“Food is essential to life, therefore make it good.” S. Truett Cathy
“A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.” Thomas Keller, American Chef
“I’m lovin’ it.” “Finger-lickin’ good.” “Better ingredients, better…” “AMERICA RUNS ON…”
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8 New International Version (NIV)
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods…
Psalm 63:4-5 (NIV)
I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 6:35 (NIV)
Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.
John 7:37-38 (NIV)
This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me… This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me
1 Corinthians 11:24-25 (NIV)
Soul Food: The Ingredients: Follow the Recipe, The Process: Let it Cook, The Meal: Serve it Up
“Followers of the Way”: Acts 9:2, 22:4, 24:14
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
Ingredient 1: Scripture- They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…
Ingredient 2: Fellowship- They devoted themselves… to fellowship…All of the believers were together…
koinonia – partnership, participation, communion
Koinonia gathers the whole spectrum of Christian experience—relationship with God, unity of believers, sacramental participation, shared mission, mutual suffering, and material generosity—into a single word. Wherever the Spirit unites believers to Christ and to one another, authentic fellowship flourishes, displaying the life of the triune God to the world.” BIBLEHUB
There is no discipleship without relationship
Ingredient 3: Worship & Communion- They devoted themselves…to the breaking of bread…Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts…praising God…”
Ingredient 4: Prayer- They devoted themselves…to the breaking of bread…Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts…praising God…”
“Our prayers lay the rails upon which the purposes and plans of God can and will travel.” – Watchman Nee
Ingredient 5: Spirit Filled Ministry- Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles
Ingredient 6: Service & Generosity- All the believers…had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need…
Ingredient 7: Multiplication- And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Ingredients for Life in Christ (Acts 2:42-47): God’s Word, Fellowship, Worship & Communion, Prayer, Spirit-Filled Ministry, Service & Generosity, Multiplication
Do my current ingredients lead to a life that looks more like Jesus? Or something else?
What ingredients in my life do I need to strengthen and increase? what ingredients do I need to add? what ingredients do I need to remove?
In light of this, how can I begin to pray right now for God to grow and transform my life?