The Glory of Discipleship
Notes
Transcript
The Purpose of Life: Glorify God
The Purpose of Life: Glorify God
Westminster Shorter Catechism:
Q: What is man’s chief end?
A: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
Your people shall all be righteous;
they shall possess the land forever,
the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
that I might be glorified.
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
see also: John 12:28, 13:31; Rom 11:36.
The Means to Fulfilling Our Purpose
The Means to Fulfilling Our Purpose
Love-motivated obedience
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Informed Obedience
Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus Connects Glorifying God and Discipleship (John 17)
Jesus Connects Glorifying God and Discipleship (John 17)
His call on the Father to glorify Him (1-5)
His call on the Father to glorify Him (1-5)
On what basis did Jesus call on the Father to glorify Him?
The covenant of redemption
the hour has come
since you have given Him authority to give eternal life
to all you have given Him
Christ’s perfect obedience
Christ glorified God through His obedience: having accomplished all the work you gave me to do
Christ’s deity
with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
The connection between glorifying God and discipleship
The connection between glorifying God and discipleship
Jesus raises His authority as the basis for His call on the Father to glorify Him and His command to His disciples to go and make disciples (Matt 28:19)
Jesus describes the fact that He glorified the Father by referencing His obedience to the Father.
His prayer for His disciples (6-19)
His prayer for His disciples (6-19)
What does Jesus’ prayer for His disciples teach us about His expectation that they will make disciples?
1. Those who belong to Jesus possess and know the truth (6-8)
2. Those who belong to Jesus are unified to one another by the truth (9-11)
3. Those who belong to Jesus are in the world to proclaim the truth (12-19)
The connection between glorifying God and discipleship
The connection between glorifying God and discipleship
Jesus makes clear that the purpose of His disciples’ sanctification was to send them into the world. We know from the Great Commission that Jesus commanded His disciples to go into the world to make disciples.
The fact that His disciples belong to Him and the Father brings glory to Him. As His disciples possess, are unified by and proclaim the truth, Jesus is glorified in them.
His prayer for His church (20-26)
His prayer for His church (20-26)
What does Jesus’ prayer for His church teach us about His expectation that they will make disciples?
Our unity to one another is crucial to our effectiveness to making disciples and bringing glory to God (20-23)
Jesus’ desire that His church see His glory is and expression of the same love that the Father and the Son possess for one another. (24)
Jesus’ love for His church is made known through the further declaration of the love of God for His people (25-26)
The connection between glorifying God and discipleship
The connection between glorifying God and discipleship
In order to be unified with one another, the church must mature. This maturity is pursued through discipleship and is what brings God glory.
People will see the unveiled glory of Christ when they are with Him in eternity. The ministry of discipleship displays a commitment to this eschatological desire of Jesus.
We are nourished by the love of Jesus through the ministry of discipleship.
