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.