Passage – Various

Memory Verse:

“until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13, NIV)

The first of three words that guide us toward deeper dimensions of discipleship is:

1. _______________: What is a Disciple?

• Follower (Matt. 4:19).
• Learner (Matt. 11:29).
• Imitator (Luke 6:40)

Next is:

2. _____________: How do we Imitate Jesus?

• A Yoke of Submission (Matt. 11:29-30).
• A Cup of Suffering (Matt. 10:37-40).
• A Towel of Servanthood (John 13:3-4, 14-15).

And the third word is:

3. _________: What are the Seven Dimensions?

• The Bible (Psa. 19:7-14; 119).
• The Mission (Acts 1:8).
• Prayer (Matt. 6:5-13).
• Worship (Acts 2:44-47; Eph. 5:18-20)
• The Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11; Acts 1:4-8)
• Service (1 Pet. 4:10)
• Generosity (Prov. 3:9; 1 Cor. 16:1-4)

Conclusion:

A Christ-centered disciple is a follower, learner, and imitator of Jesus. As His disciples, we spend our lives growing primarily in these seven dimensions:

1. Bible – Grow in our knowledge of God’s Word.
2. Mission – Live on mission every day, not just Sunday.
3. Prayer – Listen and talk to God.
4. Worship – Express public and private adoration and honor of God by the things we do and our lifestyle.
5. Holy Spirit – Walk in the leading of the Holy Spirit.
6. Service – Use our gifts to grow God’s kingdom.
7. Generosity – Generously invest our time, treasure, and talents.

How are you doing in your learning and growing as a disciple? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (great) to 4 (not so great) in each of the seven dimensions.

Challenge: Prayerfully write out a plan on how you are going to improve in the dimensions you see weakness.

Would you like to pray with someone today?

Share your decision or prayer need today by clicking on the Next Step button/link or the prayer button/link.

NEXT WEEK: Part 2, The Bible

Answer Key:

Know

Be

Do

You can share what God is saying to you today by telling Pastor Blake about it on your Next Step form. Click this link to share your spiritual step with Pastor Blake.

Watch our Livestream each week HERE

Passage – John 11:17-22

Memory Verse:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3, NIV)

We first learn about:

1. His ______________ of Resurrection (John 11:17-27)

• Jesus brings hope in the depths of despair.
• In Jesus is found resurrection and life.
• Where are you putting your hope?

Jesus not only promises a resurrected life for all who believe:

2. He is _____________ in Our Pain (John 11:28-37)

• Jesus feels our pain and sorrow.
• Our sorrow troubles Jesus (Rom. 12:15).
• Do you feel like you’re all alone in the struggles you’re facing now?

Jesus promises us a resurrected life, He is present in our suffering, and:

3. He has _____________ Over Death (John 11:38-44, 53)

• Jesus proves He has power over death and the grave!
• His power over death proves His identity, declared by Martha in verse 27.
• Have you declared Jesus’ identity with your words and actions?

Conclusion:

Jesus promises a resurrected life that begins the moment you surrender your life to Him. Because the Son of God came as a mortal man, He can empathize with everything we face in life (Heb. 4:15).

And He has proven that He has power over death and the grave by first raising Lazarus back to his mortal body, and then, even more meaningful, rising from the dead with His immortal body as the first fruits of the resurrection promised to us!

Do you struggle with the idea that Jesus literally and physically rose from the dead? Consider what Chuck Colson, Nixon’s special counsel on Watergate and henchman, said about it: “I know the Resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, and then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Everyone was beaten, tortured, stoned, and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world, and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks. You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible” (Chuck Colson, quoted in Marty Angelo, “How Chuck Colson’s Legacy of Hope Lives On,” Prison Fellowship, April 16, 2018, https://www.prisonfellowship.org/2018/04/chuck-colsons-legacy-hope-lives/#).

Because God is a God who raises people from the dead, we have hope—not just for our eternal state with God but hope for now, in the abundant life God gives.

Are you hopeful? What do you base that hope on? Is your hope secure and unwavering, no matter your circumstances?

You can put your hope in the resurrected Christ, who is faithful and sure. Come back next Sunday for our series on the seven dimensions of a Spirit-filled follower of Jesus and learn how to live in that hope now.

Are you ready to put your trust in the resurrected Savior today?

Are you feeling hopeless in your current circumstances?

Would you like to pray with someone today?

Share your decision or prayer need today by clicking on a Next Step button/link or the prayer button/link.

NEXT WEEK: Part 1, 7 Dimensions of a Spirit-filled Christ-follower

Answer Key:

Promise

Presence

Power

You can share what God is saying to you today by telling Pastor Blake about it on your Next Step form. Click this link to share your spiritual step with Pastor Blake.

Watch our Livestream each week HERE