Discipleship - Where to From Here

Follow to Lead

Not Going Away

Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV

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.

THE GREAT COMMISSION

Every four years the summer Olympics begins with an event that captures the imagination of the world: the lighting of the Olympic flame. At the end of an international marathon relay, one final runner enters the Olympic stadium. After traveling by foot, by bicycle, by boat, or by air, sometimes over thousands of miles, the torch finally enters the stadium in the hands of a final runner who, to the thrill of millions, ignites the enormous Olympic flame.

Wouldn’t it be exciting to be one of the bearers of the flame? Picture it. Each stride throbs with a sense of mission. Your fingers carefully encircle this forged symbol of Olympic competition. All fatigue fades as adrenaline fills you for this once-in-a-lifetime moment. Your experience would be a family legend. Grandkids would show your picture to their friends and boast, “That’s my grandpa (or grandma) there. He (or she) carried the torch to the Olympics!” Can you imagine holding that piece of tradition in your hands and knowing that, for a brief moment, you were the link in that historic chain?

As Christians, we carry a torch.

We carry a flame of so much greater value that there is no comparison. The pomp and circumstance of the Olympics pales against the eternal significance of the ministry with which Christ has entrusted us. Proud athletes carry the Olympic torch accompanied by global applause, while Christians through the ages have borne the torch of the gospel despite centuries of persecution and trial. The flame we carry is not a symbol. It is the light of God that is desperately needed by a dark and dying world.

There is no better way to rediscover passion for the life we’ve been given to live than to return to the point where Jesus first passed the torch to His disciples. Understanding what He said in that pivotal moment will enable us to clearly understand our mission in this life.

THE ORIGINAL HANDOFF

Matthew records the words we call the Great Commission at the very end of his gospel.

Spader, Dann. 2019. 4 Chair Discipling: What He Calls Us to Do. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers.

Acts 4:13 NKJV

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:14 NKJV

14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

RELATIONAL

TIME SPEND

AUTHENTICITY

The Way Forward

Our Mission

How this plays out.

The Cycle

Christian Development Course

Overview of Stages

The Cycle

The Way Forward

Interviews (Call it something else?)

Develop Questions

Assess Desire

Assess Readiness

Willingness to Commit?

Who do they fit with?

Who fits with them?

Locate Where People Are

Placement

360 Groups?

Mentoring

Structured Training

Programs VS Making Disciples

Not and either or...

90% of average

Current Ministries:

Ladies

Mens

Youth

Children (SS & Childrens Church)

Life Groups (Functioning as Care Groups)

Outreach (MNR and Etc.)

Maintenance

(Greeters)

Possible:

360 Groups (Full circle - Not fully a disciple until they turn around and begin making disciples)

2-5 with 1 or 2 being disciple makers and 2-3 disciples.

Meet weekly (Location unimportant)

Teaching, Sharing, Accountability format.

Relaxed,

Prayer, Fellowship, Discipleship and Accountability.

Altar

Baptismal

Home Bible Studies

Global Missions

Hospitality (Greeters)

Bus

Ministerial Training