Your First Step of Discipleship

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES Life's Healing Choices - The Beatitudes

Your First Step of Discipleship By Rick Warren — Aug 27, 2016 “God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love — like Christ in everything” (Ephesians 4:15 MSG). God wants you to grow up: “We are not meant to remain as children” (Ephesians 4:14a Phillips). Your heavenly Father’s goal for you is to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ, living a life of love and humble service. Sadly, millions of Christians grow older but never grow up.  They’re stuck in perpetual spiritual infancy, remaining in diapers and booties. The reason is because they never intended to grow. Spiritual growth is not automatic; it takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing. Discipleship is the process of becoming like Christ, and it always begins with a decision: “‘Follow me and be my disciple,’ Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him” (Matthew 9:9b NLT, second edition). When the first disciples chose to follow Jesus, they didn’t understand all the implications of their decision. They simply responded to Jesus’ invitation.  That’s all you need to get started: Decide to become a disciple. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over Think of the moment when you chose to follow Jesus. What did you understand about what it meant to be a believer? What are some of the characteristics of Jesus that God has been developing in you? How do you want God to work in your life? Take some time to pray, and ask God to grow you in these areas — and for trust and patience as he does it in his time. Our Gift: Life's Healing Choices Study Kit Based on Jesus’ very own words in the Beatitudes, this DVD and workbook guides you through eight critical choices that every wounded believer must make in order to experience wholeness, happiness, and healing. These essential decisions will build your trust in God even when you don’t understand his plans and your circumstances look hopeless. LEARN MORE Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes all complete sermons from the Rick Warren Life's Healing Choices - The Beatitudes teaching series. LEARN MORE Series Summary Message 1: ​​The Reality Choice Message 2: ​​​​​​​​​​The Hope You Need For Change Message 3: ​​​Letting Go and Letting God Message 4: ​​The Transformation Choice Message 5: ​The Growth Choice Message 6: ​​​The Sharing Choice Message 7: Breaking Free From Abuse PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at pastorrick.com. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He’s the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including "The Purpose Driven Church" and "The Purpose Driven Life," read by more than 100 million people in 137 languages. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered across America. This devotional © 2016 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences  |  Unsubscribe