Further, Part 3

To successfully make our way into Stage 2 of the critical journey, we need two things: to learn and to belong. We find both in the context of a community. And this community provides, among other things, a space for us to find the things everyone needs in the early years of their faith journey.

Center My Life
Austin Stone Worship

This I Believe (Creed)
Hillsong Worship

The Stand
Hillsong UNITED

Oh the Cross
UPPERROOM

The Critical Journey Stages
Stage 1 – Recognition of God
Stage 2 – The Life of Discipleship
Stage 3 – The Productive Life
Stage 4 – The Journey Inward
Stage 5 – The Journey Outward
Stage 6 – The Life of Love

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The Life of Discipleship
Belonging and Growing

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Matthew 16:26
What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

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Sanctification
“To be set apart for God’s purposes.”

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Jehovah Mekaddiskem
“The Lord who sanctifies.”

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Matthew 4:19
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “And I will send you out to fish for people.”

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John 14:12-17
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

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John 17:13-19
“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

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1 Corinthians 1:30
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

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Romans 8:15-16
the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba,Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

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Galatians 5:22-25
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.

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How We Get Stuck in Stage Two
1. By continuing to be a consumer instead of a contributor.
2. By avoiding locking arms with a committed family of believers.
3. By turning inward and making the family be only about the family.

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