The TrueLife Mandate: Learn
Jesus declared that He came to give us life and life more abundantly. That promise is the foundation of everything we do. We don’t just gather as a church; we exist so that people can truly experience the life God intended. In this message, you’ll hear the heart behind TrueLife—how God shaped our vision through four defining words: Love, Learn, Live, and Lead. You’ll also discover the culture He’s forming within us: Love, Faith, Fun, and Generosity.
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NOTES
Matthew 16:18
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
The rock is the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
This is the first time the word “church” is used in the NT.
Gates of Hades - The power of death
Cannot prevent the resurrection of Christ (AMP)
Church, the Greek word ekklesia.
Ekklesia - “the called-out ones.”
This was not a religious word. It was used in Greek culture to describe a governing assembly of citizens called out to influence decisions in a city.
Refers to people who have been summoned and gathered together to govern the affairs of a city.
Ekklesia has always been about people gathering with a purpose.
In the New Testament, ekklesia refers to: The body of believers in Jesus Christ, or a spiritual community that has been called out.
Called out of sin, Called into purpose, Called to gather, Called to be like Jesus on this earth.
You’ve been called out of darkness into light, bondage into freedom, and now you’re called into an assignment.
A church must include at least three things: a pastor, a place to gather, and a clear assignment.
The church is not just a place we attend, it’s a people God has pulled out, set apart, and sent back into the world with an assignment.
The Church is a people called out by God to influence the world.
Jesus wasn’t saying: “I will build a gathering.” He was saying: “I will build a governing, influencing body that hell cannot stop.”
The church is the only entity with the unique ability to address root issues.
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We started TrueLife in July of 2011 with no money, no equipment, and a handful of people. Our slogan has been, “Is there more to life than what you are experiencing? Jesus came to give you life and life more abundantly. Why do we exist as a church? We exist so that people will experience true life.” The Lord gave us 4 vision words: Love, Learn, Live, and Lead. He also gave us 4 words for our culture: Love, Faith, Fun, and Generosity. That’s who we are. That’s what Jesus is building in us.
Colossians 1:9-10 NLT
So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
For the most part, we are not teachable.
Learn - to acquire knowledge; to gain understanding that produces transformation, to receive truth, apply it, and allow it to shape how you live.
To learn is to receive, understand, apply, and become.
In Scripture, learning is deeply connected to discipleship.
Believers and disciples are not the same. Jesus called those who believe into discipleship.
You can hear something and not learn it.
You can memorize something and still not learn it.
Learning is training
Anytime you're being trained, you will always have to go against the grain.
All training requires a rearrangement of your thinking.
Learning is the bridge between hearing the truth and becoming transformed by it.
4 Ways to Learn:
Instruction
Observation
Experience
Application
As much as we want the Word to be our only teacher, we must admit that observation, experience, and application are also teachers
Philippians 4:11
I have learned in whatever state I am to be content…
I learned to be thankful for health when I was sick
I learned to be thankful for a job when I was unemployed
content - independent of external circumstances; thankful; undisturbed
Romans 12:2
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
To learn is to grow in the knowledge of God until His truth becomes your lifestyle.
You have not truly learned something until it has changed the way you live.