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Top 218 matches for “discipleship”
9mZac Poonen · Jan 31
10mZac Poonen · Feb 19
15mZac Poonen · Mar 12
12mZac Poonen · Dec 3
10mZac Poonen · Jul 13
12mZac Poonen · Aug 16
11mZac Poonen · Jul 1
11mZac Poonen · Mar 13
11mZac Poonen · Jan 1
14mZac Poonen · Mar 10
10mZac Poonen · Jun 2
11mZac Poonen · Jun 13
8mZac Poonen · Feb 13
9mZac Poonen · Oct 9
12mZac Poonen · Sep 28
13mZac Poonen · Feb 17
13mZac Poonen · Mar 13
9mZac Poonen · Jul 3
10mZac Poonen · Feb 24
13mZac Poonen · Feb 18
9mZac Poonen · May 15
9mZac Poonen · Sep 23
10mZac Poonen · Nov 12
11mZac Poonen · Jun 20
for “discipleship” · CFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Jan 31, 2025 · 9m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message is that God judges the heart, not the outward appearance, citing 1 Samuel 16:7. The speaker contrasts the outward focus of the Old Covenant and the Pharisees' external piety with the necessity of an inward righteousness, drawing from Matthew 5. True entry into the Kingdom of Heaven requires a transformation of the heart, addressing internal sins like anger, which the Pharisees overlooked.
Zac Poonen · Feb 19, 2025 · 10m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message emphasizes that preaching the Gospel requires a life that matches the teaching, warning against hypocrisy where outward appearance masks inner sin. The speaker stresses that a complete Christian life requires both repentance (turning from sin) and faith (dependence on Christ), comparing them to two necessary wires that must connect for the light of salvation to shine.
Zac Poonen · Mar 12, 2024 · 15m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message emphasizes that true Christian life requires being filled with the Holy Spirit, which produces unselfishness and humility, contrasting it with artificial humility. The speaker draws parallels between the law of gravity and God's law: God gives grace to the humble and opposes the proud. Ultimately, the Christian's calling is to be a servant, following Jesus' example of emptying himself, rather than seeking to rule or be exalted over people.
Zac Poonen · Dec 3, 2024 · 12m · CFC Daily Devotions
The speaker contrasts the world's focus on quantity with the Christian emphasis on quality, arguing that only the True Church of Jesus Christ will endure. He stresses that true Christian living must be inwardly focused, citing Jesus' teachings on anger and lust as the two most serious sins, which he believes are often overlooked in modern church life. The central message is to pursue holiness and Christ-likeness in all aspects of life, rather than merely outward compliance.
Zac Poonen · Jul 13, 2024 · 10m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message is that true fellowship with God requires the breaking of one's self-will, symbolized by the tearing of the veil in the Old Testament. The speaker distinguishes between the soul (mind, feelings, will) and the spirit, emphasizing that the spirit must rule the soul for a life connected to God. This breakthrough is achieved through the Holy Spirit, which leads believers into a life of true fellowship with the Father.
Zac Poonen · Aug 16, 2024 · 12m · CFC Daily Devotions
The sermon distinguishes between two types of Christians: the external type, who focuses only on good doctrines and outward actions, and the internal type, who cares about their inner thoughts, attitudes, and motives. The speaker emphasizes that God judges the heart, not the outward appearance, citing that at the final judgment, God will reveal hidden thoughts and motives. Therefore, Christians should focus on purifying their inner life rather than merely maintaining a good public testimony.
Zac Poonen · Jul 1, 2025 · 11m · CFC Daily Devotions
The speaker uses the imagery from Ezekiel 37 to distinguish between a mere congregation, a helpful club, and a true church. A true church, according to the speaker, is characterized by the presence of the Holy Spirit, connecting all members to the Head (Christ) and to each other, functioning like a unified army. He cautions that merely gathering or being helpful is insufficient without this divine connection to Christ.
Zac Poonen · Mar 13, 2024 · 11m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message emphasizes developing a consistent habit of listening to God's voice, comparing it to recognizing a familiar voice amidst many others. The speaker advises believers to study the Bible regularly to make God's word clearer and to be mindful of one's tongue, drawing parallels to Jesus' temptation and the need for disciplined speech. Ultimately, consistent listening, starting from the morning, will guide one through life's decisions and interactions.
Zac Poonen · Jan 1, 2024 · 11m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message emphasizes that true Christian life is defined by actively following Jesus' example, which is not merely doctrinal adherence but a lifestyle of sinlessness and truthfulness. The speaker contrasts this with the Old Covenant and discusses the concept of salvation for all people, including those who die before conversion, through the cleansing power of Christ's blood. He concludes by contrasting the uncountable multitude in heaven with the symbolic 144,000, noting that even the latter group is characterized by never having told a lie.
Zac Poonen · Mar 10, 2024 · 14m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message emphasizes adopting the attitude of Christ by abandoning selfishness and pride, as taught in Philippians 2. True Christian living requires a commitment to pressing on to perfection, which means prioritizing the building of the church over personal gain, honor, or reputation. The speaker stresses that genuine holiness is selfless, seeking the good of others rather than personal glory.
Zac Poonen · Jun 2, 2025 · 10m · CFC Daily Devotions
True faith requires more than intellectual agreement; it demands obedience that manifests in one's heart and actions, unlike the devil who can agree with Christian doctrines but lacks true faith. The speaker emphasizes that believers must actively claim God's promises and focus on an overcoming life, rather than seeking specific spiritual gifts. Ultimately, Christians are called to walk as Jesus walked in the present, while becoming fully like Him awaits His return.
Zac Poonen · Jun 13, 2024 · 11m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message is that true worship involves declaring to Jesus that nothing on earth is desired more than Him, as exemplified by Psalm 73:25. The speaker emphasizes that genuine spirituality comes from being a worshipper, not just knowing scripture, and that this devotion must remain constant even when life circumstances change. Ultimately, the goal is to love Christ supremely, prioritizing Him above career, wealth, comfort, or even ministry itself.
Zac Poonen · Feb 13, 2025 · 8m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message is that one's inherent being and character before God are more important than the amount of religious service or accomplishments one performs. Drawing from Acts 1:1, the speaker emphasizes that Jesus' ministry involved first *being* and then *doing* and *teaching*. Therefore, Christian life should flow from one's inner life and conduct at home, as this is where Jesus desires to live through believers.
Zac Poonen · Oct 9, 2025 · 9m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message emphasizes that for major life decisions, one must wait upon the Lord through extended prayer rather than relying on personal understanding. The speaker uses Jesus' selection of the twelve apostles as an example, noting that Jesus spent an entire night in prayer to ensure his choices were God's will. He advises listeners to emulate this by prioritizing listening to God over speaking our own desires in prayer.
Zac Poonen · Sep 28, 2025 · 12m · CFC Daily Devotions
The message emphasizes that every Christian must live as a full-time witness for Christ, embodying the characteristics of a servant of the Lord. Key virtues include never being quarrelsome, showing kindness to everyone—especially those who are unkind—and being able to teach what little one knows of Christ. Furthermore, the speaker stresses the importance of patience, mercy, and gentleness when correcting others, recognizing that these acts can lead to repentance and salvation.
Zac Poonen · Feb 17, 2025 · 13m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message emphasizes the biblical command to honor and obey parents and older people, arguing that this respect is crucial for a life that goes well. The speaker draws parallels between this respect and following Jesus' example of submission to authority, suggesting that a lack of respect for elders is a sign of the end times. He concludes by encouraging listeners to learn from submission, even in seemingly boring or difficult circumstances.
Zac Poonen · Mar 13, 2025 · 13m · CFC Daily Devotions
To achieve spiritual richness, one must cultivate humility and reverence for God, which are contrasted with the world's pursuit of earthly honors. The speaker emphasizes that God has a specific plan for each life, and the greatest threat to fulfilling this plan is personal sin, pride, or unforgiveness. True reverence involves desiring to decrease in the eyes of men so that Christ can be exalted, mirroring the desire of angels in heaven.
Zac Poonen · Jul 3, 2025 · 9m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message emphasizes that true fellowship with God is the most vital pursuit, which in turn strengthens one's ability to build a strong family life. The speaker warns against distractions like excessive social media use and neglecting time for genuine connection with family members. He stresses that a solid foundation in personal devotion and nurturing family relationships are prerequisites for effective church ministry.
Zac Poonen · Feb 24, 2026 · 10m · CFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen teaches that Christians must know Jesus in three progressive stages: as Savior (forgiveness from judgment), as Baptizer (filling with the Holy Spirit for victory), and as Forerunner (an example to follow in running the race of sanctification). True spiritual growth requires not merely believing in Christ but actively following Him—imitating His character, reactions, and way of relating to others—while living daily in God's presence.
Zac Poonen · Feb 18, 2026 · 13m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message emphasizes the biblical command to honor and obey parents and older people, arguing that this respect is more crucial for a person's spiritual well-being than material inheritance. The speaker draws parallels between this respect and following Jesus' example of submission to authority, noting that a lack of respect for elders is a sign of the end times. He concludes by encouraging listeners to learn submission and patience, even in seemingly boring or difficult situations, as God can speak through such circumstances.
Zac Poonen · May 15, 2024 · 9m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message is that 'with Christ I can do everything,' which is limited only to what is in God's will for one's life. The speaker emphasizes that true Christian living means focusing on God's specific calling rather than competing with others or pursuing worldly ambitions. He advises believers to constantly ask, 'Can I do this in fellowship with Jesus?' to ensure their actions align with God's plan.
Zac Poonen · Sep 23, 2024 · 9m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message encourages believers to view the command to 'walk as Jesus walked' not as an impossible standard, but as a possibility granted by God's help, which is the language of faith. The speaker warns against the unbelief that treats biblical commands as unattainable, citing the example of the Sermon on the Mount. He cautions against selectively applying scripture, arguing that no part of the New Testament is exempt from God's teaching.
Zac Poonen · Nov 12, 2024 · 10m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message is that a truly Christian life requires centering one's existence on God's will rather than self-interest. The speaker contrasts the self-centered life, which seeks only personal benefit, with the life of Jesus, who lived entirely to fulfill the will of the Father. Taking up the cross means abandoning self-will to prioritize God's purpose, which is the only way to truly build the church.
Zac Poonen · Jun 20, 2025 · 11m · CFC Daily Devotions
Effective service to God requires that one first becomes a worshipper, as illustrated by the order to worship before serving. The speaker emphasizes that true worship involves a deep desire to thank God, which is distinct from praise and is the foundational step. He advises developing a habit of thankfulness, recognizing that failing to give thanks often stems from feeling one deserves what they receive, unlike the grateful leper who returned to give thanks.