The Case For A Disciple-Making Church--Part 2

What comes first…the chicken or the egg? Who knows? I’m not sure, but I am sure about these:

What comes first?

• Discipleship or Worship

• Discipleship or Missions

• Discipleship or Evangelism

• Discipleship or Social Action

Matthew 28:19-20

“Go and make disciples (first)…teaching them (about worship, missions, evangelism, social action) to obey everything I have commanded you…”

An undiscipled life will demean the value of worship, missions, evangelism, and social action. If we are not living the discipled life, we will be seeking to do these activities in our own way and not in God’s. No doubt, many will be busy doing some very good things. But if these are done by undiscipled believers, the end result will be a hollow experience.

What did Jesus have in mind when He charged us to go and make disciples? What is He looking for in a person who loves Him? As we survey the New Testament, we can highlight at least seven qualities of a disciple who follows Jesus.

1. Jesus wants us to make disciples who have a firm foundation of GRACE.

2. Jesus wants us to make disciples who WORSHIP God in the way He desires.

3. Jesus wants us to make disciples who love to STUDY the BIBLE.

4. Jesus wants us to make disciples who PRAY.

5. Jesus wants us to make disciples who are in COMMUNITY, building RELATIONSHIPS.

6. Jesus wants us to make disciples who SERVE, using their GIFTS.

7. Jesus wants us to make disciples who SHARE their FAITH.

As believers, we are called to participate in His work--the task of making disciples of Jesus Christ.

This is my thesis, my statement for consideration: If we are fully engaged in a culture of making (and living as) a disciple, then the natural outflow of a believer following Jesus as His disciple will be one who is actively engaged in…

• Worship—a seven day a week, twenty four hour a day way of life.

• Missions—a commitment to make disciples who will reach the ends of the earth for the Gospel.

• Evangelism—a natural expression of having to share the reality of the Christian life with the lost—using both words and deeds.

• Social Action—a pledge to become salt and light, doing good works and building relationships as the Kingdom of God is extended.

I believe that “Discipleship” is so much more than just another thing to get involved in. I believe it is the thing. It is reasonable to expect: The more I grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, the more impact I will have on worship, missions, evangelism, and social action.

And how does a believer grow as a disciple, a Christ-follower? He or she embraces at least these seven qualities:

1. A disciple of Jesus Christ grows spiritually when he or she has a firm foundation of GRACE.

2. A disciple of Jesus Christ grows spiritually when he or she WORSHIPS God in the way He desires.

3. A disciple of Jesus Christ grows spiritually when he or she STUDIES the BIBLE.

4. A disciple of Jesus Christ grows spiritually when he or she PRAYS.

5. A disciple of Jesus Christ grows spiritually when he or she is in COMMUNITY, building RELATIONSHIPS.

6. A disciple of Jesus Christ grows spiritually when he or she SERVES, using their GIFTS.

7. A disciple of Jesus Christ grows spiritually when he or she SHARES their FAITH.

The Case For A Disciple-Making Church--Part 1

The Case For A Disciple-Making Church:

Rethinking The Way We Do Church In America

Part 1

Key Scriptures to Consider:

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

¹¹ It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹² to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:11-16 (NIV)

¹ You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV)

Introduction:

What is Biblical discipleship? Are we living a discipled life? Are we making the kinds of disciples who are following Jesus? These are questions that require any serious follower of Jesus Christ to carefully weigh. Living in a culture that encourages us to live as buffet Christians—taking what we like and rejecting what does not please us—we face the danger of settling for a watered-down version of authentic Christian discipleship. Like a zombie, many of us simply go through the motions of a religion we can live with, neglecting the very thing Christ has called the church to do: not to only be a disciple of His, but to make them as well.

I. The Command Is For All

Jesus promised His resources “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” to accomplish His work “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” It is important to note here: that the Greek use of the word “make disciples,” not only means to reproduce the essence of discipleship in others, but it also means that I too must have those same elements of discipleship at work in my own life. It is impossible for me to make something (a disciple of Jesus Christ), when the very life I am seeking to reproduce does not live in me.

II. The Role Of The Church And Its Leaders

Yes, first and foremost, the role of the Church of Jesus Christ is to glorify Him. Once that fact has been established, we then see in Ephesians 4 that the role of the leaders of the church is the preparation of God’s people for works of service. Why? So that the body of Christ may be built up, mature in our faith, learning to live in an authentic community of truth-telling, becoming more and more like Jesus Christ as each one of us finds our niche in the body of Christ. This process of spiritual growth is made possible because of intentional discipleship. I believe the implication of this passage of Scripture is that as the leaders of the church lead in discipleship, others will follow and also make disciples too. “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (vs. 16)

III. Grace: The Foundation For A Fruitful Ministry Of Discipleship

Without a foundation of grace in our life, any attempt to make disciples will only be another thing we add to our "appear spiritual" list. It becomes a program, a burdensome duty, a religious exercise with no lasting value. However, if we are, as Paul suggests, “to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,” then our investment in the lives of other disciples will produce generations of future disciples. Because of grace, note the progression of the chain of discipleship (in this one verse, we see four generations):

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. (vs. 2)

There was (1) Paul, (2) Timothy, (3) Reliable men who will also be qualified to teach, (4) Others

How far does your chain of discipleship go? Are you stuck on you or are you moving on into a fruitful legacy of building up disciples of Jesus Christ?

Summary:

Discipleship is not “another thing to do” as we live out our Christian life. No, it is “the thing we must do” if we are willing to live in obedience according to His Word. In a future discussion we will talk in detail of what makes a disciple of Jesus Christ a “Quality Disciple.” For now, we will list them in a logical progression. They are Grace, Worship, Bible Study, Prayer, Community (building relationships), Service, and Evangelism.

Perhaps, you would like for this prayer to become your own:

Lord Jesus, I come to You with a sincere desire to please You. I know, by reading Your Word, becoming a disciple and making a disciple is not optional. It is Your Word to me. I can rest upon Your resources (Your strength) to give me everything I need in order to fulfill my part of the Great Commission. Lord, may I be used by You as one who helps others grow up spiritually in my church. Send me strong believers who will disciple me. As I look around, lead me to those that I can mentor and disciple. Finally, may I always be reminded that there will never be lasting spiritual fruit if I do not fully engage in Your grace. For the sake of others I influence, and for my sake, may Your grace in me grant me a legacy of disciples who follow after You.

The Great Need For Biblical Quality Disciples

With so many voices in the media saying there are other legitimate options besides a relationship with Jesus Christ, a quality disciple of Jesus Christ must be grounded in what God's Word teaches.

This video clip is a stark reminder of all of the false teaching that seeks to deceive.

² Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NIV)

Evangelism

FACE TIME:

Getting To Know God Better By Spending Face Time With Him

WEEK ONE / DAY 7 / EVANGELISM

V. EVANGELISM is not optional. The story of the Gospel is too good to ignore. It must be told to others—both in word and in deed.

For the quality disciple, it all begins with having a foundation of grace…where as a result, we can worship God in the way He prefers…then, and only then, will we be able to experience genuine spiritual growth…where we will be able to serve as we share our spiritual gifts…and as we experience God’s grace, worship Him as He sees fit, grow in our relationship with Him, and serve using our gifts for Him, we will consequently have an authentic WITNESS to the lost using both our words and our deeds.

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect* in Christ. Col. 1:28

*A Clearer Meaning:

What does it mean to present everyone perfect in Christ? Simply this: it does not mean to make perfect converts who never make a mistake, but to make disciples who are spiritually mature as they grow in Christ. It is called “discipleship.”

What does this say…What does it mean…What is God saying to me?

Am I comfortable talking about Jesus with a non-believer?

Do I have a good grasp of the teachings of Christianity in order to point seekers to saving faith in Jesus Christ?

Is the priority of my life such that the end goal of every relationship is to present everyone perfect (spiritually mature) in Christ?

Talking To God: My Face Time With Him

Lord of the Harvest, I want Your heart for the lost. How will they hear, if no one, including me, does not tell them about Your Gospel? I need Your grace as I proclaim You, admonishing and teaching everyone You place across my path with all wisdom; so that I may present them perfect and mature in Christ.

Service

FACE TIME:

Getting To Know God Better By Spending Face Time With Him

WEEK ONE / DAY 6 / SERVICE

IV. SERVICE is the natural outflow of having a relationship with the Lord. God has saved me so that I might serve Him and others.

For the quality disciple, it all begins with having a foundation of grace… where as a result, we can worship God in the way He prefers…then, and only then, will we be able to experience genuine spiritual growth…where we will be able to SERVE as we share our spiritual gifts…

17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:17-18

What does this say…What does it mean…What is God saying to me?

What kinds of material goods has the Lord entrusted to me that can be a blessing to another member of the body of Christ?

How keen am I to the lives of needy believers who are in my circle of influence?

What have I done lately that has shown love to a needy person?

Talking To God: My Face Time With Him

Lord, You have blessed me with more than I deserve. You have blessed me with both material and spiritual blessings. Give me Your eyes to see the needs around me. May I be a blessing to both You and to others. Your Word is a sober reminder of what You expect from me: If I have material possessions and see my brother in need but have no pity on him, how can the love of God be in me? As a dear child of God, let me not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth.

Spiritual Growth: Community (Relationships)

FACE TIME:

Getting To Know God Better By Spending Face Time With Him

WEEK ONE / DAY 5 / SPIRITUAL GROWTH / COMMUNITY

III. SPIRITUAL GROWTH must be the norm for every Christian believer.

For the quality disciple, it all begins with having a foundation of grace… where as a result, we can worship God in the way He prefers…then, and only then, will we be able to experience genuine SPIRITUAL GROWTH…

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

C. Community (Relationships) is essential for a healthy Christian. No one can live the Christian life in a vacuum. I need meaningful relationships with other believers.

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3

What does this say…What does it mean…What is God saying to me?

Who is in my circle of fellowship, other believers, whom I desire to have a meaningful relationship?

What kinds of choices do I make in order to enhance my relationship with my Father and with my Savior, Jesus Christ?

Talking To God: My Face Time With Him

Lord Jesus, You are the glue that holds every relationship together. Forgive me for the times when I leave You out and seek out friendships that are not built around You. You have given me wonderful counsel as I seek to build relationships. A healthy Christian community is as the Apostle John suggests, “that I might also may have fellowship with other believers. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”

Spiritual Growth: Prayer

FACE TIME:

Getting To Know God Better By Spending Face Time With Him

WEEK ONE / DAY 4 / SPIRITUAL GROWTH / PRAYER

III. SPIRITUAL GROWTH must be the norm for every Christian believer.

For the quality disciple, it all begins with having a foundation of grace… where as a result, we can worship God in the way He prefers…then, and only then, will we be able to experience genuine SPIRITUAL GROWTH…

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

B. Prayer is akin to breathing in the air of heaven.

To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah Psalm 3:4

What does this say…What does it mean…What is God saying to me?

Is my prayer to the Lord my first response when I face a crisis?

Why is it important for me to cry aloud to the Lord?

How do I know when God answers me from His holy hill?

Talking To God: My Face Time With Him

Lord, You are not only the answer to my prayers, You are my Prayer. I want the kind of relationship with You that does not treat You like my cosmic bellhop, but to be Your friend and walk with You day by day, moment by moment, breath by breath. Lord it is to You I cry aloud; knowing that You will answer me from Your holy hill.

Spiritual Growth: Bible Study

FACE TIME:

Getting To Know God Better By Spending Face Time With Him

WEEK ONE / DAY 3 / SPIRITUAL GROWTH / BIBLE STUDY

III. SPIRITUAL GROWTH must be the norm for every Christian believer.

For the quality disciple, it all begins with having a foundation of grace… where as a result, we can worship God in the way He prefers…then, and only then, will we be able to experience genuine SPIRITUAL GROWTH…

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

A. Bible Study is an integral part of my day.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Col. 3:16

What does this say…What does it mean…What is God saying to me?

Have I given the Word of Christ “permission” to take root in my heart?

Does the fruit of my Bible study impact those of whom I have a relationship?

Have I been experiencing a thankful heart?

Talking To God: My Face Time With Him

Lord, You are the Word of God. It is my heart-felt desire that You come and fill my heart with Your precious Word. I have grown weary of shallow. I want it deeply and richly. I want Your Word to be the grid for everything I think, say, and do. I make a willing choice, I give You permission to let the Word of Christ dwell or live in me richly. I thank You that the outcome will impact those I teach and admonish with all of Your wisdom as my heart is filled singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude and thanks in my heart to God.