Service [sur-vis] noun

1. an act of helpful activity; help; aid: to do someone a service.
2. the supplying or supplier of utilities or commodities, as water, electricity, or gas, required or demanded by the public.

verb

1. to make fit for use; repair; restore to condition for service: to service an automobile.
2. to supply with aid, information, or other incidental services.

Have you ever endured the breakdown of an appliance or other convenience at your home?

About one year ago, we purchased a new washing machine. Shortly after we bought it, it malfunctioned so I called the service department number. Unfortunately, the service department was going through a computer upgrade and as a new customer my information had not yet been entered into the old or the new system. I was assured it would happen the next day, and they instructed me to call back then. This same scene played out every day for 5 days. My impatience and anger grew as large as my mountain of unwashed laundry on the basement floor. My out-of-service washing machine was doing me no good.

Well, during the reign of King Ahaz, the people of Judah had an out-of-service problem too, but it wasn’t an appliance; it was much more serious than my inconvenience. They posted an out-of-service sign  on the door of the Temple. It closed due to the people’s freefall into idolatry and sin.

When Hezekiah became king, he reversed this slide into sin and, as we saw on Day 2, began cleansing the temple. The temple was cleansed, the people were cleansed, and sacrifices and burnt offerings were made. Today’s verse may seem a bit odd, talking about burnt offerings, liquid offerings, and fat ( well, then again, maybe not with Thanksgiving next week!), but then the writer of this books slips in this sentence, “so the Temple of the Lord was restored to service.” Now we see that this verse is actually cause for great celebration. For years the Temple had been closed. No worship, no cleansing of sins, no restoration. But now the out-of-service sign is ripped off the door and once again mercy and forgiveness are flowing.

Pray for Service

As we’ve already talked about this week, as New Testament Christians, we are temples for the Holy Spirit. What kind of signs are we hanging on the doors of our temples? Do they say “Out of Service” or “Open for Service”? I have to ask myself, do my attitude and actions draw people to the Lord or am I driving them away? Am I only concerned with my needs, or am I setting aside time to do

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