Anchor of Discipleship
Notes
Transcript
Handout
If you’ve been with us at all for the past several weeks, you know that we are walking through various topics of the Christian faith.
Topics I feel - we NEED to revisit year after year...
ANCHORS of the Faith...
So far - in this series, we’ve walked through...
The anchor of prayer
anchor of faith
anchor of giving
anchor of baptism (last week)
AND NOW TODAY - the anchor of discipleship
And we’re going to see that part of the God-Honoring fruit that GLORIFIES God - is when we POUR our lives into - SPEAKING into others lives
And we’re going to hear JESUS today - indirectly speak to this topic that isn’t EASY....and certainly isn’t OVERTLY popular BECAUSE it’s not easy...
DISCIPLESHIP
So let’s look at what Jesus gets into today....
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
If we think about the relationship that Jesus had with the apostles...
The relationship between Jesus and the apostles was a TEACHER / STUDENT relationship
It was one of a - TEACHER / STUDENT - model
Within the four gospels Jesus is referred to as TEACHER - 45 times
And I would imagine that each of us can relate to this CONCEPT of DISCIPLESHIP...
Whether we’ve been in the TEACHER role… (if we have kids, or you’ve coached, or taught)
OR whether you’ve been in the STUDENT role....which we ALL have
We’ve all been kids, sport teams, we’ve all gone through school (being students)
We can relate to this CONCEPT of discipleship...
And so TODAY - let’s look at both SIDES.
Let’s look at the TEACHER side…and let’s look at the STUDENT side (the disciple) side...
And so FIRST - let’s look at the TEACHER side...
Anchor of Discipleship
Anchor of Discipleship
Teachers: Make Disciples
When we look at this relationship between Jesus and the apostles...
And it’s clear that it’s a TEACHER - STUDENT relationship...
It would be weird if there wasn’t a place in scripture where we see this concept discussed...
Well - there is…and it’s from Jesus himself...
19 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,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Here we have an explicit command by Jesus Christ...
for us as Christians - TO - MAKE DISCIPLES...
Go AND MAKE DISCIPLES!!
This goes out to - EVERY believer!
young and old
those full of knowledge - and those lacking knowledge
It goes out to - ALL
So - Question:
SLIDE:
Did Jesus make disciples?
Of course He did…And He made it clear to the apostles that this is what they were signing up for - RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING...
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Jesus - when He began his ministry - is walking by the Sea of Galilee...
…and He looks out and sees 2 fisherman...
Simon-Peter and his brother Andrew...
And Jesus says - Follow Me, and I’ll make you fishers of men
Prior to that day - those men were PREOCCUPIED with life...
BUT THEN - this happens and their lives are turned upside down...
And we KNOW FROM SCRIPTURE that Jesus spent His days TEACHING these men how to live and what life was all about!
But let’s look back to our text today in John - to see what we can pull from Jesus as the TEACHER...
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
So Jesus - BEING The TEACHER - calls us Christians to - LOVE ONE ANOTHER…how?
As [I] HAVE loved you!
So based on this - we know that Christian Discipleship…is FROM LOVE (i have loved you) - TO LOVE (love one another)...
Jesus calls us to LOVE EACH OTHER - AS HE LOVED us...
So Jesus here is BASING Christian Discipleship…on His Self Sacrificial LOVE with which He loved us...
AS I HAVE LOVED YOU....SO LOVE ONE ANOTHER!
SLIDE: Christian Discipleship: Teachers: Transfer the Love of Christ
Anchor of Discipleship
Anchor of Discipleship
Teachers: Transfer the Love of Jesus
And when we look at the LOVE OF JESUS - we see a KIND OF LOVE worth RISKING - LIFE itself...
And Jesus points to this in our text...
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Jesus - speaking these words - looked out AHEAD of Himself - and saw the crucifixion coming...
His OWN DEATH - that would lead to LIFE for - WHO?
His friends!
Understanding that Christian Discipleship is founded on the Love of Jesus is important because - so many people - don’t see it that way...
It can be hard to VIEW a COACH…a TEACHER… someone who is guiding, disciplining,
It can be hard to view them as LOVING...
and YET - That’s what Christian Discipleship is founded on....the Love of Christ!!
And it’s JESUS that should SHINE through - our discipleship… (to TRANSFER that LOVE)
HE provides us with THE EXAMPLE to follow...
And we see it in our text.....next verse
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
So what we should see here - is that when it comes to the TEACHING side of discipleship...
The best teacher in Christian Discipleship is the one who is still BEING TAUGHT by Jesus Christ!
SLIDE:
Anchor of Discipleship
Anchor of Discipleship
Teachers: Still Being Taught by Christ
What did Jesus say:
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
ALL that I have HEARD FROM MY FATHER - I have made known to you...
We KNOW JESUS is God -
But - He is ALSO - at the same time - the ONE Mediator between God and man...
And we see here - Jesus DISPLAYING a necessary aspect of Christian Discipleship...
We see Jesus: (AS OUR PRIME EXAMPLE)
Receiving ALL that He HEARS from the Father...
And RELAYING that to MANKIND...
Now - we know that there was NO BETTER TEACHER that ever lived - than Jesus Christ
And so - IF Jesus is our EXAMPLE - which He is...
We see that the BEST TEACHER - AMONG US - from OUR perspective - is STILL BEING TAUGHT by Jesus!
We CERTAINLY see this in the apostle Paul’s life...
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Paul tells the Corinthian church here - IMITATE ME - AS I IMITATE Christ!
Paul’s mindset as a disciple maker was this:
Follow me, as I FOLLOW CHRIST!
Anyone in a Leadership role in a church - discipling anyone else in the church...
If THAT ‘teacher’ isn’t still growing in their faith...
isn’t still learning and pursuing JESUS...
then they shouldn’t be DISCIPLING…anybody
Making Disciples requires humility of heart.... not arrogance of knowledge...
AND speaking of knowledge...
Anchor of Discipleship
Anchor of Discipleship
SLIDE:
Teachers: Transfer the Knowledge of God
What did Jesus say:
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
John 15:15: “I no longer call you servant, for the servant [DOES NOT KNOW] what his master is doing, but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have [MADE KNOWN TO YOU]...
Do you see the - TRANSFER of knowledge...
[The SERVANT] - Not Knowing....
[The Friend] - NOW KNOWS!!
And so from OUR perspective - Disciple Makers (LIKE RUNNERS in a RELAY- Team) - are constantly RECEIVING the baton…
What are some ways that Disciple Makers receive the baton of truth?
through study of the Word of God (both individual and in a group)
through prayer....fasting… confessing our sins to one another
AND THEN - passing on that BATON...
Transferring that knowledge on to the DISCIPLE…the STUDENT...
And as we seek to MAKE disciples - we’re actually seeking something from the STUDENT - the disciple...
CHANGE
And so I think a good formula to remember regarding HOW we should disciple others is this...
[C]ommitment
[H]earing the Word
[A]pplying the Word
[N]avigating life together
[G]rounded in prayer
[E]mpowered by the Holy Spirit
AND ALL of this done......
With the purpose being - that ONE DAY....
That student that keeps RECEIVING that baton FROM YOU....
Would one day - START passing that BATON onto - someone else - the next DISCIPLE...
And this STUDENT / Disciple - seeking to change - is FINALLY CHANGED
[C]ommitment
[H]earing the Word
[A]pplying the Word
[N]avigating Life Together
[G]rounded in Prayer
[E]mpowered by the Holy Spirit
[D]iscipling Others
And we see that concept in our text...
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
We can see here the multiplication of Christian Discipleship
Someone Disciples me...
so that I would then disciple others....
Who would then disciples others....
and so on!
So that’s the SIDE of the TEACHER -
Transfer the Love of Christ
Still Being Taught by Christ
Transfer the Knowledge of God/Christ
NOW - this can happen / take place - - in many different ways.
Missions - is a concept FOUNDED on this idea..
That we would take the NAME of Jesus and his truth - to the Nations… so that those people would then PASS on that truth - to THOSE AROUND THEM.
Abiding Faith Bible Church supports various outreach organizations, most of which you’ve heard about - and KNOW.
What i’d like to do NOW - as brief as I can - is to talk in some greater detail about two Missionary’s that AFBC supports.
The First is a girl named - Stephanie Luke.
Stephanie is a Missionary to England - working through Campus Crusade for Christ - known as - CRU
When we first began supporting Stephanie - she was in Birmingham...
Since then - she spent time in Greece as well...
Has been home in the states for about 2 months now - ...
And will be transitioning to London in the coming weeks
She has spent time MINISTERING to students in these locations - bringing them the name of Christ.
AND SO - in that way - working to DISCIPLE students for Christ.
Stephanie will actually be visiting us here in a few Sundays on July 13th - and she’ll speak to you about what she’s doing and what she’s been up to...
She provides me with ministry updates about every month...
And I’ve been TERRIBLE at getting you all those updates.
WITH THAT SAID - I have Julie Kirlough overseeing our relationship with Stephanie now - and so Julie will do a MUCH better job than me - at keeping you all updated.
ANOTHER missionary family that we support is the Fain Family.
They are the family currently in Thailand.
And I’m gonna let them speak to what they’re doing - they sent us a video specifically for you guys to watch...
PLAY VIDEO
And so here we have - People who have dedicated their lives - to DISCIPLESHIP...
To making DISCIPLES - for Jesus!
And in these cases - Stephanie Luke - and the Fain’s...
Even Abby Kirlough (Philippines) -
They are the TEACHERS!!
but there’s clearly another side to this...
Anchor of Discipleship
Anchor of Discipleship
The Disciple
So let’s see what the Bible says about a DISCIPLE...
Some believe that one can attain salvation from sins, and yet live the rest of his or her life without any desire at all for the things of Christ.
So therefore, some people believe that there are LEVELS of commitment when it comes to Christianity....
Like a corporate latter in a business
SLIDE:
Disciple Maker
Disciple
Believer
So let me squash that idea and say that:
EVERY believer is a disciple.
Here's why...
Think back to Matt. 28:19
Jesus said - Go and make disciples of all nations...
If THIS is true…then Jesus would be calling us to make 2nd level Christians…no, not necessarily people who MAKE DISCIPLES…just disciples...
But then THAT doesn’t make sense because He’s asking US to - MAKE DISCIPLES...
So He’s asking US to be 3rd level Christians…but only make 2nd LEVEL Christians...
Silly - right?
LONG story short - Every believer...everyone who has trusted in Christ for salvation = is a disciple...
And if someone is going to disciple another person...
both must be disciples (believers)...OTHERWISE...what will happen?
You ever try to get rocks to grow?
Who in here has ever WATERED rocks, trying to get them to grow?
No one? Why?...*
Disciples disciple disciples
When Christ called the disciples....in the very beginning...what did He say?
“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men”
The DNA of the ministry of Christ was Disciple Making.
SLIDE: Quote - David Platt
"Making disciples is the supernatural overflow of being a disciple"
So what does THAT MEAN? - Christians - ARE disciples…and so let’s look at the Characteristics of a DISCIPLE...
In that Christian Discipleship is about - GROWING in these things!!
A Christian Disciple
A Christian Disciple
1. Is willing to give up all earthly possessions
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Don’t forget - - WE START WITH SCRIPTURE...Scripture dictates reality...
This is saying - Any one who does not SAY GOODBYE to all that he has cannot be My disciple...
Does this mean I have to sell all my possessions (car, house, computer, bike?)?
No - Now, before you say - WELL WHEEEHHHW!
It says - Unless you SAY GOODBYE to all that you have...Meaning - What you do have...They're NOT YOURS...anymore
Someone comes to your door...You hear of a need...
MEET that NEED -
OTHERWISE you are now holding onto your possessions...
Someone who has NOT renounced all that he has… (of course there are circumstances where we can’t help…BUT what’s the PATTERN of your life)
But why?
Why do we have to have SAID goodbye to all that we have??
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
A Christian Disciple
A Christian Disciple
2. Abides in God's Word, and experiences freedom in Christ
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Did you hear that?
IF YOU CONTINUE in my Word, then you TRULY ARE My disciples...
The word of God is POWER...
It transforms our minds...IF we read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it...
IF we ABIDE in it...
We cannot be a disciple if we don't consume the Scriptures...
Disciples abide in God's Word...and are set free
A Christian Disciple
A Christian Disciple
3. Genuinely loves other believers
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
If you do not love other believers, then you don't know the God OF love...
Francis Schaeffer observed that our love for one another should be so strong that it would unite believers in such a way that the world “would believe” that Jesus was sent by God.
Now, how can you love like that...how can we UNITE...if you're not here…if you’re not engaged, if you’re not BEING discipled...
Disciples have genuine love for other believers...
A Christian Disciple
A Christian Disciple
4. Abides in Christ, prays, bears fruit, and glorifies God
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
When we abide in Christ...
we will begin to ask God for His will to be done in our lives (we'll desire this)...
This results in fruit...Spiritual fruit...
And God is glorified!
Do you see how EVIDENCE always points to reality...Fruit will prove the disciple...
A Christian Disciple
A Christian Disciple
5. Is full of the Holy Spirit
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Part of the fruit of abiding in Christ is the fruit of the Spirit, which is...
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
and self-control
Disciples grow in these areas...
A Christian Disciple
A Christian Disciple
6. Obediently follows the desires of the Master
19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
It sounds like a very basic verse of obedience...You're right...that's what it is...
Disciples obey...And when they don't obey...they run TO God, not away from Him...
A Christian Disciple
A Christian Disciple
7. Is intimately involved in the mission of Jesus to make disciples
Do you see how we’ve come full circle?
THIS is what we’re pursuing…
Disciple Makers pursue MAKING DISCIPLES - who then MAKE DISCIPLES…who then...
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 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,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
There's one command in this passage...MAKE DISCIPLES...
Jesus says - ALL authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me...When did Jesus say this?
He had already gone to the cross...to the grave...
He had just RISEN from the dead...
He had just conquered death...
And now He points to His authority over ALL things Spiritual and physical...and says....
"Go therefore!"...and make disciples...
Our making of disciples is a SPIRITUAL MATTER...Our making of disciples is - - FOUNDED on the SUPREME authority of Jesus Christ...
And so:
A Christian Disciple cannot respond to the person of Christ without responding to the mission of Christ.
So just look at this list...
A disciple is someone who:
1. Is willing to give up all earthly possessions
2. Abides in God's Word, and experiences freedom in Christ
3. Genuinely loves others believers
4. Abides in Christ, prays, bears fruit, and glorifies God
5. Full of the Holy Spirit
6. Obediently follows the desires of the Master
7. Is intimately involved in the mission of Jesus to make disciples
This is what a disciple looks like...
And ALL of it - FROM LOVE…the Love of Christ...
TO LOVE - that we would LOVE ONE ANOTHER!! - - Love one another AS I have loved you!
So - question for you: And we’ll close with this:
How are you pursuing Christian Discipleship?
Are you LOVING one another - as CHRIST loved you??
SUMMARY
Christian Discipleship (All about Making Disciples)
Christian Discipleship
Teachers:
Transfer the Love of Christ
Pursue Growing in Christ
Transfer the Knowledge of God
Disciples:
Willing to give up all earthly possessions
Abide in God's Word, and experience freedom in Christ
Genuinely love other believers
Abide in Christ, pray, bear fruit, and glorify God
Full of the Holy Spirit
Obediently follow the desires of the Master
Intimately involved in the mission of Jesus to make disciples
Let’s Pray