Discipleship
Notes
Transcript
Last week, we outlined that in lieu of us having a true Family style Bible Study evening, we’re going to encourage Life Groups. Call them what you will, family nights, dinner parties...probably not dinner parties...but Life Groups is what we’re going to call them. They are groups of people you’re going to to dig into, and they’re to dig into you.
We’re doing this so our church can have healthy fellowship, but also because most churches don’t know what a disciple is, let alone how to be one. Today, we’re going to take a little bit of time here to discuss that, then we’re going to give some time to you all to have some fellowship. If you haven’t met any of these people yet, come and do that. Next week, we’ll do another chapter in Exodus, and then Bill Hammond will be teaching us for the final week of the month.
We started off last week with Acts 2, where Peter gave his first sermon, and 3,000 were added to the church, and what did they do? They continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers. A few verses later it says then would worship in the temple together, then break bread from house to house. Right now, we meet corprately here on Sunday mornings, now it’s time that we break bread from house to house.
Does this mean our other studies are going away? Not necessarily. If those studies want to continue, they surely can, it’s up to those leaders there. I believe, though, you will all benefit from some good time of focused fellowship, prayer, study, and time uplifting each other.
This should be focused time, though. Most of you know this verse:
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
We are to make disciples, what is a disciple? Let me ask this in stead...what is a disciple of Jesus? How do you recognize them?
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Their love for one another. I know the love you all have for one another. You’re building those strong relationships. How else do we recognize Jesus’ disciples?
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
We abide in His word, follow and listen. Study to show ourselves approved, a worker that need not be ashamed.
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
They’ve sacrificially died to themselves and now live for Christ. They follow the Master. Why would they follow Jesus? Why do we follow Jesus? Because He so loved US, right?
Did you know that the word “disciple” is the first word used for the Christian? In fact, when Christian is used in Acts, it was probably used as more of an epithet, as a mocking word for believers. They were also called “The Way,” I say it like that because that’s how they were identified, kind of like today, right? Are you a “Christian?” They don’t know what that means. A Christian should be a disciple first.
What does it look like to just be a disciple of someone though, Paul tells us:
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
Paul was a disciple before he was an apostle, wasn’t he? Who was he a disciple of? Gamaliel, the teacher of Jewish teachers. Paul was his most accomplished student. Everyone knew the name of Saul of Tarsus. Then, one day on his way to Damascus, to go and reason with these “Christians,” and Jesus lit up his life, didn’t he? Blinded him with that light, and what happened?
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
This murderer, chief persecutor, wasn’t met with the sword, or an outswelling of anger, plotting to take his life. Ananias didn’t tell the Lord no when he was asked to go to him, he just went. Ananias accepted him, laid his hands on him and prayed, and then Saul, now Paul could see with his own eyes for the first time. Then what did they do? They baptized him, THEN broke bread and spent time with him.
Paul knew what it meant to be a disciple. He had to first unlearn what he had learned. Isaiah said “I am undone, I am a man of unclean lips...how can you use me?” That process takes time. It takes asking AND ANSWERING questions. How many of us parents answer our kids when they ask us questions? I do. Even if it’s “ask me later” I still follow up. They ask me because they think I have the answer. If I don’t have the answer, I don’t make one up, I help them find it. I learn as they learn.
Paul was humble and listened, built fellowship, and didn’t head out until he was sure of what he knew. Being a discipler is a lot of work, but it is simple. It requires 3 things:
Become a good listener.
When someone brings you a question, listen to the whole question, and understand they wouldn’t be asking you if they didn’t think you could answer it.
Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all. Just be there with them in the moment. Acknowledge how hard that must be to go thru that, and walk thru it with them.
Be actively thinking of what scripture says to address these issues. You don’t need to be well versed in your Bible to do this. Search it out yourself: “I’m really struggling with my feelings toward these girls” - Hmm, the Bible might call that lust, what does the Bible say about lust? - Go to the concordence in the back of most Bible’s and look up the word. It will help you find what scripture says.
Ask the right questions.
We men are usually easy: “I’ve got this issue...” “That’s easy, the first thing you do is stop that...” Even for us guys, it’s the easy band-aid but we if we don’t deal with these emotions, they will eat us like acid.
Questions to ask: “What do you think made them act like that?” “How did that make you feel?” “How can you ever rebuild that relationship?” I’ve started looking at my kids like little baskets of emotions instead of utility players in our household. I say it like that for comedic effect, but I’ve stopped looking at them as “are they doing their jobs around the house,” or “if they would just stop engaging with each other, then the work around the house might actually get done...” Instead I now look at them as exposed nerves and big hearts. Exposed nerves need covered gently. Big hearts need to be set back in rhythm.
These questions will eventually lead you, and them, to find their Spiritual gifts. You have all been designed to serve others with your gifts.
Walk with them thru to the solution and don’t give up on them.
I can do just as much damage to my kids by leaving them in the middle of crisis as I do never starting the process with them.
You can’t truly heal unless you deal with these problems. Soften your heart, become vulnerable, and learn to trust your group. The things that are talked about in your group should be between you guys only. If you need Hollie or me to get involved in a situation we will and can, but be a safe place for people to share, and understand the leaders of your group will help you find Biblical and practical solutions to help you heal.
This is what the church is missing. Church organizations see all of you as utilities. What can you do for us? How can you use YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS for this body? This is wrong. Your gifts are for you to use freely...and as you discover them and get involved, you’ll find that joy of the Lord is restored within you. The Spirit of the Lord will be felt inside you and then that’s when it gets exciting...because we get to see the fruit of what the Lord does thru you like Acts 1:8
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The people of this world today feel like they’re throw-away people. Like this world just wants to consume them. They need to understand they are fearfully and wonderfully made. They need to be able to show up and be invited to come into your group, share their story, and settle their hearts.
Jesus paid a cost, it was high, and we don’t understand it. We know the cost, but what we often forget is our worth. He looks at every one of us and knows we were worth it.
My wife needs to know her worth to me. My kids need to know what they’re worth. Your wife, your husband, your kids, your coworkers, your neighbors need to know that they are worth the sinless sacrifice of our Lord on 2 wooden beams. The only way they will know is due to the time you spend building relationships with them.
The Lord spent 66 books, nearly 1,000,000 words to tell us how much He loves us. The world will know those who are His disciples because of their love for one another. Let’s close in worship and have some time of fellowship.
