Sermon Notes 01 February 2026
SERMON NOTES 01 FEBRUARY 2026
VISION 2030 SERIES Sermon 2 - Why We are Formed: Disciples Shaped to Live Under the Lordship of Christ
Pastor Ryan Perry Sermon 01 February 2026
Text: Luke 9:23–24
THESIS:
Discipleship is the lifelong process by which Jesus reshapes our understanding, reorders our loves, and trains us to live under His Lordship. The church does not succeed by gathering crowds or maintaining programs, but by forming disciples who obey Jesus and help others do the same. Vision 2030 depends on a church willing to be formed, not merely involved.
Last week we asked why we exist. We saw that when people truly understand who Jesus is, their lives are reordered.
Before Scripture ever asks what we will do, it asks a more foundational question, “Who are we becoming?” The Bible calls that process discipleship.
Luke 9:23–24 - Jesus speaks to all. Discipleship is not for the committed few it is the normal Christian life. Jesus does not invite people to observe Him. He invites them to follow Him.
Matthew 4:19 - Before Jesus ever speaks about mission, leadership, or influence, He calls people to walk with Him. Jesus defines discipleship with clarity and honesty.
Discipleship is not attending religious activity, collecting spiritual information, or consuming church services.
Discipleship is trusting Jesus enough to let Him lead.
Luke 9:23 - Self-denial does not mean rejecting personhood. It means surrendering to authority.
Discipleship means Jesus reshapes our priorities, time, resources, habits, and ambitions.
Luke 14:27–28 – Jesus never hides the cost of discipleship. He invites us to consider it honestly.
A disciple is a learner but not merely of ideas.
Luke 6:46 – Discipleship is learning to trust Jesus enough to obey Him.
Luke 6:40 – The goal of discipleship is not information. It is a transformation into Christlikeness. Jesus says the cross is taken up daily.
Discipleship happens in homes, in workplaces, in relationships, and in unseen decisions.
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 – Formation happens where life happens. Scripture is explicit about the order.
Mark 3:14 – Being with Jesus comes before being sent by Jesus. If the church skips formation, mission becomes pressure instead of obedience.
Vision 2030 begins here in formation in discipleship, because Scripture begins here.
Discipleship is not self-improvement.
John 14:26 – God does not simply command obedience. He forms the heart that obeys.
We ground our discipleship in Scripture not trends, preferences, or consumer expectations. Discipleship is not an add-on to church life. It IS church life.
The Real-Life Discipleship study shows the church succeeds when it forms disciples who can help others follow Jesus. That is not a new idea. It is Jesus’ idea.
Vision 2030 prioritizes formation over consumption, relationships over programs, obedience over convenience, and long-term faithfulness over short-term comfort.
Discipleship begins with an honest question, “Am I following Jesus, or merely agreeing with Him?” And then deeper, “What area of my life has not yet come under His Lordship?” That question is not condemnation. It is invitation.
Discipleship is the daily surrender of our lives to be reshaped under the Lordship of Christ.
Next week we will ask why disciples are sent, and how formed disciples become faithful witnesses not through pressure, but through overflow.
Text: Luke 9:23–24
THESIS:
Discipleship is the lifelong process by which Jesus reshapes our understanding, reorders our loves, and trains us to live under His Lordship. The church does not succeed by gathering crowds or maintaining programs, but by forming disciples who obey Jesus and help others do the same. Vision 2030 depends on a church willing to be formed, not merely involved.
Last week we asked why we exist. We saw that when people truly understand who Jesus is, their lives are reordered.
Before Scripture ever asks what we will do, it asks a more foundational question, “Who are we becoming?” The Bible calls that process discipleship.
Luke 9:23–24 - Jesus speaks to all. Discipleship is not for the committed few it is the normal Christian life. Jesus does not invite people to observe Him. He invites them to follow Him.
Matthew 4:19 - Before Jesus ever speaks about mission, leadership, or influence, He calls people to walk with Him. Jesus defines discipleship with clarity and honesty.
Discipleship is not attending religious activity, collecting spiritual information, or consuming church services.
Discipleship is trusting Jesus enough to let Him lead.
Luke 9:23 - Self-denial does not mean rejecting personhood. It means surrendering to authority.
Discipleship means Jesus reshapes our priorities, time, resources, habits, and ambitions.
Luke 14:27–28 – Jesus never hides the cost of discipleship. He invites us to consider it honestly.
A disciple is a learner but not merely of ideas.
Luke 6:46 – Discipleship is learning to trust Jesus enough to obey Him.
Luke 6:40 – The goal of discipleship is not information. It is a transformation into Christlikeness. Jesus says the cross is taken up daily.
Discipleship happens in homes, in workplaces, in relationships, and in unseen decisions.
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 – Formation happens where life happens. Scripture is explicit about the order.
Mark 3:14 – Being with Jesus comes before being sent by Jesus. If the church skips formation, mission becomes pressure instead of obedience.
Vision 2030 begins here in formation in discipleship, because Scripture begins here.
Discipleship is not self-improvement.
John 14:26 – God does not simply command obedience. He forms the heart that obeys.
We ground our discipleship in Scripture not trends, preferences, or consumer expectations. Discipleship is not an add-on to church life. It IS church life.
The Real-Life Discipleship study shows the church succeeds when it forms disciples who can help others follow Jesus. That is not a new idea. It is Jesus’ idea.
Vision 2030 prioritizes formation over consumption, relationships over programs, obedience over convenience, and long-term faithfulness over short-term comfort.
Discipleship begins with an honest question, “Am I following Jesus, or merely agreeing with Him?” And then deeper, “What area of my life has not yet come under His Lordship?” That question is not condemnation. It is invitation.
Discipleship is the daily surrender of our lives to be reshaped under the Lordship of Christ.
Next week we will ask why disciples are sent, and how formed disciples become faithful witnesses not through pressure, but through overflow.
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