Discipleship

Discipleship is so important, because it is the fundamental task of the church.

Fundamental-Base or the core.

We have read and understood the scripture text of the Great Commission to read as an evangelistic text when in fact it's about disciple making and not evangelizing.

• Disciple making and disciple forming is a life long endeavor in the lives of Christians. 
• We've built a whole movement on evangelizing the world and in the scripture it doesn't say that it says, 

Matthew 28:18-20 NLT "[18] Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [20] Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

• If we are to go into all the world and make disciples and that is our mandate then we need to get on with it, the problem is most of don't know how to do it. 
• We live our lives thinking and believing we'll just evangelize and that's good enough, well according to scripture, it's not nor ever will be.
• Evangelizing happens when disciples live their lives to their fullest potential in Christ, then through relationship.
• It's a process. 
• Evangelism takes place in the context of relationship not the other way around. 
• Evangelism is not sharing certain facts about Jesus as if we have a certain obligation before or afterwards. 
• But actually evangelism takes place in the context of a relationship which is called discipleship that can go a whole lifetime. 
• If our fundamental mission is to become more and more like Christ every year, every day, every hour, every moment then I believe this is the most valued thing we can possibly do, disciple. 
• Discipleship is by far the most strategic thing we could possibly do in the church. 
• If we fail at that then we fail at everything else. 

We have to have Values.

• Value God-Integrity First
• Value Others-Service before self
• Value the Mission-Excellence in all we do

Will you intentionally care? Will you intentionally connect? Will you intentionally teach, correct in truth, love without limits.  

1. Treat each other in a spiritual way. 

Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT "[1] Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. [2] Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God."

1 Corinthians 3:1-6 NLT "[1] Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. [2] I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, [3] for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren't you living like people of the world? [4] When one of you says, "I am a follower of Paul," and another says, "I follow Apollos," aren't you acting just like people of the world? [5] After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God's servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. [6] I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow."

• There is a right way to treat others, the bible teaches us those ways. 
• Imparting those ways to others is difficult, making those changes personally is hard, and many times painful. 

2. Invest my time and talent into making a difference in the life of others. 

1 Corinthians 9:19 NLT "[19] Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ."

Slavery-a condition of having to work very hard without proper remuneration or appreciation.

3. Be impeccable with my words. (Without sin)

Matthew 5:37 NLT "[37] Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Anything beyond this is from the evil one."

James 1:22,26 NLT "[22] But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 

[26] If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless."

• You can make or break any relationship with your words. 
• Words of condemnation or words of affirmation.

James 3:1-12 NLT "[1] Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. [2] Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. [3] We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. [4] And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. [5] In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. [6] And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. [7] People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, [8] but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. [9] Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. [10] And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! [11] Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? [12] Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring."

• The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing. 
• Stay focused on truth. 
• Stay focused on Christ. His life, death, burial, resurrection and the modeling of that life for all of Christianity. 
• Allow relationship to happen, allow discipleship to happen, allow influence to occur. 
• Time is one of the greatest things you could ever give someone. 

Discipleship is a process, processes take time.

All the answers

How Can You Say Jesus Is the Only Way to God?

1 Corinthians 8:2 “Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much.”

People are only willing to accept one way if they believe it is appropriate, and to listen to authority when it is in their best interests or they have confidence in the authority. They don't promote pluralism regarding to breathe or not to breathe (the only one way to keep someone living). They follow their employers' way of doing things to keep their jobs. They follow detour signs held by orange-jacketed construction workers. When it comes to religion, however, suddenly pluralism is an absolute and anyone, such as Jesus, who is so narrow, minded as to say His religion is the only way to God, is convicted of prejudice.

Job 40:2 "Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God's critic, but do you have the answers?" 

How does a Christian respond?

o      First, show the skeptic that he is himself, intolerant of at least one religious view -- Christianity, which makes exclusive claims about salvation.

o      Then, show him that consistent pluralism is meaningless because by giving the same truth value to conflicting claims, it denies truth to any claim.

Proverbs 26:5 “When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation.”

Job 40:4 "I am nothing--how could I ever find the answers? I will put my hand over my mouth in silence.”

Job 35:12 "And if they do cry out and God does not answer, it is because of their pride.”

o      If there is only one God who is eternal, all-powerful, all-good, all-loving, all-knowing, and fully just; and He creates us in His image, we would be completely fulfilled if we related to Him the way He wants us to, in harmony with His will. As the creator from concept to production line, he would know the most about the perfect purpose of his creations. No one else could compete with him regarding his creations' functions or destiny.

o      If He were to say one's destiny is determined by how many slices of pizza he can consume, no one could bring greater authority or knowledge to dispute him.

o      If He were to say that one's destiny is determined by how he responds to God's loving sacrifice of His Son on behalf of all who are separated by sin from God, He cannot be disputed.

There is not one teacher who knows everything about his or her subject.

There are more questions than there are answers and this is also true when it comes to Christianity, the Bible, heaven, hell and eternity or the “afterlife.”

If we were to test each plan of salvation, all would fail except Christianity. To test each plan would be incredibly useless.

o      It would be like having five thousand cars in a parking lot, only one of which has an engine, and trying every single one to find the one that worked. You could try 4,999 unsuccessfully and know without even turning the key that car 5,000 works.

o      However, if the person who put the cars in the parking lot and chose the one with the engine were to tell you where that car is, pointed it out, led you to it, sat you in the seat, and even turned the key for you, people would call you a fool to insist, "You're too narrow-minded and intolerant. I'd rather try a few other cars first. I have my own ideas about where the engine is."

o      Christianity is the car with the engine.

o      It fits the facts, makes sense, perfectly reflects God's nature and character, and tells the truth about human nature and our predicament separated from God by sin.

o      If we are created in the image of the God described in the Bible, if we are separated from Him by our own sin, and if He loves us so much that He would provide Himself a sacrifice for human sin that reconciles His justice and mercy, wouldn't it make sense for Him to come Himself, demonstrate His identity and authority through His words and works, and then point us to the only way?

Luke 20:26 “So they failed to trap him in the presence of the people. Instead, they were amazed by his answer, and they were silenced.”

He is not an ancient ideal but a real person here and now, ready to barge in and transform our lives. . . . The love of God is the answers not only to (1) the quest for the extreme value. . . and to (2) the quest for the ultimate reality. . . but it is also the answer to the third quest, the quest for life's deepest meaning and purpose."(3)

Psalms 17:6 “I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.”

 

Psalms 91:15 “When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them.”

Proverbs 16:1 “We can gather our thoughts, but the Lord gives the right answer.”

Paul said, Romans 7:25 “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.” 

Proverbs 8:17 "I love all who love me. Those who search for me will surely find me.”

Discover what you can do

Proverbs 18:16 promises, “ A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.” 

Believe it or not, God has put special gifts of ability in your life. Here are 4 ways you can find out what they are.

1.     SEEKING GOD IN PRAYER, ASKING HIM TO REVEAL YOUR ABILITIES.

Jeremiah 33:3 tells us when we call upon Him, He’ll show us things to come.

Jeremiah 33:3 "Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come." 

2.     ASK PEOPLE CLOSE TO YOU. 

   Solicit the evaluation of friends, parents, teachers, coaches, and others you trust to give their observations on your gifting.

   Allow the truth to speak deep into your heart and let it change you. 

3.     GO AFTER THINGS YOU HAVE IN YOUR HEART. 

   Never be afraid to step out and attempt something you’ve never done.

   I love this quote, "I will do today what others won't so tomorrow I can do what others can't."

   I read this on twitter today, "What's ironic is that those who don't have the courage to take risks, & those who do, experience the same amount of fear in life."

   John Maxwell

4.     FAITHFULLY DO THE LITTLE THINGS YOU ARE ASKED TO DO THE THINGS YOU DON’T LIKE MUCH. 

   God promises to give you bigger things when we do the small stuff well.

   Stay on task, stay faithful to Christ. 

Matthew 25:23 NLT

   [23] "The master said, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!'