In the New Testament, believers in Christ were called “followers of the Way” and later called Christians because their values and ways of living reflected the self-sacrificial, human dignifying, and god-glorifying characteristics of Jesus’ way of living

Discipleship has to do with more than simply learning and serving. It has to include a way of being. Jesus didn’t merely walk with the disciples to teach them concepts about God’s kingdom, but to demonstrate it tangibly and challenge their feelings about it.

One of the glorious beauties of the Christian faith is that when believed and behaved properly, it gives a positive approach to who we are in relation to God, ourselves, others, and creation. Too much time in religion is spent on those things to avoid rather than those things to approach. We want to present those things to approach that satisfy our souls, serve others, and glorify God.

 

LIVESTREAM

 
 
 

scripture

Galatians 5:22-25

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Discussion Questions

The text teaches us that those who are led, living, and walking by the Spirit will be faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. This means that we will repent from the dishonesty that causes us to exaggerate our capacity, independence, and dependence that lead to quitting, harshness, and self-indulgence.

  • In what ways do you find yourself over-promising and under-delivering?

  • With whom do you find yourself being the most harsh?

  • Who are the people or possessions without which you feel you cannot live?

We learned that Jesus was always truthful and honest, but was rejected as a false witness and dishonest teacher. Walking by the Spirit empowers us to believe that Jesus confronts our dishonest, unfaithful, harsh, and self-indulgent ways to redeem us as honest, faithful, gentle, self-controlled trophies of grace. 

The call to action was two-fold:

  1. Practice confession.

    • What aspects of your life have you been reluctant to confess?

  2. Prioritize character over competence.

    • How can you create margin in your life to focus on character development?

COMMUNITY COMMUNION LITURGY

INTRODUCTION

Each week, our goal is to call attention to both our need for Christ and His availability to us. On the night Jesus was betrayed and served as our substitute on the cross, he took two elements of the Passover meal to invite us in a faithful participation of His sacrifice. 

He took bread, broke it, and declared it to be His body and commanded that we eat it. As we consume it, we are reminded that Christ was broken for us.

Later he took the cup, declared it to be His blood and commanded that we drink it. As we do, we are partaking of a new promise of renewal by the blood of Christ.

We are to examine ourselves as we partake so that we don’t eat the bread or drink the cup in an unworthy manner. That is not to say, examine your worth. The only thing that makes you worthy is the sin that made Christ’s sacrifice necessary. Recognizing your need for renewal is the proper way to approach this rite.

PARTAKING

When the Savior of the world was stretched out on the tree of death, His body was broken and His blood spilled out transforming heaven and earth.

May His body and blood change and transform us.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. May His body and blood change and transform us.

benediction

May the spirit of God lead us to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as we follow the way of Jesus for the glory of God. Amen.