Don’t forget when you’re done taking notes to click the “email” button at the bottom to save your message notes and email them to yourself!
Introduction:
A New Year means new beginnings, and even though you desire to move forward, it can sometimes feel like you have fallen short of your goals and expectations. Whether it seems like life’s circumstances are piling up, your mind can’t get through a mental block, or your emotions are paralyzing you, you can pick yourself back up and move forward this year.
God can help you align your focus so that you can take your spiritual growth to the next level.
“The Lord helps all who fall; he raises up all who are oppressed.” —Psalm 145:14
This collection will help you reset your priorities for the new year. This collection of talks will include:
January 5th/8th Lifting Your Prayer Time
January 12th/15th Lifting Your Discipleship (Dr. David Nelms, TTI)
January 19th/22nd Lifting Your Bible Study
January 26th/29th Lifting Your Serving
February 2nd/5th Lifting Your Generosity
February 9th/12th Lifting the Vision: Super Vision Weekend
David serves as Founder & President of TTI. He casts vision and gives direction to TTI as disciple makers impact the world for Christ. David is a former senior pastor and had success in growing three different churches in Maryland, Iowa, and Florida. He has been a trustee on the board of Luther Rice Seminary and has taught all over the world. David received a Master of Arts degree from Moody Bible Institute, a Master of Divinity from Luther Rice University and his Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice University. David is married to his lovely wife, Loretta. They have three grown children and five grandchildren. Visit their website here
Text: Matthew 22:35-40 (CSB, New Testament)
Today’s Takeaway: Love God, love people.
Week 2 - Lifting Your Discipleship
THE BELIEVER’S PRIMARY MOTIVATION – WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
I. WE LOVE
“And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: 36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?”
37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command.” —Matthew 22:35-38
“And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.” —Revelation 5:9
II. WE LOVE
“The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” —Matthew 22:39
III.
TOLD US TO
“Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” —Matthew 22:36
“This is the greatest and most important command.” —Matthew 22:38
“All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” —Matthew 22:40
“Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” —Luke 9:23
CONCLUSION: Will you carry out God’s Great Command?
DEEP DIVE QUESTIONS:
Discuss what a proper love for God does to our motives and actions.
When’s the last time you told someone about Jesus?
What do you think is stopping you from obeying the Great Commission?
Will you strive to make a disciple-maker this year?
Upcoming Events at City United
1. Church APP and Website Rundown - Sunday, January 22, 11:45a.m. - 12:45p.m.
We are here to help you! During this time we will show you how to navigate church groups, the app, the website, and much more. If you have ever wondered where or how to find something, this is the perfect opportunity to find out! Meet us after the 10:30 gathering upstairs in Room 1 of building 3. Members of our web and communications team will be there to assist you in whatever you need to make getting information easier.
2. Membership and Baptism Sunday, January 29: Membership Sunday is a time when we honor those who have taken their Next Steps and are ready to make City United Church their church home. We will be recognizing them at the end of our online and campus gatherings. If you would like more information on taking this next step, please email the church office at office@cityunited.church. We will have baptisms during the 10:30 a.m. on-campus gathering.
If you have questions or would like to sign up to be biblically baptized, visit cityunited.church/events, choose Baptism and click on the link.
3. NEXT 2023 Annual Offering: We are a contagiously generous church! November 1, 2022 - February 28, 2023
Be praying about how you can make an impact locally and globally through our NEXT Annual Offering. As we enter our second year of our church’s 5-year vision, we will be laser-focused on what is NEXT for us, staying outreach-focused and intentional on reaching people for a more significant Gospel impact in our community, New England, and around the world. For more information on our 5-year vision, visit www.cityunited.church/future. Over this next year, we will be focused on enlarging, equipping, encouraging, and executing a flexible plan to make a significant Kingdom impact. For more information on the ministry initiatives that this year’s annual offering will fund, visit www.cityunited.church/next.