IntroductionIntroductionIsaiah 58:1-3Isaiah 58:1-3

"Shout it aloud, do not hold back. "Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion Declare to my people their rebellion      and to the house of Jacob their sins.      and to the house of Jacob their sins.

For day after day they seek me out; For day after day they seek me out;      they seem eager to know my ways,      they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right as if they were a nation that does what is right      and has not forsaken the commands of its God.      and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions They ask me for just decisions      and seem eager for God to come near them.     and seem eager for God to come near them.

'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'Why have we fasted,' they say,      'and you have not seen it?      'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, Why have we humbled ourselves,      and you have not noticed?'      and you have not noticed?'

"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please      and exploit all your workers.     and exploit all your workers.

What are the Priority Commands that What are the Priority Commands that Jesus has given to the church?Jesus has given to the church?

What are the Core Obedience’s of the What are the Core Obedience’s of the fully committed disciple? fully committed disciple?

The Irreducible CoreThe Irreducible Core

1 – Confession of Christ1 – Confession of Christ

Romans 10:9 Romans 10:9

““If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” saved.”

• When did I first confess my faith in Jesus When did I first confess my faith in Jesus Christ?Christ?

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1 – Confession of Christ1 – Confession of Christ

Romans 6:3Romans 6:3

““Or don't you know that all of us who were Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” into his death?”

• Have I been baptized into the death and Have I been baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?resurrection of Jesus Christ?

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1 – Confession of Christ1 – Confession of Christ

1 Corinthians 11:251 Corinthians 11:25

"This cup is the new covenant in my blood; "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."remembrance of me."

• Do I participate regularly in the Lord’s Do I participate regularly in the Lord’s Table of remembrance? Table of remembrance?

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2 – Love God2 – Love God

Matthew 22:37-38 Matthew 22:37-38

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. greatest commandment.

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2 – Love God2 – Love God

Matthew 22:37-38 Matthew 22:37-38

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. greatest commandment.

• What kind of evidence in my life would What kind of evidence in my life would suggest that I love God more than suggest that I love God more than anything else? anything else?

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3 – Love Your Neighbor3 – Love Your Neighbor

Matthew 22:39 / Luke 10:29Matthew 22:39 / Luke 10:29

And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' as yourself.'

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

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3 – Love Your Neighbor3 – Love Your Neighbor

Matthew 22:39 / Luke 10:29Matthew 22:39 / Luke 10:29And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor

as yourself.' as yourself.' But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked

Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

• Are we sharing the gospel across Are we sharing the gospel across prejudicial lines? prejudicial lines?

• Do we demonstrate compassion to the Do we demonstrate compassion to the poor, orphans and widows?poor, orphans and widows?

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4 – Love One Another4 – Love One Another

John 13:34John 13:34

"A new command I give you: Love one "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. love one another.

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4 – Love One Another4 – Love One Another

John 13:34John 13:34

"A new command I give you: Love one "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. love one another.

• Is there any “one another” command that Is there any “one another” command that we are ignoring to the detriment of the we are ignoring to the detriment of the mission of the church? mission of the church? (There are over 20 “one another” commands in scripture.)(There are over 20 “one another” commands in scripture.)

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5 – Make Disciples5 – Make Disciples

Matthew 28:19-20Matthew 28:19-20

Therefore go and make disciples of all Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. everything I have commanded you.

• Are we making disciples of “neighbors” as Are we making disciples of “neighbors” as well as “one another”.well as “one another”.

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5 – Partner with Holy Spirit5 – Partner with Holy Spirit

Acts 1:4,8 Acts 1:4,8

"Do not leave Jerusalem, but "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised . . . wait for the gift my Father promised . . . 

But you will receive power when the Holy But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; Spirit comes on you;

• What are we attempting for God that could What are we attempting for God that could only be accomplished by the power of the only be accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit?Holy Spirit?

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The Irreducible CoreThe Irreducible Core

1.1. Confession of ChristConfession of Christ

2.2. Love God Love God (Greatest Command)(Greatest Command)

3.3. Love Your Neighbor Love Your Neighbor (2(2ndnd is like it) is like it)

4.4. Love One Another Love One Another (New Command)(New Command)

5.5. Make Disciples Make Disciples (Great Commission)(Great Commission)

6.6. In Partnership with Holy SpiritIn Partnership with Holy Spirit

1.1. Are we teaching the people in our Are we teaching the people in our church to obey the essential church to obey the essential elements of discipleship?elements of discipleship?

2.2. Do the ministries of our church reflect Do the ministries of our church reflect the priorities of Jesus?the priorities of Jesus?

IC and the Local ChurchIC and the Local Church