Pastor Chris Meads delivers a New Year's sermon focusing on the church's mission and values for 2025. He begins by sharing his New Year's Eve experience with family and transitions into discussing his prayer for the church in the coming year - that members would offer more to Jesus Christ than in any previous year.
The sermon centers on the church's foundational mission of discipleship, derived from Matthew 28:18-20 (The Great Commission). Pastor Chris emphasizes that discipleship isn't just one part of the church's work - it is the entire commission. He breaks down discipleship into two fundamental parts: bringing new believers into the church through baptism, and teaching followers to obey Jesus' commands.
He explains that spiritual maturity comes through learning, loving, and living God's way. While emphasizing obedience, he clarifies that true obedience stems from love for God, not external compliance. The pastor then outlines four core values that describe the devotions of discipleship:
1. God's Glory (Personal and Corporate Worship):
- Christians are called to offer their entire lives as living sacrifices
- Church gatherings are about God's glory, not personal preferences
- Valuing the worship gathering honors God.
2. God's Word (Learning and Living the Bible):
- The Bible should not just be learned but lived out
- We tend to know more Bible than we obey
- Avoid accumulating knowledge without transformation
3. God's Family (Fellowship with Believers):
- The spiritual bond between believers is as real as blood relationships
- Following Christ comes with commitment to His church
- Christians are called to share life together, support one another, and build each other up
4. God's Mission (Evangelism and Good Works):
- Just as Jesus was sent to reach the lost, believers are sent to do the same
- Evangelism is the hardest work in ministry
- Cultural individualism and comfort zones often hinder evangelistic efforts
The sermon concludes with a challenge for congregants to identify their next step in growing as disciples. Pastor Chris announces an upcoming "Serve the City" initiative for spring 2025, which will provide opportunities for church members to serve their community. He encourages everyone to move beyond intentions to concrete actions in pursuing Christ's mission, whether through more consistent church attendance, engaging with God's Word, joining a small group, or intentionally reaching out to unbelievers.
Throughout the message, Pastor Chris maintains a balance between challenging complacency and expressing grace, acknowledging his own struggles while calling the church to greater devotion. He emphasizes that any good accomplished comes not from human effort but from God's work in changing hearts to align with His purposes.
Thank you for watching this sermon from GracePoint Church. To learn more, visit gracepointcoppell.org.
Sermon Title: Mission & Values
Sermon Series: Stand Alone Message
Speaker: Chris Meads
Date: January 5, 2025
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