Porter Podcast

Series: Open House  

Hospitality & Discipleship 

I Thessalonians 2:8-12

models of discipleship

ü Family Discipleship 

ü Formal Discipleship Programs 

ü Face-to-Face Discipleship  

The smaller the circle, the greater the amount of influence. 

We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share

 with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

I Thessalonians 2:8

small groups are effective 

Most people are visual learners, or they learn through asking questions.

When people gather in small groups, family is formed.

Invariably, leaders are developed. 

Personal issues can be addressed.

why believers resist small groups

·      We are afraid of being embarrassed.

Vulnerability leads to Discipleship.

·      We don’t trust people. 

·      We forget the purpose of gathering.

·      We don’t think we know how to do it. 

small group advice 

1.    Be intentional to connect with a small group.

2.    Meet with your group off campus.

3.    Keep it simple: pray, study scripture, talk and eat. 

4.    Give it time. 

Series: Open House

Hospitality to Strangers

The Gospel of Luke

Hospitality reveals that God is a welcoming God.

Hebrews 13:2

Jesus frequently used a social gathering to evangelize the lost and build disciples.   There is generosity in serving a meal, humility in receiving one, and fellowship in eating together.

Luke 5:31-32

Luke 15:1-2

Luke 19: 10

the power of hospitality

·      It displays value.

·      It breaks down barriers:  barriers of perception, proximity and apathy.

·      It reveals the unique character of Christians.

Hospitality Warnings 

There will be an internal resistance to a hospitable lifestyle.

We will constantly struggle to balance Grace and Truth.

There is a cost to hospitality.

Hospitality Starter Kit

Take an inventory of your network. 

            Diagram your neighborhood…    

Do your prayer work. 

Develop an intentional strategy.

·      Practice hospitality at church.

·      Utilize your home as a missional outpost.

o   Connect with people in your network.

o   Look for the lonely. 

o   Minister to internationals/students.

Remember the Gospel.

Series: Open House

A Welcoming God

Various Scriptures

what is hospitality? 

Hospitality is “the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.”

Hospitality is not simply about what you do; it is about who you are.

Our hospitality or lack of it reveals what we think about people, what we think about ourselves, and what we understand about God. 

hospitality theology

God is a Welcoming God. 

·      This is revealed in and through His Creation. 

God is a circle-expanding God – He enjoys bringing more into His fellowship.  

·      This is understood through His pursuit of self-made strangers. 

·      This is illustrated through the “Dwell” motif seen throughout Scripture. 

Genesis 3:8; Exodus 25:8; I Kings 8:10-13; John 1:14

John 14:16-18; John 14:1-3: Revelation 21:1-3 

God loves to see hospitality in His children.

Our sinful nature complicates this. 

            Leviticus 19:33-34; Acts 2:44-45; I Timothy 3:2               Romans 12:13; I Peter 4:9

The Gospel enables and informs our hospitality.

Because we are sinful by nature, we must be transformed by the gospel. 

We can expand the circle because we are confident in our acceptance.

Those touched by the gospel love people.

The gospel enables selflessness. 

                                                                                    Romans 5:6-8

Series: Relationship Status

Widowed

I Corinthians 7

Regardless of your relationship status, your role is always to glorify God. 

foundational truth about the widowed 

·      God loves the widowed.

·      God expects His people to care for the vulnerable. 

·      God expects His people to glorify Him in all circumstances, even in grief. 

glorifying God through loss

Give yourself permission to grieve. 

 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that 

you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

I Thessalonians 4:13

Remain faithful to Jesus.

Ø You have the opportunity to trust God.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. 

He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4   

Ø Your pain is the greatest opportunity for witness.

Pursue joy through Christ.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

Philippians 4:4-5 

Stay connected to people.

Look for opportunities to serve the church community.

Let others serve you.

Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: 

to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 1:27

Keep your eyes on the hope to come.

Today’s Takeaway:

Series: Relationship Status

Divorce

  I Corinthians 7

Regardless of your relationship status, your role is always to glorify God. 

divorce facts

God hates divorce, not divorced people.

Malachi 2:13-16

Divorce always hurts someone.

Divorce always involves sin.

Sometimes God permits divorce. 

when divorce is permitted

·      in instances of infidelity

Malachi 2:13-16

·      when your spouse abandons you

Malachi 2:13-16

·      in cases where abuse is present

What if you are divorced for an unbiblical reason?

glorifying God as a divorced person

Extend forgiveness to your ex-husband or ex-wife.

Don’t try to justify your divorce to others. 

Never demean your ex-spouse. 

If possible, make amends to those you have hurt. 

Help people with relationship struggles, but don’t promote divorce.

Stay involved in church.

Don’t let Satan make you believe you are not loved by God. 

Today’s Takeaway

Series: Relationship Status

Married

I Corinthians 7

Regardless of your relationship status, your role is always to glorify God. 

definition of marriage

Marriage is a public covenant to a lifelong monogamous, heterosexual relationship. 

why is marriage a struggle?

·      Marriage is the merging of two wills.

·      Most people’s love language is Love of Self.

·      You are married to a sinner.  

God receives great glory from healthy marriages.  

steps for a healthy marriage

Take your own sanctification very seriously; give grace to your spouse. 

 Sacrificially love your spouse.

  Be faithful to your spouse.  

 Don’t punish your spouse. 

  Don’t keep score.  

            Our goal in marriage is to model Christ’s sacrificial love.

            Love Advice:

                        Small actions mean a lot to women; 

                        touch means a lot to a man; 

                        time means a lot to everyone. 

  Forgive quickly.  

Raise your children in the Lord.

Find your contentment in Christ.  

Series: Relationship Status

Single

I Corinthians 7

Regardless of your relationship status, your role is always to glorify God. 

Discussing singleness is difficult because... 

The one who is speaking about being single is not single.  

People who are single have vastly different views about being single.  

Being single is difficult.  Loneliness, sexual temptation, and financial/domestic issues are often real struggles for singles. 

I Corinthians 7  

Glorifying God as a Single 

Be content in your relationship with Christ.

Neither marriage nor singleness can satisfy your heart. Only Christ can do that! 

Singleness is portrayed as honorable in scripture.  

Contentment doesn’t mean you do not desire or pursue marriage.   

Don’t settle; wait for God’s best.                            

Maintain purity.                        

Use your time to serve God. 

Today’s Takeaways

1.    Every season of life is for God’s glory.

2.    Purity is the expectation of every Christian, regardless of age or life stage. 

3.    God has given singles the unique opportunity to invest their life/time for the gospel. 

4.    Churches should intentionally incorporate singles into the family life of the body. 

5.    If a person is not satisfied in Christ, changing his/her relationship status will not change that.  

Romans 1:16-17

Series: Jesus – In His Own Words

I am the Vine

John 15:1-11

seven “I AM” statements  

·      They show that Jesus publicly embraced His divinity. 

·      They reveal the importance of believing in Christ. 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.

John 15:1-4a

This passage is Good News.  It is intended to encourage believers, not discourage them. 

Good News

Jesus actively works in your life to bring fruit from you.     

Your connection to Christ is already secure.

Your connection to Christ enables you to love.

Union with Christ can refer to your position in Christ.

Union with Christ can refer to the intimacy you have with God through Christ. 

Christianity IS NOT doing something so God will love you.

Christianity IS receiving His love and doing something. 

Remain in His Love:  The Gospel Response

1.   Understand what things stir your affection for Jesus.

2.   Limit activities that rob your love for Him.  

“I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

John 15:11

the Gospel Response: 

         Remain in His love; Trust in His goodness.