Keeping: https://youtu.be/k7fUP105dLM?si=kejPyw3P7x_nhb_QDiscipleship Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLld8NUxoM8_HkQr_adv7urLujEfZhiGkw&si=v6jDWapKKl5sH2ODDescription: In Part 38 of their discipleship teaching, Dr. Michael and Mary Davis explore the concept of bearing fruit as a natural consequence of discipleship. They emphasize that fruit, in the spiritual sense, is always produced after its own kind, reflecting the life of Christ within the believer.Key points explored in this video:- Fruit After Its Kind: Explaining that spiritual fruit is always a product of the seed planted, which is God's word, and reflects the nature of Christ.- The Trap of Evolution: Briefly touching on the contrast between the biblical principle of fruit after its kind and the evolutionary concept of one species evolving into another.- The Parable of the Trees: Referencing Luke 6:39-45, highlighting that a good tree produces good fruit, and an evil tree produces evil fruit, emphasizing the connection between the heart and actions.- The Importance of the Heart: Reiterating that our words and actions reveal what is truly in our hearts, which is why meditating on God's word is crucial.- The Struggle with Fruit Production: Acknowledging that believers often struggle to produce fruit because they spend more time focused on worldly things than on God's word.- The Impact of Meditation: Explaining that meditating on things contrary to God can harden the heart, while meditating on God's word aligns us with Him.- Fruit as a Natural Process: Emphasizing that fruit is produced naturally from the life of Christ flowing through us, not through our own efforts.- Abiding in Christ: Highlighting John 15, where Jesus uses the analogy of the vine and branches to illustrate that fruitfulness comes from abiding in Him.- Prayer and Meditation: Identifying prayer and meditation on God's word as key elements in solidifying the Lord's place as King and Master in our lives.- Death to Self: Explaining that dying to self, a result of new beliefs taking root, is essential for Christ's life to be manifested in us.- The Arrogance of Self-Reliance: Cautioning against the tendency to rely on our own efforts to accomplish God's work, rather than resting in His presence.- The Example of Mary and Martha: Contrasting Martha's busyness with Mary's choice to sit at Jesus' feet and listen, emphasizing the priority of being in His presence.- Being Recognized as Being With Christ: Sharing the desire for believers to be recognized by others as having been with Christ, reflecting His character.- The Flow of the Holy Spirit: Concluding that the clearer the path for the Holy Spirit within us, the more easily spiritual fruit is produced.**#BearingFruit #Discipleship #FruitAfterItsKind #AbidingInChrist #Meditation #DyingToSelf #Luke6 #John15 #HolySpirit #Transformation #Faith #MichaelAndMaryDavis**In the Great Commission, there is a statement: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19 NAS) Discipleship is a command that is overlooked by many! There is a lot of focus on converting people, but not enough on actually discipling those converts. In this teaching series we will be discussing the biblical importance of discipleship and how the Bible tells us to do it. We will be looking at a key element in this topic: the parable of the sower.

Keeping: https://youtu.be/k7fUP105dLM?si=kejPyw3P7x_nhb_QDiscipleship Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLld8NUxoM8_HkQr_adv7urLujEfZhiGkw&si=v6jDWapKKl5sH2ODDescription: In Part 37 of their discipleship teaching, Drs. Michael and Mary Davis explore the challenging yet essential concept of dying to self as the path to true discipleship. They emphasize that focusing on God's purposes rather than our own desires, and meditating on His law, leads to a transformed life characterized by agape love.Key points explored in this video:- Beyond Doing Wrong: Shifting the focus from merely avoiding sin to actively pursuing what is right according to God's word.- The End Goal: Defining the ultimate goal of the Christian life as Christ living in us, rather than just reaching a point of salvation.- Agape Love as the Mark: Underscoring Jesus' commandment to love one another as He loved, identifying agape as the defining characteristic of a disciple.- The Law Defines Love: Explaining how God's law provides the framework for understanding and expressing true love.- Dying Daily: Interpreting Paul's statement "I die daily" as a continuous process of surrendering to God's will, facilitated by meditating on His law.- Self-Centeredness vs. God's Purposes: Highlighting the need to shift our focus from self-interest to God's desires and purposes.- The Transformative Power of God's Law: Emphasizing that meditating on God's law leads to a death of the self-centered nature and a transformation of our desires and actions.- Relationship, Not Religion: Contrasting true Christianity as a relationship with God with the pursuit of religious practices.- The Fruit of a Disciplined Life: Identifying the fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, and peace, as the result of a life disciplined by God's word.- The Shock of God's Perspective: Sharing personal experiences of how meditating on God's law revealed the depth of self-centeredness.- Against You Alone Have I Sinned: Interpreting David's confession as recognizing that all sin is ultimately against God.- The Law Restores the Soul: Emphasizing Psalm 19's description of the law as perfect, restoring the soul and enlightening the eyes.- Knowing God Through His Commandments: Connecting the keeping and meditation on God's commandments with truly knowing Him.- The King's Commands: Reinforcing the idea that as followers of King Jesus, we must pay attention to His commandments, which are best understood through listening to His word.- Grace and Empowerment: Highlighting that God's grace and the Holy Spirit empower us to live according to His ways when we know and understand His commands.- Forgetting God Through Neglecting His Commands: Referencing Deuteronomy 8:11 to show that neglecting God's commandments leads to forgetting Him.**#Discipleship #DyingToSelf #AgapeLove #GodsLaw #Meditation #Transformation #RelationshipWithGod #SelfCenteredness #HolySpirit #Psalm19 #Deuteronomy8 #MichaelAndMaryDavis**In the Great Commission, there is a statement: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19 NAS) Discipleship is a command that is overlooked by many! There is a lot of focus on converting people, but not enough on actually discipling those converts. In this teaching series we will be discussing the biblical importance of discipleship and how the Bible tells us to do it. We will be looking at a key element in this topic: the parable of the sower.

Keeping: https://youtu.be/k7fUP105dLM?si=kejPyw3P7x_nhb_QDiscipleship Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLld8NUxoM8_HkQr_adv7urLujEfZhiGkw&si=v6jDWapKKl5sH2ODDescription: In Part 36 of their discipleship teaching, Drs. Michael and Mary Davis explore the profound impact of meditating on God's word, emphasizing its power to transform our belief systems and ultimately our lives. They discuss the importance of moving beyond mere religious observance to a genuine relationship with God, fueled by consistent meditation on His word.Key points explored in this video:- The Heart as the Belief System: Reinforcing the biblical understanding of the heart as the core of our beliefs and worldview.- Beyond Cheap Grace: Contrasting superficial religious practices with the radical call of true discipleship.- The Reason for Persecution: Explaining that genuine Christians face opposition because their allegiance is to a higher King.- The Importance of God's Word: Emphasizing that true transformation comes from God's word, not just human doctrines or religious training.- The Meaning of Meditation: Defining meditation as muttering God's word to oneself, repeating it to allow it to penetrate the heart.- Repetition and Transformation: Highlighting the power of repeatedly engaging with scripture to cleanse and change our belief system.- Meditation vs. Memorization: Clarifying the relationship between memorization and meditation, suggesting that memorization can be a key tool for effective meditation.- Keeping God's Commandments in the Heart: Emphasizing that the goal of meditation is not just intellectual understanding but internalizing God's word in our hearts.- The Dullness of Repetition: Acknowledging that meditation can feel dull but stressing its essential role in spiritual growth.- Planting the Seed: Comparing meditation to a farmer consistently planting seeds, where repeated engagement leads to the growth of the Kingdom of God within.- Intimacy, Not Just Insight: Underscoring that the purpose of keeping God's word is to cultivate intimacy with Him, leading to transformation.- A Single Eye: Connecting the keeping of God's word to having a single focus on Him, freeing us from competing affections.- Seeking God's Face: Encouraging believers to prioritize seeking God above all else, trusting Him to handle life's storms.**#Discipleship #Meditation #GodsWord #BeliefTransformation #IntimacyWithGod #HeartChange #Proverbs3 #Matthew13 #Psalm19 #Faith #MichaelAndMaryDavis**In the Great Commission, there is a statement: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19 NAS) Discipleship is a command that is overlooked by many! There is a lot of focus on converting people, but not enough on actually discipling those converts. In this teaching series we will be discussing the biblical importance of discipleship and how the Bible tells us to do it. We will be looking at a key element in this topic: the parable of the sower.

Keeping: https://youtu.be/k7fUP105dLM?si=kejPyw3P7x_nhb_QDiscipleship Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLld8NUxoM8_HkQr_adv7urLujEfZhiGkw&si=v6jDWapKKl5sH2ODDescription: In Part 35 of their discipleship teaching, Drs. Michael and Mary Davis delve into the crucial role of preparing the heart to receive God's word and bear fruit. They emphasize the need for repentance, the power of God's law, and the transformative impact of meditating on scripture.Key points explored in this video:- The Importance of Planting the Seed: Highlighting that making disciples involves planting God's word, which has the power to change lives.- Three Unfruitful Soils: Reviewing the hardened heart, shallow commitment, and double-mindedness that hinder the growth of God's word.- The Need for Repentance: Emphasizing that changing our hearts requires repentance, which involves allowing God's law to reveal our shortcomings.- God's Law as a Plow: Introducing God's law as the plow that breaks up the hard, fallow ground of our hearts, making them receptive to the seed.- The Good and Honest Heart: Describing the good soil as a heart that is both intrinsically good (justified) and benevolently good (giving and benefiting others).- Holding Fast to the Word: Stressing the importance of seizing and holding fast to God's word to bring forth fruit.- The Power of Patience: Underscoring that spiritual growth and fruitfulness require patience, allowing God's life within us to mature.- The Field Analogy: Using the analogy of a farmer plowing a field to illustrate how God works in our hearts to remove obstacles and prepare the soil for His word.- Removing Rocks and Thorns: Explaining how God's law helps to remove the "rocks" of shallowness and the "thorns" of worldly desires that hinder spiritual growth.- The Impact of Meditation: Sharing personal experiences of how meditating on scripture, particularly the Sermon on the Mount, led to conviction and transformation.- Living the Sermon on the Mount: Encouraging believers to live out the principles of the Sermon on the Mount as a result of meditating on God's word.- The Fruitfulness of Abiding: Concluding that abiding in God's word and allowing Him to work in our hearts leads to a life that reflects Christ.**#Discipleship #HeartPreparation #Repentance #GodsLaw #Meditation #Fruitfulness #Patience #ParableOfTheSower #SermonOnTheMount #Transformation #Faith #MichaelAndMaryDavis**In the Great Commission, there is a statement: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19 NAS) Discipleship is a command that is overlooked by many! There is a lot of focus on converting people, but not enough on actually discipling those converts. In this teaching series we will be discussing the biblical importance of discipleship and how the Bible tells us to do it. We will be looking at a key element in this topic: the parable of the sower.

Keeping: https://youtu.be/k7fUP105dLM?si=kejPyw3P7x_nhb_QDiscipleship Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLld8NUxoM8_HkQr_adv7urLujEfZhiGkw&si=v6jDWapKKl5sH2ODDescription: In Part 34 of their discipleship teaching, Drs. Michael and Mary Davis explore the third soil in the Parable of the Sower, representing the heart that receives God's word but is choked by worldly cares, the deceitfulness of riches, and desires for other things.Key points explored in this video:- The Kingship Within: Emphasizing that the Kingdom of God begins with individuals making God their personal King.- The Seed Among Thorns: Examining Luke 8:14, highlighting that the thorns (worldly influences) were already present when the word was sown.- Cares of the World: Identifying anxiety and worry as meditations that compete with God's word, disrupting peace and hindering faith.- Deceitfulness of Riches: Explaining the lie that material possessions or relationships will bring satisfaction, leading to restlessness and a lack of contentment.- Desires for Other Things (Epithumia): Defining *epithumia* as intense desires, often translated as lust, that can control and choke out God's word.- The Rich Young Ruler: Using the encounter in Mark 10 as a biblical example of someone whose desire for possessions hindered his ability to follow Jesus.- Double-Mindedness: Highlighting that being choked by worldly desires leads to double-mindedness and unfruitful Christianity.- The Warfare Against Self: Emphasizing the need to die to self and give up all to truly follow Jesus, prioritizing God's will over personal desires.- The Heart's Belief System: Underscoring that our belief system, influenced by what we meditate on, determines whether God's word takes root or is choked out.- Contentment in God: Contrasting the pursuit of worldly desires with the satisfaction found in hungering and thirsting for righteousness.- The Danger of Wants vs. Needs: Differentiating between God's promise to provide for our needs and our tendency to pursue endless wants.- The Power of God's Word: Affirming that God's word will accomplish its purpose unless it is choked out by competing desires.- The Cost of Following Jesus: Reinforcing that discipleship requires surrendering all and prioritizing God above everything else.**#Discipleship #WorldlyDesires #DeceitfulnessOfRiches #CaresOfTheWorld #Epithumia #DoubleMindedness #ParableOfTheSower #Mark10 #Luke8 #Faith #Contentment #MichaelAndMaryDavis**In the Great Commission, there is a statement: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19 NAS) Discipleship is a command that is overlooked by many! There is a lot of focus on converting people, but not enough on actually discipling those converts. In this teaching series we will be discussing the biblical importance of discipleship and how the Bible tells us to do it. We will be looking at a key element in this topic: the parable of the sower.

Keeping: https://youtu.be/k7fUP105dLM?si=kejPyw3P7x_nhb_QDiscipleship Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLld8NUxoM8_HkQr_adv7urLujEfZhiGkw&si=v6jDWapKKl5sH2ODDescription: In Part 33 of their discipleship teaching, Dr. Michael and Mary Davis delve into the internal battle for the believer's heart, focusing on how our belief system influences our behavior and the importance of overcoming double-mindedness to truly follow Christ.Key points explored in this video:- The Soil of the Heart: Reiterating that the soil in the Parable of the Sower represents our heart, our belief system, and our worldview.- The Way Side Heart: Describing those who hear the word but have no need for God, resisting Him and allowing Satan to steal the message.- The Rocky Soil Heart: Characterizing those who receive the word with joy but lack deep roots due to incomplete repentance and a self-centered focus.- Belief Equates to Behavior: Emphasizing that genuine belief results in changed behavior, contrasting it with mere lip service.- The Importance of God's Law: Addressing the misconception that Christians are no longer under God's law, clarifying Paul's teachings on justification.- The Warfare Within: Identifying the internal battle to destroy speculations and thoughts that compete with knowing God, and to bring every thought captive to Christ.- The Double-Minded Heart: Describing the struggle of having conflicting beliefs and desires, hindering true discipleship.- The Need for Rootedness: Highlighting the importance of being deeply rooted in God's word to withstand life's pressures and bear fruit.- The Deception of Temporary Joy: Warning against seeking temporary excitement in teachings without genuine transformation.- The Nature of Spiritual Warfare: Defining spiritual warfare as the battle for control of our minds, where we must choose to align our thoughts with Christ.- Sin as Missing the Mark: Defining sin as missing God as the goal of our lives, and Jesus' mission to deliver us from self-centeredness.- The Discipline of Listening: Emphasizing that overcoming double-mindedness requires discipline, effort, and turning back to listen to God's word.- The Compromised Life: Warning against living a compromised life, influenced by worldly desires, and the need to prioritize God's will.**#Discipleship #HeartTransformation #BeliefAndBehavior #SpiritualWarfare #DoubleMindedness #GodsWord #Repentance #ParableOfTheSower #Romans #2Corinthians #Faith #MichaelAndMaryDavis**In the Great Commission, there is a statement: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19 NAS) Discipleship is a command that is overlooked by many! There is a lot of focus on converting people, but not enough on actually discipling those converts. In this teaching series we will be discussing the biblical importance of discipleship and how the Bible tells us to do it. We will be looking at a key element in this topic: the parable of the sower.

Keeping: https://youtu.be/k7fUP105dLM?si=kejPyw3P7x_nhb_QDiscipleship Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLld8NUxoM8_HkQr_adv7urLujEfZhiGkw&si=v6jDWapKKl5sH2ODDescription: In Part 32 of their discipleship teaching, Dr. Michael and Mary Davis explore the challenging demands Jesus places on those who would follow Him, particularly the concept of "hating" one's own life and the importance of prioritizing God's will above all else.Key points explored in this video:- The Identifying Mark: Recap of the previous discussion on agape love as the defining characteristic of a disciple.- Hating Father, Mother, and Even Life: Examining Jesus' seemingly harsh words in Luke 14:26, emphasizing that "hate" in this context means prioritizing God above all earthly relationships and desires.- Defining "Hate": Clarifying that the Greek word for "hate" signifies active ill will in words and conduct, the opposite of agape, and is not primarily an emotional feeling.- Agape vs. Emotion: Underscoring that agape love is willful and demonstrated through action, not merely a warm feeling.- God as Number One: Explaining that hating one's life means placing God's will as the absolute priority, above personal desires and the opinions of others.- Carrying the Cross: Interpreting "carrying the cross" as embracing the instrument of one's death to self, signifying a daily commitment to dying to selfish desires.- The Demands of Discipleship: Summarizing the core demand as surrendering one's life to follow Jesus, mirroring His own sacrifice.- Hating the Soul: Delving into the idea of hating one's soul (mind, will, emotions) by prioritizing God's thoughts and will over personal opinions and feelings.- The Heart as the Belief System: Identifying the heart as the center of one's belief system, which needs to be aligned with God's word.- The Parable of the Sower Revisited: Re-examining the parable in Matthew 13, focusing on the heart as the soil and the impact of understanding versus misunderstanding God's word.- The Kingdom Within: Shifting the focus from the global kingdom to the kingdom of God within the individual heart.- The Parable of the Dragnet and the Tears: Using these parables to illustrate the mixed nature of the heart and the need to remove negative influences.- The Importance of Meditation: Emphasizing the role of meditating on God's word to transform the heart, replacing false beliefs with God's truth.- Filling the Mind with God's Word: Contrasting biblical meditation with Eastern practices, highlighting that it involves filling the mind with God's word, not emptying it.- Transformation Through God's Word: Concluding that consistent engagement with God's word allows it to push out negative influences and align the heart with God's desires.**#Discipleship #HateSelf #AgapeLove #GodsWill #CarryYourCross #HeartTransformation #Meditation #Luke14 #ParableOfTheSower #KingdomWithin #Faith #MichaelAndMaryDavis**In the Great Commission, there is a statement: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19 NAS) Discipleship is a command that is overlooked by many! There is a lot of focus on converting people, but not enough on actually discipling those converts. In this teaching series we will be discussing the biblical importance of discipleship and how the Bible tells us to do it. We will be looking at a key element in this topic: the parable of the sower.

Keeping: https://youtu.be/k7fUP105dLM?si=kejPyw3P7x_nhb_QDiscipleship Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLld8NUxoM8_HkQr_adv7urLujEfZhiGkw&si=v6jDWapKKl5sH2ODDescription: In Part 31 of their discipleship teaching, Drs. Michael and Mary Davis clarify a crucial aspect of Jesus' command: teaching disciples to *observe* His commands, not just obey them. They delve into the true meaning of "observe" and its implications for understanding our relationship with God and others.Key points explored in this video:- Immersed in the Names: Continuing the discussion on baptism as immersion into the names of Yahweh, Yeshua, and Emmanuel, and the significance of this covenant relationship.- Teaching to Observe, Not Obey: Emphasizing that the Greek word *tēreō*, often translated as "obey," actually means to observe, look at carefully, and keep God's commands before one's eyes.- The Impossibility of Obeying Without God's Spirit: Highlighting that true obedience to God's commands comes through the power of the Holy Spirit, not human effort.- Meditating on God's Word: Connecting the concept of observing God's commands to meditating on them, drawing parallels to the Hebrew word *shamar*.- Listening to God: Underscoring the importance of listening to God, even in the Great Commission, as a foundation for observing His commands.- The Identifying Mark of a Disciple: Focusing on Jesus' commandment to love one another as He loved, and how this love is manifested through observing His commands.- Abiding in His Love: Explaining that abiding in Jesus' love is directly linked to keeping His commandments, just as Jesus abided in the Father's love by keeping His commands.- Transforming the Mind Through Meditation: Discussing how meditating on God's word exchanges our own opinions for God's truth, transforming our hearts and belief systems.- Distinguishing Biblical Meditation from Eastern Practices: Clarifying that biblical meditation involves filling the mind with God's word, not emptying it.- Love Defined by Law and Commandment: Pointing out that agape love is often defined in scripture by law and commandment, challenging the idea that believers are free from considering them.- Relationship and Listening: Concluding that the core of our relationship with God is listening to Him, and that the power of God's word lies in its ability to transform lives when our beliefs align with His truth.**#Discipleship #Observe #Obey #GodsCommands #Meditation #AgapeLove #RelationshipWithGod #HolySpirit #John14 #GreatCommission #Faith #MichaelAndMaryDavis**In the Great Commission, there is a statement: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19 NAS) Discipleship is a command that is overlooked by many! There is a lot of focus on converting people, but not enough on actually discipling those converts. In this teaching series we will be discussing the biblical importance of discipleship and how the Bible tells us to do it. We will be looking at a key element in this topic: the parable of the sower.