Delight: Finding Your Necessary Motive

If unhealthy expectations fuel our reasoning for spiritual growth, we will eventually stall out. Our growth must be motivated by delight rather than obligation.


  • Distinctive DiscipleshipDesigning Specific Plans for Christian Maturity
  • Category #1: Delight
  • “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim…” (Col. 1:27-28).

Evaluate: Why do you desire to grow in Christ?

  • Most Christians fail at discipleship for one of two reasons:
    1. They follow Jesus out of duty rather than delight.
    2. They delight in something else more than Jesus.
  • When you do the right thing with the wrong motive, you might be in danger of doing the wrong thing.
  • The person who finds delight in something more than Jesus doesn’t comprehend who He is.

Matthew 13:44

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Examine: What is the greatest delight in your life right now?

  • If your version of Christianity involves a miserable submission rather than a glorious opportunity, you don’t get it.
  • If Jesus is the greatest delight of my life, no offering to him could ever be seen as a burden.
  • The only way that you can give everything away with joy is when you value what you receive even more.
  • Knowing Jesus is more like finding a treasure than accomplishing a task.

Engage: How will you place Jesus upon the throne of your joy?

  • The reason you want to grow in Christ will determine the level of your success.
  • The most critical element in your discipleship is to make Jesus both your priority and your privilege.
  • You will not grow in Christ for long if He is not enthroned as your supreme delight.
  • I need to delight in Jesus more than ___________________________.
  • How?