Church of The Open Door Sermons

“Enough” 2 Timothy 1:1 1. Facing circumstances that undermine hope Setting of death Sentenced to death Surrounded by death 2. Finding the secret of unstoppable hope Root your identity in Christ Entrust your future to Christ Deepen your relationship with Christ Christ is our hope; and Christ is enough. LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life Describe a time in your life when you were facing a set of circumstances where it felt to you like all hope was […]

Easter 2019 “Hope is Alive” 1 Peter 1:3 1. Everybody has a story.           You and I have a story.           Jesus has a story.           Peter has a story. 2. Everybody’s stories are full of:           the unexpected           hope and hurt           joy and grief           false hopes Jesus will […]

Disciple:  Jesus’ Plan for Discipleship “Develop Understanding Through Classes” Acts 4:13, Luke 19:48, Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus is the Master Teacher– We are Life Long Learners Jesus Taught for Transformation– Our Teaching is Not About Information Information < Knowledge < Understanding Proximity to Jesus ≠ Transformation Knowledge– Beliefs– Attitudes– Skills– Habits Jesus Corrected the Dominant Thinking of the Day- Our Teaching is Centered on the Word of God through the Power of the Holy Spirit RightNow Media BiblicalTraining.org Loving God/Loving People/Living […]

DISCIPLE: Jesus’ Plan for Discipleship“Disciple Others in a DIG”Luke 8:51f, 9:28f, 22:39f Why did Jesus create the Inner Circle?a. So he could have intensive time with themb. For more training in discipleshipc. For accelerated growth in discipleshipA Discipleship Intensive Group is 3 to 5 followers of Jesus meeting weekly around the Word of Godfor accelerated growth in becoming like Christ. What did the disciples learn in the Inner Circle/DIG?a. Lessons on healingb. Lessons on Jesus’ unique relationship with the Fatherc. […]

DISCIPLE: Jesus’ Plan for Discipleship “Do ministry as a lifestyle” Galatians 5:13; Eph. 4:11-12; Luke 4:1-40 When we hear “do ministry” we typically divide into 3 groups: a. I don’t think I can do that. b. I don’t want to do that. c. I can’t wait to do that. We can do ministry once we: a. Learn what ministry is Doing ministry is serving others in love. b. Realize we’ve been called to do ministry c. See examples of what […]

DISCIPLE: Jesus’ Plan for Discipleship “Deepen Your Roots in LifeGroups” Mark 3:13-4:34 When we hear “do ministry” we typically divide into 3 groups: a. I don’t think I can do that. b. I don’t want to do that. c. I can’t wait to do that. We can do ministry once we: a. Learn what ministry is Doing ministry is serving others in love. b. Realize we’ve been called to do ministry c. See examples of what ministry looks like Disciples […]

“Devote” Acts 2:42, Psalm 119:97-105 If you want to grow as a disciple of Jesus, the most important thing to do is to devote yourself to the Word of God. How to love the Word of God: Meditate on it. Memorize it. Obey it. Live it. Share it. Benefits of loving God’s Word: It will give you wisdom. It will give you insight. It will give you discernment. It will give you direction. When we love the Word of God […]

“The Discipleship Process” Matthew 28:19-20 The discipleship process is the process of becoming…like Christ. Real transformation is possible as we follow Jesus throughout the process of discipleship. LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Your Life When did you first “discover discipleship”? Was it at the same time you got saved or some time later? If later, how much later? and how did you discover it? What is your biggest hindrance in DEVOTING yourself to the word of God? If you’ve […]

DISCIPLE: The Way of Discipleship “Stages of Growth as a Disciple” Hebrews 5:13-14; 1 John 2:12-14 Everyone in every stage needs to grow. Everyone in every stage needs love, Scripture, encouragement. Natural age is not equivalent to spiritual stage. 1. Spiritual Newborn: Beginning in Christ Positives: excited, discovering, hungry Tendencies: naïve, easily led astray, confused Needs: basic teaching, re-assurance, modeling 2. Spiritual Child: Young in Christ Positives: enthusiastic about knowing God, learning, serving Tendencies: self-absorbed, judgmental, inconsistent Needs: extensive teaching, […]

DISCIPLE: The Way of Discipleship “Become: How we grow to become more like Christ” Romans 8:28-29 The Holy Spirit uses five main things to help us become more like Christ: Situations in Life a. Suffering b. Stress c. Temptation Scripture Reveals God to us Shapes and trains our thinking Equips us to live a godly life Teaches us Christ’s character Strategic Relationships a. Family b. Friends c. Authority figures Serving As a part of the body of Christ As a […]