Stable and Steadfast: The Christian’s Ministry to the Christian Worker

Discipling Like Jesus  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  53:32
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Introduction

Today, we will be addressing the third chair of discipleship.
Last week we addressed the baby/infant stage.
New believers beginning to take their first steps in a new life of following after Jesus.
Building good spiritual practices and learning to take care of themselves spiritually.
It is necessarily a somewhat self-centered stage, as the disciple may desire to be others-oriented out of a newfound, Spirit-filled love for others, but lacks the maturity to serve others well…and this is perfectly fine.
But as we start to move into maturity and move towards Chair 3 we mark a transition.
From child to adolescent.
From believer to worker.
Workers become more and more aware of the needs of others and become increasingly capable of serving those needs.
There are attending joys that come alongside this stage of discipleship.
Workers, however, are not simply those who are busy doing things in the church.
In Jesus’s mind, working disciples are a part of God’s solution for the world’s problem.
We share the good news and minister to build up the church as it does the work of bringing the gospel to the nations.
The chair 3 disciple is not yet fully mature or fully trained, but they are now able to take their first steps out into the mission field.
They will begin to see God working through them.
So, let’s take a look at the people in the New Testament that illustrate this stage; the Twelve disciples.

Context

Reading the different gospel accounts, we can easily lose track of the chronological order of events.
Matthew and Mark in particular were not particularly interested in presenting an order of events.
They were writing to communicate the events of Jesus’s life based upon their importance to the author’s goal.
However, what we find is that there is about an 18 month period of time where the disciples were following Jesus and when He begins to train them for ministry.
During these early days, the disciples bore witness to many of Jesus’s miracles and teachings about Himself.
Many of these events are what John focuses the early chapters of his gospel on.
We haven’t focused much on the disciples so far in this series, which is somewhat strange for a discipleship series.
But now, its important for us to introduce them because here, their story and Jesus’s discipleship story meet up in an important way.
So let us begin by examining the character of Jesus’s disciples at the chair 3 level;
We will look at the beginning of Luke’s account to illustrate who they were.

A Few Characteristics of Jesus Chair 3 disciples from the account in Luke 5:1-8

Luke 5:1–8 ESV
1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
The first thing we see about Jesus’s chosen disciples is,

The disciples were available

There was nothing particularly special about the men who Jesus called to be his disciples. These early disciples were plain working men.
But when they were called to the field, they put God’s calling on their lives as the ultimate priority

The disciples were faithful

What Jesus asked of them would have seemed foolish to any of the professional fishermen.
We have a few fishermen in our midst this morning. And all fishermen would generally agree with a couple of ground rules that I learned as a boy. First, fishing is best done early in the day. Second, you want to fish where the fish are.
Jesus’s disciples had been at the job all night to no avail.
Now they had drawn near to the shore.
To be asked to put out into the deep waters, were fish were sure not to be.
Fish congregated in the shallow waters of Galilee where the springs were.
But they believed Jesus had a purpose in his commands, and they believed Him rather than their doubts.

The disciples were teachable

The disciples were willing to learn something.
They didn’t know what was going to happen.
Yet, in spite of their lack of understanding, they were willing to be obedient in order to see what Jesus was trying to do.

The disciples were enthusiastic about new lessons they were learning

They called upon others to be a part of what they were doing.
Peter, in particular, was pierced by this miracle being done with Him as the object.
He recognized the greatness of Jesus and his corresponding unworthiness.

The disciples were responsive to Jesus and His leadership

Luke 5:9–10 ESV
9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
Though they were unworthy men, they responded to his call to a new vocation.
You may have heard it said, and it is certainly true, “God doesn’t call the equipped; rather, He equips the called.”
So, what was Jesus’s process for moulding these imperfect men into the men who would establish Christ’s church?
We see it represented well in the gospel of Matthew, in chapter 4:

Jesus’ Process Modeled

One of the major defining moments in Jesus’ ministry was His decision to make an investment in a few. Jesus rejection by his own hometown of Nazareth marked the beginning of significant transition.
As we previously noted, it had been 18 months since Jesus had started His public ministry.
Jesus’s disciples had been present during this time, but as witnesses more than participants.
Now he would shift his focus to a few disciples into whom He would invest heavily.
It begins when He was rejected at His hometown of Nazareth in Luke 4:28-29
Luke 4:28–29 ESV
28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.
After this, He would lead his disciples through a number of transitions that would characterize the next stage of His ministry.

A transition of leadership (Matthew 4:12-22 )

Matthew 4:12–22 ESV
12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
The transition from John the Baptist → Jesus.
Until know, John had all the press. Large crowds were coming to him in the wilderness, and he was preaching the coming of the messiah.
Now he was imprisoned.
Jesus had been ministering, but largely out of the public eye while John was preparing the way.
John 3:30 ESV
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Now it was Jesus’s time to step forward.

A transition of location ( Matthew 4:13-16)

Matthew 4:13–16 ESV
13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
We also see a transition of location. From Nazareth → Capernaum.
Nazareth was no longer welcoming Jesus’s ministry. They would not recieve Jesus as Messiah, though by all accounts they should have been sensative to His coming.
The Messiah should have been expected to come from the region given Isaiah 9:1-2
Isaiah 9:1–2 ESV
1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
But apparently, they had taken to heart the saying, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Capernaum was an important and strategic city.
It lay upon an extremely important road, the Roman Road called the Via Maris (The Way of the Sea).
It connected the important regions of Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Being such an important city, it hosted a number of important administrative and military posts.
A Roman century was posted there.
A Herodian royal official.
Tax collectors.
From this important crossroads, Jesus would begin this phase of his public ministry with a number of miracles in cities around Capernaum:
Capernaum, Bethsaida, and Korazin (Chorazin)

A transition of message (Matthew 4:17)

Matthew 4:17 ESV
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The change of location was accompanied by a change of message.
Jesus picks up and carries forward the message of John the Baptist.
What was he preaching previously? Is there more than one message?
He was calling disciples to follow Him.
He was teaching them about Himself.
He was spending time with them and investing in the relationships with them.
But now it was go time.
And the gospel message is always rooted in the call to repentance.
The gospel is not an invitation to turn over a new leaf. It’s a call to find a new life.
Repentance is the key to entering the kingdom of God.
And this brings us to the second part of Jesus’s message, “The kingdom of God is at hand.”
Jesus cared a great deal about the kingdom. He makes 80 references to it.
7 of these indicate that it is near/at hand.
The coming of the kingdom was a message continued in the apostolic age.
Acts 8:12 ESV
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 19:8 ESV
8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
Acts 28:23 ESV
23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
Acts 28:31 ESV
31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
From beginning to end, the gospel is about the kingdom of God.

A transition of calling (Matthew 4:18-22)

Matthew 4:18–22 ESV
18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Finally, we see a transition of calling on the twelve disciples.
This is exemplified by his calling of the first four: Peter, Andrew, James, and John.
They are called to leave behind their former lives and get on the mission field.
Fishermen → Fishers of men
So let us know shift our focus to what the needs of these chair 3 disciples.
What does the growing disciple in the church need today?

The Needs of Workers

Workers need the experience of God working through them

There was a time when I wanted nothing to do with sharing the gospel. I was afraid to. So when I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip during spring break in college. I was happy to do anything to serve except teach.
For starters, teaching children terrified me. Jesus promises a grisly fate to those who fail at the task.
In God’s providence, that is exactly what happened.
I preached the gospel…
Shion recieved Christ.
The joy I felt was like nothing I have ever experienced…I was hooked.
Growing disciples need to experience the joy that comes from sharing the good news.
Overcoming doubts and stretching.
Experience the pleasure of God.

Workers need to learn the “new way” of living in the Spirit

Growing disciples need to learn how to live in dependence upon the Holy Spirit as Jesus did.
There is nothing sadder than someone who begins their walk strong and sputters out because they try and manufacture success.
Paul identified this danger in his rebuke of the Galatians
Galatians 3:1–6 ESV
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
We should note the temptation to try and finish without God what He started in us.
The inevitable end of such endeavors is discouragement, despair, departure.
Romans 7:18 ESV
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
We mustn’t forget that we are helpless to please God apart from him.
Romans 7:4 ESV
4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
Romans 7:6 ESV
6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
We have been released from the fruitless works of the flesh, so why would we enslave ourselves to them.
Rather, we have freedom, victory, and joy as we learn to live by the Spirit.
Romans 8:5–8 ESV
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Workers need to learn new skills

We need to be prepared for the work that God has called us to.
Disciple makers are called to prepare disciples
Ephesians 4:12 ESV
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
The word equip here is katartizo, the same word from which we derive catechism.
It carries the meaning of both preparing and repairing.
In fact, earlier in Matthew 4, when James and John were called while they were preparing their nets.
same word
Preparing nets included mending any holes in the nets so that no fish would slip through.
You won’t catch fish with broken nets.
You won’t make disciples if you aren’t prepared.
We are sinful, broken vessels that are being mended.
This means learning to run with endurance
Galatians 5:25 ESV
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
We also need to learn to feed ourselves.
An athlete will not see improvement on exercise alone. Diet is critically important.
Matthew 4:4 ESV
4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
We must tend to our spiritual diet well.
We must also learn to pursue holiness in our lives.
Titus 2:12 ESV
12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Workers need encouragement

Disciples need to know in moments of doubt, or in a moment of exhaustion that as we faithfully serve the Lord, we are in His will and are pleasing in His sight.
That He is carrying out His purposes in us and through us.

Workers need to focus beyond the finish line

We have a great reward assured to us in Christ that serves as the goal of all we do.
That calls us to press on in faith in spite of obstacles.
Jesus set this standard for us in His life.
Hebrews 12:2 ESV
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
So we must run our race to the end in order to win that prize.
1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
Now let us turn our focus to how we may help one another to thrive in this stage of our discipleship.

Principles for those ministering to people in Chair 3

Chair 3 is not easy, but it is our joy because we become like Him in His death:

The call to follow Jesus is a call to die.
Luke 9:23 ESV
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Paul set this as his goal.
Philippians 3:10 ESV
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
So, what does it mean to become like Jesus in His death?

It means being willing

John 10:18 ESV
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
As Christ willingly laid down his life, we must hold nothing back.

It means dying intentionally

Luke 9:51 ESV
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
Jesus had no illusions about where His road would end and neither should we.
The call to follow Jesus means that we purpose to be like Jesus in every way even though we die.

It means dying graciously and lovingly

As Christ loved us
John 15:13 ESV
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
1 Peter 2:21 ESV
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

It means knowing that He courageously faced His cross

Psalm 44:22 ESV
22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
We must face the mission field with the same courage as He did.
We are not ruled by fear of suffering because He is glorified through us.

It means He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly

We will surely face opposition as we walk the path of a disciple.
But we must not return evil for evil or begin to become discouraged when we feel the heat of trials.
Hebrews 12:3 ESV
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Jesus set the tone.
1 Peter 2:23 ESV
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
Rather than curse his enemies, He placed His who trust in His Father.
Luke 23:46 ESV
46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

Many believers do not make it through chair 3

Rising to maturity is one of the most singularly difficult stages of life.
Adolescence as a life stage is lengthening generation after generation.
It can be discouraging to walk the narrow road, yet reaching the end of the road requires that we persevere.
Faithful self-denial is the only way forward.

It takes time to mature

Habits of hard work and discipline must be developed
Teenagers are often characterized by their desire to be adults, but they are often hesitant about going through natural maturity. They want all the benefits without the hardships.
And so, in their zeal to gain independence, they will often make messes along the way. Maturity can’t be shortcut.
We must be patient in moving forward to maturity, remembering our dependence upon God, and with full assurance of His sanctifying work.
Philippians 2:12–13 ESV
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Conclusion

Relax and enjoy the journey

Recognizing God’s sovereignty in your life makes enjoying the journey possible
Philippians 4:4–9 ESV
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
God will not fail in His purposes, so let us joyfully pursue Him and build each other up in
Chair 3 is a critical developmental stretch for believers. Faith grows feet and hands. Being gives birth to doing as Christ-followers begin to work to usher in the Kingdom. Stagnation is not an option. All of this is in preparation for Chair 4.
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