Why I am All In: Jesus’ Identity as Lord

• The message the King has come.
• The New Testament is the disciples preaching and teaching all that is commanded.
• “The gospel you preach determines the disciples you produce.” Bill Hull, The Discipleship Gospel
• The Garden and Fall of Man in Genesis shows God’s is a Kingdom of choice.

Matthew 4:19 Come and follow me and I will make you fishers of men.

The role of the disciples: Obey and teach to obey:

Matthew 28:18–20 ¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Old Testament Messiah: A King is coming:

• The angels proclaim He is Christ (Messiah), the LORD. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Jesus made it clear He is the King:

Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew 4:23

• A disciple of Jesus is a follower of Jesus.
• A disciple is being changed by Jesus—to see from His perspective, and to love like Him.
• A disciple is committed to His Mission.

Romans 1:5

Romans 16:25–27 ²⁵Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, ²⁶but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— ²⁷to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Matthew 25:14–30        Mark 13:32–36

• Who does God think owns everything? (Deuteronomy 10:14)
• What does Jesus reveal He wants from His investment in the managers?
• He rewards us one way or another for our faithfulness.

Notice two served in view of mercy, and one reacted to a poor view of God.

Romans 12:1–2 ¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do 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.

• Our hearts are revealed by what we do while the master is away. (He is not really away, just out of sight.)
• If what we do with our time, energy, and resources reveals what we really believe, and what we think our identity is, then what is our real, perceived identity?

• God set up laws to protect and promote relationship.
• God knows that the enemy seeks to draw us from pure devotion to Jesus.
• Tithing and generosity is about God protecting us from seeking idols—rather than keeping God first and loving others.

Matthew 23:23        Malachi 3:7–12

• So that there is food in His house. (Malachi 3:10; Matthew 22:37-40)
• Protection for ourselves. (Colossians 3:5) The devil uses worldly wealth. (Matthew 4:8-9)

Matthew 6:19–24 ¹⁹Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ²²The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. ²³But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! ²⁴No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 25:14-30

1. What was meaningful from the sermon? What made it meaningful to you?

2. Read Romans 12:1-2. Focus on the phrase, “In view of God’s mercy.” What mercy have you received