Scripture References

  • John 19:28-30
  • Genesis 3:15
  • Ephesians 2:8-9
  • 1 John 4:10
  • 1 John 1:5-10
  • 1 John 2:1-2
  • Galatians 2:16
  • Romans 6:23
  • Revelation 12:10

Introduction

  • Pastor Josh launches a new six-week series, “Boot Camp: Training for Team Jesus,” designed to raise—not lower—the bar of discipleship.
  • Sets a military tone with an illustration of a blunt Marine recruiter: people long for a mission worth living and dying for.
  • Lake Pointe’s vision: not crowds, but disciples who “come die with Jesus.”
  • 2025 ministry recap: 11 church plants (total 90), 3,854 finished Rooted, 3,131 baptisms, new Sunnyvale campus (881 at Christmas). 2026 outlook: Roy City campus, two more in process.
  • Practical tools distributed: “Field Guide,” tear-off “One More” evangelism card, 2026 church-family calendar, new Lake Pointe app with Bible-reading plan and Lift Read podcast.
  • Series challenge: Each person asks, “What is my next step of obedience?"—then does it.

Key Points / Exposition

1. “It Is Finished” — What Was Finished

  • Jesus’ final word (Greek: Tetelestai) on the cross (John 19:30) is the most important word in Scripture.
  • Everyday Greek usages illuminate its meaning:
    • Business: written on receipts—“debt paid in full.”
    • Judicial: inscribed on a criminal’s record—“sentence fully served.”
    • Military: battle cry of victory—“enemy defeated.”
  • At Calvary:
    • PAYMENT: Christ settled humanity’s sin-debt completely (1 Jn 4:10; propitiation).
    • PENALTY: Divine justice fully satisfied—no double jeopardy for sin.
    • POWER: Serpent-crusher of Genesis 3:15 wins the cosmic war; victory imputed to those who didn’t fight.

2. “It Is Finished” — The Ongoing Reality

  • Discipleship begins with trusting, not trying; otherwise the gospel degrades into self-help.
  • Perfect-tense verb: a past, completed act with abiding results. Nothing can alter the “state of affairs.”
  • Common distortions:
    1. “It was finished” — God loved me then, but I blew it.
    2. “It’s kind of finished” — grace starts salvation; works keep it (official Catholic position refuted by Gal 2:16).
    3. “It will be finished” — God will love a future, improved version of me.
  • Biblical truth: right now, it is finished. Ephesians 2:8-9 anchors salvation by grace through faith alone.
  • Courtroom imagery (1 Jn 1–2):
    • Satan = prosecuting attorney (Rev 12:10), citing sin and demanding death (Rom 6:23).
    • Jesus = defense attorney/advocate (1 Jn 2:1-2), presenting nail-scarred hands as proof that punishment already fell; to condemn again would be unjust.
  • Walking in the light (1 Jn 1:5-10): not perfection but nothing hidden—confession, honesty, and fellowship.

3. Identity Formed by Finished Work

  • Only Jesus defines you; you are not your sin, success, orientation, addiction, divorce, abortion, or Instagram likes.
  • Extensive biblical identity declarations were read aloud (e.g., light of the world, temple of the Spirit, chosen race, saint, etc.), reinforcing that believers live under a banner reading “Paid in Full.”

Major Lessons & Revelations

  • True discipleship grows from the bedrock of Christ’s completed work; we obey from acceptance, not for acceptance.
  • God’s justice now requires Him to forgive believers because their sin has already been punished in Christ.
  • The enemy cannot steal salvation, so he tries to rob believers of enjoying it through accusations and shame.
  • Mission clarity: Lake Pointe exists to make disciples who embrace the cross, pursue one more soul, and live on the Word of God.

Practical Application

  • Carry the “Field Guide” and a physical Bible each week; rustle pages together.
  • Tear off “One More” card: write the person closest to you yet farthest from God; place it privately (mirror, dashboard) and pray daily for gospel opportunities.
  • Sync to the church calendar—prioritize family rhythms around corporate prayer (Jan 21 Night of Prayer & Worship) and discipleship environments (Rooted, groups).
  • Download the new Lake Pointe app: follow daily one-chapter Bible plan, watch sermons, listen to Lift Read for deeper study.
  • Continually ask, “What is my next step of obedience?” and act on it rather than trying to tackle everything at once.
  • When you sin, run to the Father, not away; confess, receive forgiveness, walk in the light.

Conclusion & Call to Response

• Discipleship starts at the cross: Tetelestai. Receive, then follow.
• Pastor invited anyone lacking assurance to whisper a prayer of surrender—“God, I’m Yours; the cross counts for me”—marking a new lineage and legacy.
• Church prayed for fresh awareness of grace and courage to abide in Christ throughout 2026.

Prayer

  • Thanksgiving for the finished work of Christ and its present power.
  • Petition that every hearer would believe, maybe for the first time, that “it is finished” for them.
  • Request for daily abiding—spiritual power on families, lives, and generations.

References & Resources

  • Lake Pointe “Field Guide” (discipleship pathway, 2026 calendar, QR codes).
  • Lift Read Podcast (weekly deep dive).
  • New Lake Pointe App (Bible-reading plan, sermon archive).

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