Disciple​:​ one who accepts and assists in spreading the ​doctrines​ of another.

In Christ we have an even greater level of discipleship in that we are called to not only follow Him, but to put on His nature (​Colossians 3)​.

Colossians 2:6-8 ESV

"6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

We are being pressured by our culture to ​celebrate certain things and condemn certain things based all based on the elemental spirits of the world, human tradition and not according to Christ. (​Colossians 2:8)​

What does it mean to walk as a disciple?

● Remain faithful to Christ as our sure foundation no matter the cost.

● Let everything be filtered through the lens of God’s eternal truth.

● Fight for the truth to remain central in your life.

Nicky Gumbel

“God has given us a conscience so that we know that some things are ‘good’ and others are ‘evil’. But our consciences can be dulled and they need to be sharpened by objective truth.”

1 Peter 5:8-9 ESV

"8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."

Remember the Three F’s of Loving the Truth:

1. Keep Christ as your ​Foundation.

2. Filter​ everything through the truth of the word of God.

3. Fight​ for Biblical truth in your life.

Matthew 28:18​-20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Mark 3:13​-14 ESV

13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach

John 17:1-4 ESV

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

Romans 10:14​-15 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Genesis 12:2-3 (ESV)

“2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 15:13​-16a (ESV)

13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation…

Acts 14:22​ (ESV)

strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

1. Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Joseph

2. Joseph had two dreams.

3. Joseph’s brothers are filled with hatred.

4. Joseph’s brothers release their rage.

Genesis 37:19​-20 (ESV)

19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”

5. Reuben tries to save Joseph.

6. Joseph is sold as a slave to a passing caravan.

7. The brothers lie to their father Jacob.

8. The brothers believe that’s the end of that dreamer.

9. Potiphar buys Joseph.

10. The Lord is with Joseph.

11. Potiphar’s wife tries to seduce Joseph.

12. Potiphar’s wife slanders Joseph.

13. Joseph is falsely imprisoned.

14. Joseph serves the jailer faithfully.

15. The baker and the cupbearer.

16. Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams.

17. Joseph becomes second in command.

18. The seven years of plenty.

19. The seven years of famine.

20. Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt.

21. Joseph reveals himself to his brothers.

22. Joseph moves his family to Egypt.

God’s Sovereignty in the story of Joseph

1. God Sent (Gen. 45:4-5)

2. God Meant (Gen. 50:19​-20)

Genesis 45:4-5 (ESV)

“4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.”

Genesis 50:19​-20 (ESV)

19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

Genesis 49:10​ (ESV)

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”

Can my dream live? Can my marriage live? Can my finances live? Can my health live again? Ezekiel 37:1-14 ESV 1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. 11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”

Haggai 1:2-8 ESV

What are the immediate steps you need to take to obey what God is commanding you to do?

16. Do not be anxious.

Matthew 6:25​-34 ESV

17. Called to be salt and light.

Matthew 5:13​-16 ESV

• You are salt.

• You are the light.

18. To live as an overcome.

Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-29 NKJV

Revelation 3:5-6, 12-13, 21-22 NKJV

ESV uses the word conqueror.

NIV uses the word victorious.

NKJV uses the word overcome.

MY CHALLENGE TO US FOR 2021

1. To seek first the Kingdom of God.

2. To pursue God with your whole heart.

3. To fear the Lord…it is the beginning of knowledge.

4. To read God’s word daily in faith.

5. To worship God in song, in prayer, and in meditation daily.

6. To invite the Holy Spirit to consume you with His presence and power.

7. To fully know God’s love and to be filled with the fullness of God.

8. To live with the knowledge that you have been set free.

9. To live in faith and by faith.

10. To fulfill God’s plan for your life.

11. To daily give place to the Holy Spirit.

12. To love our enemies.

13. To bless those who wrong you and persecute you.

14. Time to be peacemakers.

15. Invest in that which is eternal.

16. Don’t be anxious.

17. Called to be salt and light.

18. To live as an overcome.

Bible in One Year 2021 with Nicky Gumbel

Don't forget to join us for our year long Bible devotional.

https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/23472

MY CHALLENGE TO US FOR 2021

Points 1-14 from parts one and two.

1. To seek first the Kingdom of God.

2. To pursue God with your whole heart.

3. To fear the Lord…it is the beginning of knowledge.

4. To read God’s word daily in faith.

5. To worship God in song, in prayer, and in meditation daily.

6. To invite the Holy Spirit to consume you with His presence and power.

7. To fully know God’s love and to be filled with the fullness of God.

8. To live with the knowledge that you have been set free.

9. To live in faith and by faith.

10. To fulfill God’s plan for your life.

11. To daily give place to the Holy Spirit.

12. To love our enemies.

13. To bless those who wrong you and persecute you.

14. Time to be peacemakers.

Haggai 1:2-8 ESV

15. Invest in that which is eternal.

Matthew 6:19​-24 ESV

16. Do not be anxious.

Matthew 6:25​-34 ESV

17. Called to be Salt and Light.

Matthew 5:13​-16 ESV

Bible in One Year 2021 with Nicky Gumbel

Don't forget to join us for our year long Bible devotional.

https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/23472

Haggai 1:2-9 ESV

MY CHALLENGE TO US FOR 2021

Points 1-10 from part one.

1. To seek first the Kingdom of God.

2. To pursue God with your whole heart.

3. To fear the Lord…it is the beginning of knowledge.

4. To read God’s word daily in faith.

5. To worship God in song, in prayer, and in meditation daily.

6. To invite the Holy Spirit to consume you with His presence and power.

7. To fully know God’s love and to be filled with the fullness of God.

8. To live with the knowledge that you have been set free.

9. To live in faith and by faith.

10. To fulfill God’s plan for your life.

11. To daily give place to the Holy Spirit.

John 14:15​-17, 26 ESV

John 15:26​ ESV

Acts 1:8 ESV

Acts 2:14​-41 ESV

12. To love our enemies.

Matthew 5:43​-48 ESV

13. To bless those who wrong you and persecute you.

Matthew 5:10​-12 ESV 14.

Time to be peacemakers.

Matthew 5:9 ESV

15. Invest in that which is eternal.

Matthew 6:19​-24 ESV

Bible in One Year 2021 with Nicky Gumble

Don't forget to join us for our year long Bible devotional.

https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/23472

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV

1. To seek first the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

2. To pursue God with your whole heart.

Psalm 42:1-2 ESV

Proverbs 3:5-10 ESV

3. To fear the Lord…it is the beginning of knowledge.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

4. To read God’s word daily in faith.

John 1:1-5, 9-18 ESV

Bible in One Year 2021 with Nicky Gumble

https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/23472

Psalm 148:13-14 ESV

Psalm 145:1-9 ESV

6. To invite the Holy Spirit to consume you with His presence and power.

Acts 1:4-8 ESV

7. To fully know God’s love and to be filled with the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV

8. To live with the knowledge that you have been set free.

John 8:36 ESV

9. To live in faith and by faith.

Hebrews 11:1-3, 6 ESV

10. To fulfill God’s plan for your life.

Romans 8:28 ESV

Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV

1 Timothy 6:6 NIV

People today live in one of two tents:

1. Content

2. Discontent

Philippians 4:10-13 NIV

The Answer to Discontentment:

• “I can accept all things”, v11

• “I can do all things”, v13

• “I can have all things”, v18

How do I live out contentment?

1. Honor the source of provision.

Philippians 4:14-18 NIV

Contentment breeds generosity.

Philippians 4:17 NIV

Mark 12:41-44 NIV

Generosity helps cultivate an awareness of things that really matter and creates opportunities that make a real difference in the world.

How do I live out contentment?

2. Generosity understands abundance.

Philippians 4:19 NIV

Giving up something now for something better later is not a sacrifice but an investment.

Generosity breeds obedience.

Any Act of Obedience Releases:

1. Presence

2. Power

Matthew 5:16 NIV

When I place my discontented attitude on the altar of gratitude I develop a contented heart that captivates culture.

Philippians 4:12 MSG

Luke 2:1-20 ESV

Imagine Mary when the angel of the Lord came to her.

Imagine Joseph when Mary tells him she is pregnant, by the Holy Spirit.

Imagine the shepherds when the angel of Lord came and announced the birth of Christ the child.

Imagine the Christ child, born and lying in a manger.