Three Epic Questions

October 2nd 2022

Series: Organic Disciples

Sermon Title: Three Epic Questions

Handout: Here & There Prayer Flyer

Topic:Helping people understand the intimate, often misunderstood, relationship between Discipleship (Growing in Jesus) and Evangelism (Going with Jesus).

Key Passages: Matthew 28: 18-20, Galatians 5:22-23, Matthew 9:35-38, 2 Timothy 2:1-2, Psalm 78:5-7,

Sermon Blurb: Discipleship and Evangelism are two undeniable commands from Jesus (see Matthew 28). In fact, they are so interconnected that one should always lead to the other. We will explore the multi-generational nature of discipleship and identify 7 markers of spiritual growth.

Grace Campus: Adam Grill / Bob Wielenga

Ebenezer Campus: Keith Stewart / Steve Spitters

Sermon:

Adam / Keith - Teacher A

FAMILY MOMENT

Family Church… I am SO PUMPED UP TODAY!!!

I feel like Arnold Schwarzenegger on bicep-day

Or like his cousins, remember these guys show pic of Hanz and Franz from SNL

Seriously, I am pumped up….. super excited because today we launch into a whole new sermon series!!!

PAUSE

If you are new, or newer to Family Church, I want to let you know that EVERY year we take the entire month of October and talk about God’s mission and how we are a part of that mission here at Family Church!

We try and highlight what we are doing in missions both locally and globally!

And we want you to get excited about missions and serving people!

PAUSE

And here’s the best part about THIS year…

And let me just say....Pastor Bob is extra excited about what I am about to say.....

For those of you who do not know who Pastor Bob is...he is our missions pastor....

….THIS year for the FIRST time....missions month is NOT just a month!

THIS year it is going to be two months!!!

This sermon series is going to take us all the way through November as well!

That’s right, we’re going on an 8-week journey together all about missions and how we ALL can get involved!!!

In fact, when you walked in today you were handed a flyer for you to put on your refrigerator, bathroom mirror, or anyplace where you will see it often.

Each day of the week is highlighted for you to pray specifically during these next two months for the ministries that we partner with both here at home and over there across the seas.

Anyone excited!!!!

PAUSE

This series was developed by Kevin Harney who preaches here from time to time....

And Kevin came out with a new book called Organic Disciples and asked us to be a pilot church to go through the material, which is pretty cool!

This whole series will be all about Growing in our love for God AND sharing our faith with others!

Over these next 2 months, we’ll highlight 7 markers of spiritual maturity

7 commitments of an Organic Disciple of Jesus let’s show you what those are.

Organic Disciples are Committed: 1. Bible Engagement 2. Passionate Prayer 3. Wholehearted Worship 4. Humble Service 5. Joyful Generosity 6. Consistent Community 7. Organic Outreach

These 7 indicators, or markers of spiritual maturity, will guide our discussions in the coming weeks

LONG PAUSE

In the coming weeks here is what you are going to find out about what it means to be an “Organic Disciple” of Jesus.....

Write this down: Organic Disciples are committed to grow in Jesus and go with Jesus.

Repeat

Notice the two operative words here: grow and go!

We are ALL called to GROW our faith in Jesus.

We are ALL called to GO share our faith with others as well.

PAUSE

You see it’s not enough to simply GO to church....

Or just reading your bible....

Or just singing church songs....

Or just attending youth group....

Or just going on a mission's trip....

A TRUE disciple, or REAL follower of Jesus…..

Will seek to grow in their faith and go share their faith with others.

This is precisely what Jesus taught in Matthew 28, let me show you....

And as you are getting there let me say how much we love the word of God here.

New Person Bible promo

App Promo

Matthew 28: 18-20 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.”

Let’s be clear....

Right here Jesus is talking to His disciples and telling them how to make more disciples…

How to be Organic Disciples.

He’s saying an Organic Disciple grows in their faith AND shares their faith with others!

PAUSE

There are two “churchy” words here, that come to mind…

Discipleship and Evangelism.

Maybe you are here today, and you didn’t grow up going to church, or you are a first-time guest… we are so glad you are here…

So, let me try to explain what these two “churchy words” mean…

Write this down.....

Discipleship is the journey of becoming like Jesus, growing in spiritual maturity, and helping others do the same.

Repeat

Evangelism is the adventure of sharing the love of God and the message of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

Repeat

Now, that’s a lot of verbiage... so, let me say it a different way and make it super simple....

Write this down

Discipleship is about becoming more like Jesus

Evangelism is about bringing people to Jesus

Repeat

Discipleship is growing in your personal relationship with Jesus…

Discipleship is about growing in your understanding of Who God is and how you live for him!

Evangelism is about going to others to know Jesus…

AKA sharing the message of salvation through Jesus....

PAUSE

And these two are not simply acquaintances or friends…

No, discipleship and evangelism are more like husband and wife!!

They are like two sides of the same coin.

The two are inseparable...

Some things just go together, like...

…Salt and Pepper

…Peas and carrots

…spaghetti and meatballs

Some matches were made in heaven, like...

...Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy

…Mickey and Minnie Mouse

…and for all you Nintendo fans, Mario and Princess Peach

PAUSE

Discipleship and Evangelism go together!

We can’t separate the two and we shouldn’t emphasize one above the other

So, over the next 8 weeks, we’ll learn what it means to be an Organic Disciple.

Bob / Steve - Teacher B

Today, we want to lay a foundation.

We want to present 3 Epic Questions...

3 questions that will help to define the journey of a Christian who is moving toward spiritual maturity.

Epic Question 1 - How Can I Know I am Growing as a Disciple?

Repeat

And as we always say here at Family Church!!!!

The answer is in the Bible!

Turn in your Bibles to... Galatians 5:22-23, it says this.

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Here is the point....write this down...

How can I know I am growing as a disciple of Jesus...

1. Look at the kind of fruit my life is producing.

Look at that verse again.....

Does the fruit, as defined by the Bible right there in Galatians, define you?

9 virtues, 9 traits, 9 qualities… 9 clear indicators of spiritual growth or maturity.

If you want to assess whether you are growing in Jesus, then compare your life to this passage!!!

Look to yourself first, walk through these 9 qualities, and be honest in your assessment.

Am I growing in this quality?

Am I more patient today than I was when I first became a Christian?

Am I more faithful to the things of God now?

Do I have self-control at home, work or school?

Is my joy-meter higher or lower?

PAUSE

Just walk through the list and honestly evaluate your life since you became a follower of Jesus.

Ask a trusted friend what they see in you!

Ask your spouse, they know the real you!

Inspecting our growth begins with assessing the fruit of our lives.

PAUSE

And here’s the connection…

When you are growing in Jesus, and the fruit of the Spirit is on display for others to see,

That’s when your discipleship has become evangelism.

Write this down:

A growing faith produces spiritual fruit which is visible to others.

Repeat

Your life is on display, it’s visible to others...

The old saying goes, “you might be the only Bible someone ever reads!”

PAUSE

Go back to that EPIC question....

Epic Question 1 - How Can I Know I am Growing as a Disciple?

The second thing....write this down...

2. Check my compassion meter.

Repeat

Compassion is an essential ingredient to being an Organic Disciple of Jesus.

Compassion drove Jesus to lost and hurting people... it moved Him into action.

Let me show you this in the Bible....Move over to Matthew 9...

Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Over and over in the Bible we find Jesus was moved by His compassion for people

If compassion is that essential to the work of Jesus, how much more should we ask for and cultivate compassion in our lives.

PAUSE

I’ve heard it said this way… Put on screen only

Sympathy is caring without having personal experience in what the other is going through. Empathy is caring with having personal experience of what the other is going through. Compassion is caring with God’s heart and choosing to personally walk with the other through their experience

Do you see the difference…

Compassion calls us to action, not to simply offer condolences or comfort for others.

Adam / Keith - Teacher A

Epic Question #2: Is Discipleship Bigger than MY Relationship with Jesus?

Repeat

I am sure you have heard people say, “my walk with Jesus is just between Jesus and me!”

But the question is.....

Is that a Biblical view or not?

Well, let’s see what the Bible says.

2 Timothy 2:1-2,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 people who will also be qualified to teach others.

Here is the point...Write this down: 1. Organic Disciples make disciples who can make disciples.

Repeat

Your personal growing is not the end-all of your discipleship.

Knowing more Bible stories,

memorizing more bible verses,

becoming a better version of yourself…

All of that is good and necessary BUT it doesn’t end with you.

An Organic Disciple will also be a disciple-maker!

PAUSE

Put that passage back up and look at it with me, there are 4 Generations of Disciples mentioned…

Generation 1 – Paul – he is the guy writing this note....

He is a mature person encouraging Timothy here!

Generation 2 - Timothy - the person being discipled by Paul, who this note is written to.

Generation 3 – The “reliable people” or Timothy’s disciples.

Generation 4 – Those whom the “reliable people” that will teach others!

Do you see it church?

PAUSE

This process is designed to continue until Jesus returns…

Generation after generation after generation and so on....

Our faith is designed to be inter-generational!

Psalm 78:5-7, He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Christianity is intended to be inter-generational.

PAUSE

I realize that not everyone has had the same experience.

Maybe you are the first Christian in your entire family.

And if that is you… I honor you, and believe that you will be the 1st generation that passes off to the next and the next, and you will begin the generational blessing.

It can start with you!

Add story on your family passing down faith or the lack there off....

End with ….. Be your family story is good or bad....

A new story of God can start with you…

PAUSE

Christian faith is intended to be inter-generational, so who are you passing your faith to?

Who are you discpling?

Is discipleship bigger than ME and Jesus?

YES!!!

It includes giving your faith away to others.

Bob / Steve - Teacher B

Let’s wrap things up today by talking about the 3rd Epic Question.

Epic Question #3: What is the relationship between discipleship and evangelism?

We alluded to this earlier...

But discipleship and evangelism are two sides of the same coin…

They are marriage partners.

They are an inseparable pair.

They complement the other.

Go back to Matthew 28, and we see Jesus make the connection.

Matthew 28: 19-20 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…”

Leave that verse up for a second…

Who is Jesus talking to here?

Come on, work with me His disciples.

What is the first command in verse 19? Go what?.... Go make disciples

And what does He say in verse 20? Come on, read it

Teaching them to obey (what) everything I have commanded YOU

Commanded WHO?

YOU…

PAUSE

We are talking about Organic Disciples and how we grow and go…

It includes reaching people far from Jesus.

It includes teaching people once they start following Jesus.

Discipleship and Evangelism are clearly connected.

PAUSE

On the back of the book mark you were given as you entered is this chart....

Notice with me the connection between evangelism and discipleship…

The connection between growing in Jesus and going with Jesus.

This picture of our spiritual journey.

Everyone is on a different point of the path.

Some people are far from God…

Some are seeking,

Others are already in…

Here’s the point, the people God has placed in your life are somewhere on this scale.

As an Organic Disciple, you are called and equipped to grow your faith AND to grow the faith of others!

You are also called to go, take your faith to others!

Just help others take ONE SMALL STEP CLOSER TO JESUS!

One step closer.

PAUSE

Let me give you the life application and then let’s pray

LIFE APPLICATION: Think about the people in your life. How are you helping them take one step toward Jesus? Pray, and invite God to help you be an Organic Disciple who will grow in Jesus and go with Jesus.