NLCC Life Together Primer: Recent Episodes
NLCC Life Together
The Life Together Primer gives you essential content in preparing you for getting connected to a small group at NLCC called a Life Group. The life of an apprentice of Jesus consists of more than coming to church on Sundays. We want anyone that attends NLCC to be practicing their faith with others in a small group. This podcast will catch you up on what we've been talking about and prepare you to do Life Together at NLCC.
Becoming and Living as an apprentice of Jesus was never meant to be cold or religious. Rather, Jesus invites us to follow him to constantly see the world, ourselves, and others through his eyes. Apprenticing involves accepting that invitation and putting practices into the rhythm of our lives to move in that direction. As we do this, we find ourselves becoming transformed.
We were never meant to live the Christian life alone. We were made to share our lives together. Peter describes the church as “living stones”- together we are joined together where we become a temple where God dwells by His Spirit. In this sermon we are once again reminded of the importance of Life Groups and Apprentice Groups, and that the church for 2,000 years has been committed to life together.
Reflection:
- Where is Jesus calling you to take a risk?
Jesus calls us to worship together, to not give up meeting together, and to draw near to Him as one body.
Reflection:
- Why is gathering together important to an apprentice of Jesus?
We need to hear the great invitation from Jesus to all of those who are weary and burdened- "Come to me and I will give you rest". We explore how following Jesus leads to true rest.
Reflection:
- How has rest been a part of your apprenticeship with Jesus?
The chain of life change that passes from Matthew 4:19 to us in 2019 happens as ordinary people share authentic stories about encountering Jesus. What's your story?
Reflection:
- Who has influenced you the most as you have been apprenticed to the life and teaching of Jesus?
Jesus calls us to follow Him as His apprentices. His invitation is for us to be shaped and formed into His image. Like a Great Artist shapes the clay. His invitation to us is: "I Will Make You". An apprentice of Jesus is becoming like Jesus.
Reflection:
- What has been your experience with spiritual practices (disciplines)?
- Why is practicing your faith important?
Jesus calls us to follow Him as His apprentices. His invitation is for us to drop the nets we are clinging to and trust that the Great Physician knows what is best for us. If we want his life, then we must trust Him to lead us. His invitation to us is: "Follow Me". An apprentice of Jesus is led by Jesus.
Reflection:
- What stops you from trusting Jesus?
- How can you grow in your trust in him?
Jesus calls us to come and follow Him as His apprentices. His invitation is for everyone no matter who we are, where we are from, or the mistakes we have made. His invitation to us is: "Come". You are loved by Jesus.
Reflection:
- How does this radical invitation of Jesus, affect how you see yourself and others?
The early church in Acts devoted themselves to "The Apostles Teaching". Jesus gives us a picture of what that devotion looks like- A Vine and its branches. When we abide in the life and teachings of Jesus we see how to love one another in Christian Community. This sermon focuses specifically on the importance of confession and encouragement as we abide in Jesus together.
Reflection:
- What does it look like to abide in Jesus' teaching?
- How can you devote yourself to the teaching of Jesus more in your life?
Apprenticeship to Jesus will mean that we learn to do what Jesus did. In this sermon, we explore what Christian Community (Life Together) looks like. Jesus himself lived in a community and loved his community. As we seek to know the Life that Jesus has for us, our first step is to see that we don't apprentice alone. Looking at Acts 2:42-47 we get a picture of what a Jesus-centered community looks like.
Reflection:
- What has been your experience within Christian community?
- How might we benefit from looking at what Christian community was like in the 1st century?
Jesus launched his ministry inviting people into the eternal life of the kingdom by making apprentices.
The ultimate goal of apprenticeship is to love God and to love others.
Reflection:
- What does it mean to be an apprentice of Jesus?
- How do you understand the term apprenticeship in contrast to discipleship?