Introduction:

1.      In Structure the letters which we find in the New Testament differ from those written today.

a.       Today our letters end with the sender, in Paul’s day they began with the sender.  Then came the name of the person(s) addressed and the rest of the opening salutation.

b.      Then came the thanksgiving and / or prayer (often both)

c.       Then the body of the letter

d.      Then the concluding items; such as greetings, word of farewell or even a benediction 

2.      This is a most unusual greeting to a church from Paul.  Paul does not mention himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ as in his other letters (cf Eph. 1:1).  Why?

a.       There was no need for him to defend his call from God.  His relationship with the church at Philippi was just what it should be:

·         a relationship founded and rooted in Jesus Christ

·         in the love and respect for each other 

b.      The church held its minister, Paul, ever so closely to its heart

·         They loved and cared for him as few churches love and care for their ministers

·         We need to love, care,  and respect  Pastor Brian, Pastor Robert, and any other leaders in our church, this is very important!

3.      This greeting gives some outstanding distinctives of Christian believers

a.       They grow young people (v.1)

b.      They are servants of Christ (v.1)

c.       They are saints (v.1)

d.      They are organized for ministry: bishops and deacons (v.1)

e.       They know grace and peace (v.2)

Verse 1 - Discipleship-Young People

#1 A Healthy Church Disciples Young People

1.      Adult and Young Person Together

a.       In the words “Paul and Timothy” we see a father and son in the faith – the adult and the young person together.

b.      There was a deep affection that bound Paul and Timothy together, and that affection found its roots and purpose in the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ.

c.       This is what I want between you, Kristi, and myself!

d.      Paul contributed the wisdom of experience, and Timothy the hope and vibrant energy of youth.

e.       God has given me the primary responsibility and privilege to make you disciples.

f.       This was the command of the Lord’s Great Commission  

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:19-20

Making Great Disciples

Jesus not only commissioned the eleven apostles, but all that were present.  More than five hundred disciples.  However, note something of crucial importance:

·        It was impossible for that generation to reach the whole world in its lifetime.

·        Therefore, the commission is given to the first generation of believers and extends to all generations of believers, and that includes you and me!

·        That very same charge given to them is given to us, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . .”

The Lord’s Commission Was Threefold.

“Go and make disciples of all nations.”

Teaching and baptizing are not enough to reach the world for Christ.  Both are important, and Christ commissions both; but He says something else must precede or (come before): DISCIPLESHIP

Our lord was not only telling us to “go and evangelize,” He was telling us How to evangelize.

He was not only giving His ultimate objective and overriding purpose,

He was giving the method to use in evangelizing the world.

-What does our Lord mean by “make disciples”?

-Does it not mean that we are to do what He did?

-Is He not telling us to do exactly what He did?

What Did Christ Do?

Christ “came to seek and save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10)

1.      Christ sought out the lost, those who were willing to commit their lives to Him, and when He found such a person He saved that person.

Application: We to must seek to find those who are lost and bring them to Jesus Christ that He may save them.  We must do this with persistence just as the four men bring the paralytic to Jesus (Mark 2:1-12).

All men are disabled and sick spiritually.  Therefore, we must possess the same three qualities as the friends of the disabled did:

1st.        We must be obsessed with the mission of getting the disabled to Christ.  We must cling to the helpless and hopeless until we can get them to Christ.

2nd.     We must acknowledge Christ’s power to help-beyond any question

3rd.      We must persist and persevere until we get the disabled to Christ (Lk. 11:5-10; 18:1-8).

2.      When Christ found a person who was willing to commit his life, Christ attached Himself to that person.

a.       Christ began to mold and make that person into His image.

b.      They began to observe His life, and conversation; and in seeing and hearing they began to

c.       Absorb and put to practice the very same character and behavior of Christ.

d.      They began to follow Him and serve Him more closely.

3.      There is another way to describe what Christ did.

a.       He extended Himself by attaching Himself to committed persons, and through attachment, the persons absorbed and put to practice the Lord’s very character and mission.

b.      They in turn attached themselves to others and discipled them.

c.       They in turn attached themselves to others and disciples them and so on down the line.

d.      Thus was the glorious message of Christ to march down through the centuries (2 Tim. 2:2)

 How Can I Apply All Of This To My Life?

1.      It is unbiblical to pray with someone to receive Christ, then say, “Your on your own.  God bless you, See you around.” 

a.       When a baby is born you would not say, “See you around, good luck in life.”

b.      We are to help new believers:

1.      Grow spiritually

2.      Become dedicated

3.      Committed

4.      Fruitful

5.      Mature disciples of Christ

c.       Only then will these new believers repeat the discipling process with others they lead to Christ. 

2.      In Acts 9:10-19 introduces a great hero of the church, a man named Ananias.  You might ask,

“What great work did he do?   

            “Did he write any books in the New Testament?”

            “Did he perform any miracles?”

            “Can we read any of his sermon in the book of Acts?”

            “NO.”  But the man he discipled did all those things and far much more.            

-Little did Ananias know that the man he took under his wing would become the greatest preacher in the history of the Christian Church!

So, What Does It Mean To Disciples Others?

1.      It’s the process whereby you take a new believer under your care and influence to help him get on his feet spiritually.

2.      It does not mean teaching alone!  What good would it do to teach somebody the Word but yet we don’t help them grow spiritually?

3.      It also means being an encouraging, supportive, prayerful friend. 

4.      Tragically, many people who receive Christ drift away from the church in the first few months.  WHY?

5.      Because no one helps them to become established, rooted, and grounded in the faith.

DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I BECAME A NEW, BABY CHRISTIAN AND HOW ANDREW DISCIPLED ME, ENCOURAGED ME, SUPPORTED ME, AND WAS THERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT I HAD.

ANDREW GAVE A BIBLE STUDY IN WHICH KRISTI AND I ATTENDED

THEN ONE DAY, HE HELD HIS LAST BIBLE STUDY AND HE ENCOURAGED ME TO CONTINUE IN THE LORD, BE STRONG IN HIM. 

HE DISCIPLED ME THE WAY AQUILLA AND PRISCILLA DISCIPLED APOLLOS (Acts 18:26).

New Believers Need To See How Christians Live In The Real World.

1.      They need to see someone model Christianity for them (Philippians 3:17; Titus 2:7,8; 1 Cor. 4:16). Your example to them outside the church building is just as important to their spiritual growth.

2.      New believers need to see how you obey your parents, do your school work, how you behave in class, at recess.

3.      New believers need to see what Christians do for entertainment.

·        What do you watch on T.V.?

·        What kind of movies do you attend?

·        What kind of music do you listen to?

·        What your attitude is toward life.

4.      New believers need someone to Model the Christian Life in daily living!  That’s what discipling is all about!

Roadblocks That Keep Christians from Actively Discipling Others

1.      I don’t want them to see what my life is really like.  If that’s the case, maybe you need to make some changes in your life.

·        Your activities

·        Your conversation

·        Your thought life

·        To be a discipler of others you need to be diligent (to give maximum effort) about your own walk with the Lord.

2.      I don’t know the Bible well enough.  You do not need to be a Bible Scholar to lead someone to Christ and disciple them.

3.      But I don’t know all the answers to the questions that they will ask.  That's ok.  This will give you a hunger and thirst to go and find the answers to the questions they ask.  Besides, you probably know a lot more about the Christian life than he does.  

Discipling Others Keeps Your Fire Burning

1.      As you fuel the new believers inner fire with your knowledge, wisdom, and experience, he will help keep your fire blazing with his passion and zeal.

2.      We need to take what God has given us and use it constructively in the lives of others.

Illustrations:

·        Being with my daughter helps me see life through her eyes.

·        When she discovers things for the first time, I rediscover the newness of those experiences.

--The beach, ocean, sand going through her fingers, ice cream, the moon & stars etc…

PROVERBS 11:25

The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.

The more you give the more God will give back

God’s Divine Chain 2 Timothy 2:1-2

1.      Every Christian must look on himself as a link between two generations.  Not only have you received the faith: but you must pass it on.

2.      I am a link in the living chain, which stretches unbroken from this present time back to Jesus. 

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19 NKJV)

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep”. (John 21:17 NKJV)

“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28 NKJV)

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; (1 Peter 5:2 NKJV)

WILL YOU BE ONE GOD CAN USE TO HELP NEW BELIEVERS GROW INTO MATURE DISCIPLES?