CHCC Olivet

1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV), “And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” One of the hardest things about being a parent is learning how to discipline your children in a way that leads to obedience instead of rebellion. There is natural bent in the human heart against authority. It started in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve rejected God’s authority, thinking they knew what was best. They believed Satan’s lie that God was trying to keep them from enjoying their lives. This initial act of rebellion opened the floodgates of sin, leading to chaos and destruction. The current condition of the world around us demonstrates how catastrophic that decision was for the rest of mankind. The saddest part of this whole story, is that simple obedience to God’s commands would have given them everything they were looking for, and more. One of the most important things we can learn as Christians, is that nothing has changed. God still has our best interest at heart. When we live our lives according to the teachings in God’s Word, we find everything we are looking for in life, and more!

Christ's ministry began with prayer (Luke 3:21) and ended with prayer (Mark 15:38-39). Jesus prayed before every major turning point in His life. Before every major crisis, He slipped away to pray. The busier Jesus became, the more he prayed. Prayer was central to him being fully human. A way for him to renew His energy and determine His next step. Prayer was a priority that at times demanded that He withdraw from crowds to communicate with the Father. In this message we study some examples from the life of Jesus that will help us learn to "pray as Jesus prayed", so that we can walk more like Him.

John 15:5 (NLT) “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” Jesus called his disciples to "follow me". This command makes it clear that if we want to walk with Jesus, we must be willing to follow where He leads. The Christian life is journey, taking a person from death to life, from infancy to adulthood, and from immaturity to maturity. Jesus is our instructor, and we are His students. The way forward is to follow in His footsteps. In this sermon podcast, we look at the four stages of the disciple-making journey laid out in the Gospels. It is here that we find the foot prints we need to follow, if we desire to complete the journey, by becoming a disciple who makes disciples.