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Follow Along with the Message

John 15:4-5 (NASB)- “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

"Abide in Me" in the NIV Translation- “Remain in me”

1. Abiding means staying connected to the source.

John 15:4-5 (NASB)- “...As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me..."

2. Abiding is making your home in Christ

“Home is the nicest word there is."- Laura Ingalls Wilder, Author, Little House on the Prairie Series

The challenge is learning how to make our home in Christ, not a physical place or external circumstances.

3. God moved in first – He abides in us.

John 14:22-23 (NIV)- “But Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

John 1:14 (NIV)- “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

Message Translation- “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.”

God made the first move; He moved in first.

4. Abiding is a lifelong invitation.

Ask the Lord where your home is:

1. Where is your true home right now?

2. What do you rely on for safety and identity — is it Christ or something (or someone) else?

3. Is there an area of your life where Jesus is asking you to abide more deeply?

4. Have you invited Him in and made space for Him to dwell?

Central Idea of Jonah 1-4: When we understand the depth of God's grace toward us, we become willing vessels of that grace to others.

Chapter 1: Running From Love

Jonah 1:1–3 NIV- The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”
But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

The Storm That Reveals Truth

Jonah 1:4–16 Grace in the Deep

Jonah 1:17 NIV- Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Key Truth: God's love is relentless—it pursues us even when we run.

Chapter 2: Praying in the Darkness

Jonah 2:1–2

Jonah 2:7–10

The Elements of Jonah's Prayer:

1. Honest acknowledgment
2. Desperate faith
3. Grateful worship
4. Clear declaration

Key Truth: God hears the prayers of desperate hearts and responds with deliverance.

Chapter 3: Second Chances and Amazing Grace

Jonah 3:1–3

The Greatest Revival in History

Jonah 3:4–10
Key Truth: God's grace is available to anyone who genuinely repents, no matter how far they've fallen.

Chapter 4: The Heart of the Matter

Jonah 4:1–3

The lesson learned

Jonah 4:6–11

Key Truth: God's heart breaks for people who don't know Him, and He wants our hearts to break for them too.

Living the Message Today

• Three Life-Changing Questions:
• What is your Nineveh?
• What fish belly experience has God used to get your attention and drive you to prayer?
• How do you respond when God shows grace to people you think don't deserve it?

Sermon Notes

D.O.I.N.G Acronym: Divine - Opportunities - Interrupting - Normalized - Goodness

Jesus' life was defined by His Mission:

John 5:19 (NASB95)

Luke 2:49 (NASB95)

Matthew 10:5 (NASB95)

How do we start living like Jesus did?

1. Be with Jesus- as Jesus abided in the Father we must abide in Him

2. Become like Jesus- as Jesus surrendered His life intentionally, we too must lay our lives down at the feet of Jesus

The first step to doing anything for Jesus is to be transformed by THE HOLY SPIRIT.

“But who you are is more important than what you do. Why? Because the love of Jesus in you is the greatest gift you have to give to others. Who you are as a person — and specifically how well you love — will always have a larger and longer impact on those around you than what you do. Your being with God (or lack of being with God) will trump, eventually, your doing for God every time.”- Peter Scazzero, The Emotionally Healthy Leader: How Transforming Your Inner Life Will Deeply Transform Your Church, Team, and the World, pg. 38

DOING well must begin from BEING well

How Jesus was DOING the Father’s will

Jesus normalized goodness

Jesus’ Ministry in Two Categories: HEALING and DELIVERING

• Healing- physical miracles, but also in matters pertaining to identity

• Delivering- miraculous, spiritual deliverance, yes. But also, from oppression and condemnation.

Jesus was interruptible by divine opportunities

Matthew 15:21-28 (NASB95)

What DOING looks like for us today

1. Live to normalize goodness in your EVERYDAY life

Colossians 4:5-6(NASB95)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (NASB95)

James 5:19-20 (NASB95)

3 John 1:11 (NASB95)

Jude 1:20-23 (NASB95)

Matthew 25:34-40 (NASB95)

• Practical step: Pick one or more intentional ways each day to normalize goodness in your life

2. Pray for wisdom to notice DIVINE opportunities

• Warning: This is near impossible if we live hurriedly or passively.
• Practical step: create space that interruptions can fill

Matthew 25:29 (NASB95)

Sermon Notes

The Cross-Shaped Life: Choosing to Lose the World's Way to Win God's Way

Luke 6:39–40 NLT- Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.

Philippians 2:5–8 NLT- You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

The World's Way vs. God's Way

World’s Way

• Accumulate more

• Look out for yourself first

• Climb the ladder

• Build your platform

• Protect your reputation

• Avoid suffering at all costs

God’s Way

• Give generously

• Put others first

• Descend to serve

• Lift others up

• Embrace humility

• Find purpose in suffering

2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT- So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

The Myth of Easy Transformation

There are two myths about spiritual formation we need to address:

The first myth is that "all you need to do is know the Bible."

The second myth is that "you don't need to do anything; it's all God."

"Sanctification is not mystical passivity, as our slogan 'let go and let God' has too often implied, but it is active moral effort energized by prayerful and expectant faith."- J.I. Packer

What do you expect from the church?

What does Jesus command from the church?

Mark 8:34–35 NLT- Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.

Intentional Formation into Cross-Shaped Living

Teaching:

Romans 12:2 NLT- Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Practice:

Galatians 6:9 NLT- So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Community:

1 John 1:7 NLT- But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Holy Spirit:

Galatians 5:25 NLT- Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Time and Life's Challenges:

James 1:2–3 NLT- Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

Practical Take-Home Assignment: The Daily Cross Journal

• Morning Reflection
• Evening Review
• Weekly Gathering

Sermon Notes

1. Number your days intentionally and with joy.

Psalm 90:12- “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Numbering our days means pausing for regular consideration of our days — recognizing the finite gift of our lives here on earth and gaining “a heart of wisdom” as we steward what God has given us.

2. See the Significance of Time

Psalm 39:4-6- “ LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”

Psalm 39:6-7- “We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.”

3. Sense God’s Daily Intentions

Limits of myself, and the safety I find in His purposes.

Psalm 115:3 ESV- “Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.”

Isaiah 14:24 ESV- “The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.”

James 4:14 ESV- “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

4. Seize each moment with joy.

Psalm 16:11 ESV - “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Sermon Notes

Over the next few weeks we will be exploring the invitation of Jesus to discipleship through three profound purposes:

1. Be with Jesus

2. Become like Jesus

3. Do what Jesus did

Before we can carry His cross, we must first sit at His feet.

Luke 10:38–42 NIV- As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

The Paradox of the Cross-Shaped Life

Matthew 16:24–25 NIV- Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Being With Jesus Through the Holy Spirit

John 14:16 NIV- And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.

The Vine and Branches: The Power Source of the Cross-Shaped Life

John 15:1–8 NIV- “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

The World's Way:

• Power through STRENGTH

• Greatness through POSITION

• Success through ACCUMULATION

• Significance through VISIBILITY

• Fulfillment through COMFORT

The Cross-Shaped Way:

• Power through SURRENDER

• Greatness through SERVICE

• Success through SACRIFICE

• Significance through GIVING

• Fulfillment through SUFFERING

Distraction: The Enemy of Presence

1 John 2:4–6 NIV- Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

The Lifestyle of Jesus: The Pattern for a Cross-Shaped Life

In the gospels, we see Jesus:

• Never in a rush, always unhurried

• Spending significant time in prayer and solitude

• Embracing simplicity and rejecting worldly status

• Valuing relationships over productivity

• Taking time for rest and sabbath

• Submitting completely to the Father's will

Fruits of the Spirit: The Evidence of Being With Jesus

Galatians 5:22–26 NIV- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

The Cross-Shaped Application

Long-term: Simplify your life down to what really matters.

Short-term: Set aside time each day for prayer—not just talking to God, but sitting at His feet like Mary, listening to what He says.

Sermon Notes

Luke 9:23 NIV- “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

The Cross-Shaped Life: Choosing to lose the world's way to win God's way.

The Two Ways Before Us

Luke 4:6–7 NIV- And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

Matthew 4:10 NIV- Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

1 John 2:16 NIV- For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

Our Daily Temptation

Proverbs 14:23 NLT- Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!

Romans 12:2 NIV- Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

James 4:4 NIV- You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

The Better Way Forward

John 10:10 NIV- The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Colossians 3:23–24 NIV- Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Philippians 2:3–4 NIV- Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Galatians 2:20 NIV- I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

1 Corinthians 1:17 NIV- For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Practical Application: The Challenge to Choose Loss

Matthew 5:38–39 NIV- “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

Philippians 2:3 NIV- Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

Mark 8:35 NIV- For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Ephesians 1:19–20 NLT- I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

Looking Ahead: The Journey of Cross-Centered Living

Being with Jesus.

Becoming like Jesus.

Doing what Jesus did.

Luke 9:23 NIV- “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT- The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

Sermon Notes

Two Universal Problems:

First universal problem, we're all going to DIE.

"God’s grace does not come to people who morally outperform others, but to those who admit their failure to perform and who acknowledge their need for a Savior."- Timothy Keller, The Reason for God

Second universal problem, we are all SINNERS.

The Audacious Claim

Jesus came back to LIFE

Matthew 28:1–10 NLT- Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

The First Skeptics

Luke 24:11 NLT- But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.

They were skeptics who changed their minds only when confronted with what they believed was irrefutable evidence.

What If It's True?

1 Corinthians 15:22–23 NLT- Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.

The RESURRECTION Changes Everything

First, it means that the MATERIAL world matters.

“God's plan is not to abandon this world, the world which he said was "very good." Rather, he intends to remake it. And when he does he will raise all his people to new bodily life to live in it. That is the promise of the Christian gospel.”- N.T. Wright, Simply Christian

Second, it means that JUSTICE is coming.

Third, it means that what we do in this life matters ETERNALLY.

"While believing in the resurrection requires faith, it's not blind faith. It's faith seeking understanding, faith built on historical evidence, and faith that makes sense of our deepest human longings."- Lee Strobel, The Invitation

1 Corinthians 15:54–57 MSG- Then the saying will come true:

Death swallowed by triumphant Life!

Who got the last word, oh, Death?

Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?

It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God!

Trust this Jesus who conquered death, and allow his resurrection life to begin TRANSFORMING you now.