Today, we embark on a new series titled “Crossover,” focusing on the journey from merely following Jesus to truly being like Him. Many Christians stop at the first step of discipleship, which is following Jesus, but fail to take the next step of embodying His character in their daily lives. This series aims to bridge that gap, encouraging us to not only follow Jesus but to be like Him in our homes, workplaces, and communities.
We began by discussing the importance of discipleship and how it extends beyond just following Jesus. True discipleship involves being like Jesus to others, which requires a deeper commitment and understanding. I shared a story about a man who, despite initially being an atheist, read the Bible cover to cover and eventually became a leader in the church. However, he later lost his way because he stopped at being a follower and didn’t progress to being like Jesus to others.
The essence of this series is to move beyond the initial steps of salvation and church attendance to a life of transformation and renewal. We need to posture ourselves differently towards life, adopting attitudes of gratitude, authenticity, praise, and hope. These postures will help us navigate the complexities of life without being burdened by the constant need to discern right from wrong, a burden that was never ours to carry.
We also touched on the story of Adam and Eve, emphasizing that their expulsion from Eden was an act of grace, not punishment. God wanted to relieve them of the burden of deciding right and wrong, a burden that leads to spiritual death. Jesus has restored our relationship with God, allowing us to live a life free from this burden.
In the coming weeks, we will explore four key postures: gratitude, authenticity, praise, and hope. These postures will help us write the next chapter of our story, moving from a life of mere salvation to one of abundant living and supernatural power. We are called to be different, to have a different kind of faith, perspective, values, and passion. This transformation will not only change our lives but also impact our communities and the world.
### Key Takeaways
1. **Discipleship Beyond Following**: True discipleship involves more than just following Jesus; it requires being like Him in every aspect of our lives. This means embodying His character and teachings in our homes, workplaces, and communities. It’s a challenging journey but essential for spiritual growth and impact. [01:45]
2. **The Burden of Right and Wrong**: The story of Adam and Eve teaches us that the burden of deciding right from wrong leads to spiritual death. Jesus has relieved us of this burden, allowing us to live a life of freedom and joy. We need to posture ourselves towards peace and not stress, trusting that Jesus has already taken care of what is right and wrong. [19:59]
3. **Postures for Transformation**: Adopting postures of gratitude, authenticity, praise, and hope can transform our lives. These attitudes help us navigate life’s complexities without being overwhelmed by the need to discern right from wrong. They enable us to live a life of abundance and supernatural power. [10:51]
4. **Living in Eternity, Not the Moment**: Our salvation turns a moment into an eternity, but many of us still live in the moment, burdened by daily worries. Embracing our eternal perspective allows us to face life’s challenges with confidence and joy, knowing that we have access to all the spiritual blessings God has provided. [35:25]
5. **The Power of Our Story**: Our personal stories of faith and transformation are powerful tools against the enemy. They not only testify to God’s work in our lives but also have the power to defeat Satan. By living out our story with a different perspective of faith, values, passion, and purpose, we can impact our communities and the world. [49:35]
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