The word for the church this year is “extraordinary.” We are going to do ordinary things this year. We are going back to the basics. We are going to put extra effort, extra discipline, extra time, and extra focus into doing the ordinary things and it is going to be an extraordinary year.
Introduction (0:00 - 12:28)
Ephesians 6:10-17
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Discipline from love, for holiness (12:28 - 19:18)
1 Timothy 4:7-8
…discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
complete armor = πανοπλίαν (panoplian)
Hebrews 12:5-14
…My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and he scourges every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
Esau was undisciplined (19:18 - 24:27)
Hebrews 12:15-17
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; and that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
Genesis 25:24-34
Our basic training (24:27 - 33:48)
We learn about church history.
We learn about Kingdom culture.
We learn a new language.
We learn about forgiveness.
We learn about the authority of God.
We learn how to tithe and give.
We get baptized.
We take communion.
We witness.
We are sent.
Starting something new (33:48 - 43:25)
“Successful people do consistently what other people do occasionally.” - Craig Groeschel
“We do not rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.” - Archilochus