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What does it mean to 'fix your eyes on Jesus' for individual believers and the church as a whole? This week, Jordan Thomas joins the Gary Wilkerson Podcast to discuss how individual Christians can only experience the full blessings of this command to fix our attention on our Savior when we are within a community. Cultural norms make this an unpopular idea, but we will not mature and grow more like Christ unless we are living with like-minded believers.

Key Points from the Podcast

  • Pastor Jordan Thomas briefly shares his role at Grace Church Memphis and their calling to share the gospel and love of Christ with the people of uptown Memphis.

  • The Bible instructs us to behold Christ, not just individually but together as his church. When we look unto Jesus collectively as his body, whole congregations will be conformed to Christ’s image.

  • When we read the Bible, we tend to look at it through an individualistic lens, but much of the New Testament is written to whole churches using plural pronouns.

  • The focus of the local church should be pure, simple devotion to Jesus—knowing him more, becoming more like him, and telling others about him.

  • You will find more abiding joy when you get your eyes off yourself and set them on Christ.

Bible Verses Referenced in the Podcast

Hebrews 12:2, 12–14; Revelation 7:9–11; Hebrews 2:11–12; Ephesians 1:18–23; Ephesians 4:7, 13; John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 3:13–4:6; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Acts 18

Resources Mentioned in the Podcast

Additional podcast episodes with Pastor Jordan Thomas

About Pastor Jordan Thomas

God opened Jordan’s heart to believe the gospel during his freshman year of college. He has been preaching the gospel since 1997, is husband to Tracy, and has six children—four daughters and two sons. While serving with the other elders to provide soul-care to the flock at Grace Church Memphis, Jordan is a pastor-teacher overseeing vision and spiritual leadership. He also serves on the Lead Team of the Treasuring Christ Together Church Planting Network.