I have been thinking about what it means to be an advanced Christ Follower – that person who is what others would call “spiritually mature”. This is a person who has incorporated the 3c’s into their daily life (celebrate, connect, and contribute). But I think there is one of the “c’s” that characterizes their life more than any other – Paul alludes to it in Philippians 2 when he says our attitude should be the same of that as Christ Jesus… He goes on to talk about how Christ was and is God, but gave up the right to be treated as such to put on the clothes of a servant. Jesus gave up His right as the one to be served in order to serve… Let me ask you, do you live a life that is characterized by serving (contributing to the Kingdom)? I don’t just mean that you contribute on Sunday mornings in the Epic Kids. I mean, do you tend to. Jew your life through the lens of what you are getting, how you are being fed or do you view it through what you can give and what you can feed?

This is primary to becoming advanced as a Christ Follower – to be ruined spiritually by the leadership of Christ. It is a shuttle lie of Satan that you need something more than the grace of Christ, the indwelling of the Spirit and the connection with the Father. These three are who should and can feed you, this one is where your sustenance comes from. Paul often times sites his strength came from the power of Christ which worked so mightily in him.

See, I self-sacrifice because Someone sacrificed for me. I serve, because I have been served. I find, because I was found! At Epic we give without thought of return, because in the same manner we have been given too.

When we can become advanced to this level – I believe the Kingdom will begin to advance! Because one person at a time people will be seeing the love of Christ lived out in front of them – and that’s powerful!