How to begin

The speaker discusses the nature of new covenant service, emphasizing that true service must flow from love and result in becoming more Christ-like. He focuses on John 14:12, arguing that believers are called to do works greater than those Jesus performed, which requires diligent study of scripture. Ultimately, he teaches that following Christ means denying one's own will and willingly embracing the cross, mirroring Jesus's life of submitting to the Father's will.

The message focuses on understanding Jesus through the power of His resurrection. It encourages the congregation to draw strength and life from this central event in the Christian faith. The core message is centered on knowing Jesus by understanding what He accomplished through His resurrection.

The sermon emphasizes that the way to life is the narrow way, which requires more than just performing visible religious acts or miracles. True discipleship is characterized by patience, forgiveness, and focusing on the quiet, unseen work, as exemplified by Mary over Martha. Ultimately, the speaker stresses that genuine love and service are not sustained by human zeal alone but require being broken down and drawing strength from Christ, the vine.

Jesus' life demonstrates that after being used by God in miraculous ways, one must retreat into private prayer to give glory to the Father. The speaker emphasizes that true spiritual strength comes from acknowledging human weakness and dependence on God, contrasting this with the pride that can lead to sin. He advises believers to emulate Jesus' pattern of withdrawing to pray, rather than making public announcements about their spiritual disciplines like fasting or prayer.

The central message is that Christian growth, or finding spiritual 'pasture,' comes directly from receiving, believing, and actively obeying God's Word. The speaker emphasizes that a Christian life is one of constant growth, requiring believers to desire God's word like newborn babies and to live by it, as demonstrated by Jesus' teaching on the necessity of doing what is heard. True intimacy with God is found not just in hearing the Word, but in obeying it.

The central message is that the Christian witness, especially during times of crisis like a pandemic, must be more than just speaking the written word. Drawing from Jesus' declaration, the true light we are called to be is the manifested life of Christ within us. Therefore, the church must embody the life of Jesus in its daily conduct and interactions to truly shine as the light of the world.

The central message is about actively demonstrating the life of Christ in one's daily existence. The talk emphasizes that believers must live in a manner that reflects Christ's character and walk, particularly in overcoming the influence of the world's ruler. This requires a conscious commitment to Christ's way of life.

The speaker emphasizes that the ultimate goal of Christian life is not self-improvement or personal betterment, but rather to reflect Jesus Christ's glory. He warns against diluting the gospel into self-help advice, arguing that Christ's sacrifice is unnecessary if that is the end goal. True discipleship requires acknowledging one's helplessness before God and recognizing that Christ is everything, leading to a life focused solely on His glory and will.

The speaker argues that many modern Christian teachings are incomplete, comparing them to a portrait of Jesus missing vital pieces. He emphasizes that true Christian life must follow the Word of God completely, not just partially. He stresses that believers should prioritize following Jesus in the present life rather than just securing a place in heaven, and that the church must model Christ's example by rejecting materialism and financial dependence.

The message emphasizes that true discipleship requires a 'Shepherd mentality,' meaning one must be willing to lay down one's life and risk personal safety for the benefit of others, much like Jesus. The speaker warns against the 'ravenous wolf' mentality—a self-serving, biting disposition—and contrasts it with the selfless care of the Good Shepherd. Following Jesus must result in a visible desire to lead others to be disciples.

Jesus taught that to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, one must become like a little child, emphasizing humility and complete dependence. The speaker contrasts this with the worldly desire to be the greatest or to act like God, noting that the first sin was pride. True faith, therefore, requires the humility of a baby who is utterly dependent on others, mirroring the dependence on Christ.

The speaker emphasizes that a stable Christian life requires both holiness and humility. He argues that much of modern Christianity presents an incomplete picture of Christ because essential elements of the gospel are omitted. True discipleship, according to the Great Commission, requires not only belief and baptism but also actively teaching others to obey everything Jesus commanded, and crucially, preaching repentance alongside belief.

Based on the title, this message by Zac Poonen contrasts discipleship with mere scholarly knowledge of Scripture, calling believers to move beyond intellectual study to practical obedience and transformation through following Jesus. The sermon emphasizes the difference between knowing about God and truly following Him as His disciples.

The speaker emphasizes that Jesus Christ must have preeminence—superiority and priority—in every aspect of a believer's life. He argues that if Christ is not preeminent, the believer is wasting their Christian life. The message introduces

The message emphasizes that Christian life requires living exactly according to God's commands, citing examples from Moses building the tabernacle and Jesus' Great Commission. A central theme is defining what it means to be a true disciple—one who prioritizes obedience to Christ above all earthly relationships or desires. The speaker urges listeners to examine their commitment by focusing on hearing and obeying every word of God.

The speaker provides an overview of the Book of Romans, emphasizing that it is the best explanation of the Gospel. He clarifies that salvation involves three tenses—from the penalty of sin (past), to the power of sin (present), and finally to the presence of sin (future). Crucially, he stresses that true righteousness requires not just believing in salvation by faith, but actively living daily in constant dependence upon God, like a branch dependent on the vine. Furthermore, he points out that the initial step into sin is a lack of thankfulness, making gratitude a foundational aspect of Christian life.

True Christian living is rooted not in seeking heaven, but in a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which is sustained by devotion and fellowship. The speaker emphasizes that life must be a continuous 'sacrifice of praise' to God, meaning giving thanks regardless of difficult circumstances or unanswered prayers. Furthermore, one must embrace God's plan for their life, recognizing that sacrifice and obedience, as exemplified by Christ, are essential for fulfilling God's will.

The central message emphasizes that true Christian life requires moving beyond mere activity or fellowship to a deep, personal devotion to Jesus Christ, which is symbolized by passing through the veil of death to self. The speaker stresses that believers should not accept a pattern of continuous sinning, comparing it to a child who cannot walk after a certain age. Freedom from sin is achieved through a genuine conversion and being filled with the Holy Spirit, not just through outward church attendance.

Disappointment is a natural part of the Christian life, and a disciple's response should be to reset their hope completely on the grace found in Jesus Christ. When disappointment or temptation returns, it is not a sign of failure but an opportunity to obey again. True transformation into Christ's likeness requires diligently practicing the fundamentals of faith, much like an athlete mastering their basic skills.

The central message emphasizes that a balanced Christian life requires both loving God and loving one's neighbor, drawing parallels to the two commandments Jesus taught. True love is an attitude of the heart, not merely an action or service, and it must first be practiced within one's local fellowship. Furthermore, genuine love, like Christ's, involves being corrected and disciplined, which proves God's enduring love.

The central message is that true discipleship requires actively following Jesus' commands, rather than merely possessing head knowledge of scripture. The speaker emphasizes that making people disciples and teaching them to obey is paramount, and this process requires following Christ personally, not just studying the Bible. Being a 'fisher of men' means leading people from the 'water' (the world) into the 'kingdom of heaven' (a new environment).

The speaker contrasts the lower standards of the Old Covenant with the significantly higher expectations of the New Covenant, emphasizing that fulfilling these new demands is impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit. He uses the analogy of a postgraduate university requiring constant help from a teacher to illustrate this necessity, arguing that neglecting the baptism in the Holy Spirit leads Christians to fail. Ultimately, he stresses building life—personal, family, and church—on the singular foundation of Jesus Christ.

The central message is that many believers are content with merely being forgiven (the gospel of forgiveness) but have missed the 'overcoming life,' which involves partaking in the glory of Christ. To move beyond a defeated Christian life, one must repent—not just from sin's punishment, but from complacency and lethargy—and actively seek God with all their heart, as taught by Jeremiah 29:13.

The speaker shares that the reason for continuing to follow Jesus is that he is the only source of true peace, joy, and life, surpassing all worldly achievements. He emphasizes that Jesus's love is constant, forgiving, and restorative, providing strength to overcome sin, anxiety, and discouragement. Ultimately, the speaker desires to become more like Jesus and to live a life defined by His grace and faithfulness.