Watermark Bible Church, Portsmouth, Virginia

Over the last year and half our culture and our world has been told about the importance of distancing and isolating. For longer than that, we’ve been trained to be very introspective and to discover our own identity. At the core of humanity is this bent toward safety and self. However, when Jesus prays in John chapter 17 He prays for something so much more. He prays that the church would come together and be known by her unity. It is that unity, Jesus says, which teaches the world about God. We are called to be the answer to Jesus’ prayer. So, during this next year we’ll explore God’s call for community in the Minor Prophets as we unite Together for the 757.

We are wrapping up our Disciples making Disciples series this week in exciting fashion. We’ll see being a disciple maker requires the qualities of a soldier, and athlete, and a farmer without those qualities you risk never completing the task. However, when we are focused God creates a legacy of impact that reaches down the generations. Make sure to take part in this exciting conclusion.

Have you ever been caught off guard by something or someone? It’s not a very fun feeling, is it? Sometimes we can be caught off guard when disciple-making opportunities are right in front of us. No matter where we are in our walk with Jesus we always need to be praying for God to open doors. We’ll learn that from Paul, a master disciple-maker, this week.

If you’ve ever seen an animal in captivity and then seen an animal in the wild you know there is a big difference. The animal behaves differently and depending on the animal we respond differently. Well, this week we are examining what it’s like to live free, in the wild, as opposed to the safety of Christian captivity. It’s going to be exciting.

We’ve all had conversations that have changed the course of our lives. We’ll always remember where we were when we heard certain news or talked with people in a certain way. This Sunday we’ll talk about a conversation like that. It’s a conversation that Jesus just had to have.

Have you ever had high expectations for something only to have them exceeded by the actual event. Jesus sends his followers out to represent him and that comes with a lot of expectation. It can stir up fear, excitement, adventure, and the list goes on. This week we’ll explore how Jesus sent his first disciples out. That experience provides us with some fascinating discoveries with how we’re sent as well.

Have you ever had your heart broken? Have you ever experienced the sting that is so deep that the hurt and pain seemed to linger around? If so, you are in good company, Jesus experienced heartache also. Jesus had a heart for others. As we continue our series, Disciples Making Disciples, we will see how Jesus showed compassion to all people and challenges you to do the same.

Sometimes there are people in life we’d love to be around, but for whatever reason we can’t. So, we opt for the next best thing, being around people who know them best. Why? Because when you’ve been around people long enough they rub off on us. We take on some their mannerisms, tell the same stories, view life the same way. As we continue our series, Disciples Making Disciples, we’ll look at who a disciple is. You’ll surely be encouraged that a disciple can be any one of us, we just have to follow.

Jesus doesn’t merely teach about God’s concern for people; He sends out His followers to serve them. Now, that might sound a little intimidating. However, the disciples Jesus chose to send were everyday people who could relate well to other everyday people. He didn’t choose the pastors and religious leaders of the day, He mainly chose fisherman. And now He chooses to send you. The church is at her best when every Christ-follower takes seriously the imperative “to make disciples”. During our next thought provoking sermon series, Disciples Making Disciples, we’ll explore just how we can grow in our effectiveness in accomplishing the mission we’ve been given.

Sometimes we ask the wrong questions. We are continuing our series looking at stories of hope. This next story is the story of the sower. It’s easy to miss the point of the parable because we get distracted with other questions. This Sunday we’ll focus on the purpose of the story and you’ll be sure to be encouraged by the plans God has for you.