Find and Form | Matt Chandler | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Find and Form

The Village Church • Feb 24, 2025 • 50 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message, Pastor Matt Chandler explores Deuteronomy 6 and Matthew 28 to show that Christian discipleship consists of being both found and formed by God. True spiritual formation begins with acknowledging God's unique authority and yielding every part of our lives to Him through unconditional surrender. Rather than isolating faith to church services, God established everyday home rhythms and practical evangelism as the places where discipleship flourishes.

Themes

Spiritual FormationUnconditional SurrenderHousehold DiscipleshipEvangelism & DiscipleshipRevival & Awakening

Key Points

1.
True spiritual revival is an extraordinary work of the Holy Spirit that shakes believers out of indifference and worldliness, drawing them into repentance and bold evangelism.
2.
Spiritual formation begins with acknowledging that the Lord alone is God—unchanging, all-powerful, and completely worthy of our ultimate allegiance.
3.
Sanctification is a lifelong process of being found and formed, much like cutting and chiseling a rough diamond to reveal its true weight, color, and clarity.
4.
True devotion to God requires unconditional surrender rather than keeping a portion of our lives for ourselves while expecting God to serve our personal desires.
5.
Cultivating love for God involves paying close attention to two vital questions: what stirs my affections for Jesus, and what robs me of my affections?
6.
God established the home, rather than the church building, as the primary center for discipleship, integrated into the natural rhythms of everyday living.
7.
Parents disciple effectively not by being perfect theologians, but by sharing what God is teaching them and consistently modeling gospel humility through genuine apologies.
8.
A healthy church balances both zealous evangelism and deep discipleship, recognizing that to abandon either wing causes the church to crash.
9.
The Great Commission rests on the total authority and abiding presence of Jesus as He sends believers to find and form disciples in their daily lives.

Sermon Moments

“A Revival or an Awakening is an abnormal work of the Holy Spirit in which Christians are lifted out of indifference and worldliness and moved towards repentance and a greater hunger for Christ and His word.”

“Like a diamond in the rough, the weight, clarity, and beauty of who God made us to be requires chiseling, sanding, and the removal of rough edges through sanctification.”

“The story of the Bible is that we are found and then we are formed. God hasn't come just to save us; He came to save us and transform us over time.”

“The story of the Bible is zealous evangelism and deep discipleship. You don't pick one wing of the airplane—you need both to fly.”

“Unconditional surrender means holding onto nothing for yourself, whereas conditional surrender hands God 80 percent and demands He serve us in the remaining 20.”

“To guard your heart, ask daily: what stirs my affections for Jesus Christ, and what robs me of my affections?”

“God's original discipleship unit was not the church, but the home. Discipleship happens naturally when sitting in your house, walking by the way, lying down, and rising up.”

This Week

Identify and confess any areas of conditional surrender where you hold back full control from God (such as finances, marriage, or work).

Ask yourself daily: "What stirs my affections for Jesus Christ, and what robs me of my affections?"

Eliminate or reduce morally neutral distractions that dull your hunger for spiritual things.

Integrate spiritual conversations into your daily routine—while sitting at home, driving in the car, going to bed, and waking up.

Model ongoing repentance to your children or loved ones by humbly apologizing when you fall short and acknowledging your own need for Jesus.

Equip yourself with God's Word so you can use Scripture as a spiritual weapon against temptations and lies.

Write down specific areas of self-reliance, fear, or hidden sin on paper and prayerfully surrender them to God.

Remember This

Spiritual formation requires unconditional surrender to God, allowing His Spirit to continuously shape every part of our lives through His Word and daily rhythms.

A Challenge for You

Take time to ask the Holy Spirit what areas of your life you have not fully surrendered, write them down honestly, and bring them before the altar as an act of full surrender and repentance.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.