Batter Up! - Get in the Game
January 30, 2022

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Batter Up! - Get in the Game

Discipleship
New Season
Our Core Values
Going Deeper
How? Jesus is our example

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

““Therefore go and make

of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

It starts with us - changing the way with think about Discipleship
New VDS

James 1:22-25 (NIV)

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

People who do the stuff
The game

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gets to play!
How is God calling you to get into the game this year?

1. Getting in the game: Training

1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict

. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

3 Elements of good training

A. Coaching

God provides people to equip and mentor

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to

his people for , so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

The on-deck circle

Who has been a mentor to you?

B. Teaching

Acts 2:42 (NIV)

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’

and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

4 Bases, 4 Quarterly Classes

Called to be lifelong learners

C. Self-Discipline

Personal responsibility

As we grow we learn to feed ourselves

Hebrews 5:13-14 (NIV)

“Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have

to distinguish good from evil.”

Spiritual disciplines

First Base

choose the option that works for you!

2. Getting into the game: Practice

How do we get good at something?

No shortcuts

Get better at a game the more you

!

Matthew 7:24

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into

is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Doing the activity over and over

Even if you’re not good at it yet!

How do you get from one base to the next?

One

after another

Don’t just walk, run!

1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners

, but only one gets the prize? in such a way as to get the prize.”

Action steps to take in between classes

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Not doing it alone

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”

Go for it! With mentors cheering us on

3. Getting into the game: Perseverance

The game isn’t over for you

Stay in the game!

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

“And let us run with

the race marked out for us.”

Getting distracted, discouraged, disoriented

Galatians 5:7 (NIV)

“You were running a

. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?”

Who cut in on you, who tagged you out?

When is the game over?

2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)

“I have fought the good fight, I have

the race, I have kept the faith.”

Around the bases again!

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You’re still in the game

Action Step: Get in the game

Training – Take the classes, “Connect” on Saturday February 26, “Grow” on Saturday April 30

Practice – Connect with a mentor, spiritual formation

Persevere – Stay in the game