Arise: Discipleship
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Pray.
What is discipleship?
Discipleship has come to mean all kinds of things.
Discipleship is not just one thing we do, it is everything we do
Discipleship is not just one thing we do, it is everything we do
Explain this….…
Jesus Saves
Discipleship begins with Jesus
I know this sounds obvious but it has to be the beginning place. WE have to agree here or the rest does not build. It would surprise you to know how many people have mixed in whatever they want here.
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
This is the starting place. Jesus, the son of God, the second person of the Trinity, born in the flesh, he walked this earth. proclaiming the kingdom at hand, making outlandish claims of divinity and a new kingdom, and he laid his life down. crucified before many eye witnesses, dead before many eye witness, buried before many eye witnesses (including those that have everything to lose if they get these details wrong). And he rose again and showed himself to many eye witnesses. Jesus as the ultimate human defeats death. He lives the life we couldn’t so that we could be made like him.
If we do not get this, then we will not give our lives away. Apart from him we are lost. Apart from Christ we do not have life.
“The Great conversion occurs when we see that we are our own worst enemies.” - Richard Rhor
If you do not think you need to hear that again, why would Paul waste his time reminding Timothy....this is not Christianity 101.... this is Christianity, the entire program.
Holy Life
And because he saved us, Jesus called us to a holy life.....why?
because of his own purpose and grace. Purpose, because it is in our living holy lives that we are agents of redemption in the world. and it is because of his grace because living holy lives mean living lives fully given to God.
The Wesleyan movement is about holiness best expressed in submitting to the Lordship of Christ with our entire lives. This work is accomplished by Him but it is only accomplished in obedience to Him. For John Wesley this was about purity of heart and simplicity of focus giving ourselves fully to God. Obedience means everything. How many of us are stuck half-hearted here because we are hung up on something we know we are being disobedient to? This could be something God has called you to or it could just simply be this new life in general he is calling you to live into.
Dependent on the Holy Spirit
Discipleship is dependent on the Holy Spirit
Paul begins this exhortation and ends it with reminders of the Holy Spirit. Deep discipleship is about learning to live a life in the Spirit.
The Spirit filled life is different than the life before
We see this from the comparisons in the text....no longer timid, but now powerful.
Specifically the Spirit provides power, love, self-discipline
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Power:
The Spirit gives us power. For Timothy it is power in preaching the Gospel. It is the power for every believer for Holy living. It is power to reach the lost.
Love:
The Spirit gives us love for God and love for people. Love is not about agreement, or getting along with someone, or about acceptance....it involves those things or can, but that is much too weak of a stance on love. Love is about supernatural compassion for all people no matter all of those other secondary things. Jesus is loving towards those that would kill him. Do not water down “love” by putting weak qualifiers on it. The Spirit gives us love for the people around us. And love is not static, it calls people deeper and always points to Christ
Self-discipline
The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: 1–2 Timothy & Titus (Relying on the Holy Spirit (1:6–7))
2 Timothy 1:7 completes the thought by linking it to the gift of the Spirit. Paul has in mind a measure of control over one’s thinking and actions that allows a balanced outlook on any situation. When everything is coming unglued, this quality of “levelheadedness” will keep the Christian focused calmly on the power and love that the Spirit provides, and so it makes perseverance in life and ministry possible.
“Non-anxious presence”
Family Affair
Deep Discipleship is a family affair. Timothy owes his faith to those before him.
Check out the text right before ours:
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
We have a lot of families in the room. I want to speak to you for just a moment.... You will have the largest impact on your child’s faith than anyone else. This will largely be an unnoticed work. Lois and Eunice are lucky enough to get a shout out. It is the work of Timothy that will get the notice. People will know Timothy well and hardly anyone will know Lois and Eunice. Be a Lois and a Eunice.
And also, notice who is not mentioned here in this list. Who is his family missed an opportunity to sow love into his heart?
Or be someone’s Paul
And to those that are not parents, find these relationships to both be poured into and to pour into others. Who is your Eunice and Lois....who can you be a Paul to?
Suffering
Deep discipleship includes suffering
Deep discipleship carries with it suffering. This was so perplexing for me as I approached this text. It seems that Paul is saying that the opposite of being ashamed of the gospel is suffering. check out verse 8:
So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
There are parts of our faith that will confront people. That will challenge us. That will call us to lay down things. There are parts of this faith that even in proclamation could give reason for shame.....or induces suffering.
It is in the suffering that Paul becomes the greatest witness to the resurrection of Christ. It is in His weakness and humility and love that Jesus is made great. It is in the lowly of heart and enduring patience in the face of hardship that the world knows of Jesus.
If we are unwilling to suffer, then our safe little lives will mostly point to ourselves.
Again Paul says,
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
(Show Testimony Video)
LIFE.Better.Together
LIFE.Better.Together
Exploring: A Life in Christ at FMC (show slide)
Coffee with the pastor, Alpha Class, Connect Class, Ministry Connections
Belonging to the LIFE in Christ (show slide)
Baptism, Membership class, Catechism
Living the life in Christ (show slide and leave it up in house)
LIFE:
Living in Community
LIFE Groups (class meetings)
Bands
Bible Studies and courses
Investing in others
Sharing your story
leadership
home & family
Mentoring
Focusing outward
Serve teams
missions
Encountering God
Worship (Daybreak)
Pray
Give
Closing: My story.