Discipleship

Root and Fruit

Good morning church family! There is a level of expectancy in the room today. God is faithful! We stand and celebrate all that God has been doing. He has been faithful to cover our needs, faithful to help us see Him as He is. We have been looking at foundations it all begins with me. This has been our Mantra all year. Missions is our Heartbeat, Prayer is our Priority, and Discipleship is our DNA. We have looked at our hearts and what we must be willing to do. We have dealt with prayer as our priority, The word of God transforming us, Consistency beating intensity. We have focused on our generosity and the celebration of Faith Promise $61,900 Praise God. We can’t stop. We focused on our faith in worship last week. We dealt with our heart in worship. Today we are looking at Discipleship is our DNA. We are going to look at what discipleship looks like and the cost of it. We are going to frame our church in relationship to the DNA. It is what we are all about. DNA

The main point of DNA is Storage. It is like a permanent hard drive that holds the "recipe" for an organism. Without these instructions, your body wouldn't know how to build itself or stay alive.

What Does DNA Actually Do?

You can break its "job" down into three simple tasks:

It’s a Blueprint for Building: It tells your body how to build specific parts, like your heart, your lungs, or your fingernails.

It’s an Operating Manual: It manages your "business" inside. It tells your body how to turn food into energy, how to heal a cut, and when to grow.

It’s a Delivery System: Its biggest job is to pass information from one generation to the next. It ensures that when a new life begins, it has the instructions it needs to survive based on what its parents "learned" and passed down.

So DNA really is the building blocks of the life we have. One slight change in DNA and you have a different person, or different blueprint.

“Just like physical DNA provides the 'instructions' for a body to grow and stay healthy, Discipleship is the set of 'spiritual instructions' that tells NorthPoint how to grow, how to stay healthy, and how to produce fruit that lasts for generations."

So when we look at discipleship is our DNA its the instruction for our church to grow, stay healthy, and produce fruit long after you and I are gone. So what is discipleship and how do we deal with in relation to our everyday life.

We find a story in Mark 4 of the sowing of the seed

Mark 4:3 NIV

“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.

A farmer goes out to plant seed. We in todays world know you don’t plant seed by just throwing it around. You are intentional you dig the hole plant the seed and cover it. In the ancient near east during the time of Jesus farmers would seed their ground by scattering the seed by hand. They would toss the seed on the ground in areas and it would take root. So lets take a look at all the Cases of the seed growth in this parable.

Mark 4:4 NIV

As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

Some seed fell on the footpath it was not even planted but free grabbing for the birds of the air, Jesus goes onto give his disciples a better understanding of this when they ask in Mark 4:15

Mark 4:15 NIV

Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

Its not intentional its not being relational in sharing its just openly scattering seed. I think of a flower girl dropping petals before a bride walks down the isle. There is no ryhme or reason its just whenever she feels like it. There is no plan just throw it wherever and hope it works. When we share God like this its not cheapening Him but its not being relational with it. A disciple is a learner of Christ, its one who follows the teaching and bears fruit of it. Discipleship happens in relationship so there is no chance that openly scattering seed is going to amount in true fruit being produced. occasionally you might have one person who plants but its not going to last. You may see some try to fall into the soil but eventually its not going to work out. We see this all the time in most churches. There is no purpose and plan to actually be intentional with discipleship so it becomes just trying to throw things and hope it sticks. That is not us at NPC our discipleship truly is our DNA its what builds and keeps us healthy. Its the constant movement from baby christians to mature disciples who make disciples. We are not called to just throw things at a the wall but we are to be intentional with our planting. God gave me a phrase recently that I was unsure of the direction of that phrase so I wrote it in my journal and began to pray about it. It is our discipleship pathway here at NPC its plant water produce. When you plant a seed you must tend to it, by watering it, removing the weeds occasionally and when you do those things it produces the harvest. Then the seeds from that plant are sown and the cycle continues. You see discipleship and the pathway we take is a cyclical plan each season should produce mature christians who go and make disciples. Now there are some that wont produce because they never get to the point of a harvest happening. Jesus talked about them in the second case study Mark 4:5-6

Mark 4:5–6 NIV

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

Other seed fell on shallow soil. This ground may look fertile, it may seem as if its a great place to dive in but there is a layer of unseen rock underneath the topsoil and there is no chance that a root can take place. Its intentional planting but lack of discipleship. If we are going to see a harvest then we must be about the fathers business. His business is redemption but his plan to make that happen is discipleship. Jesus didn’t come and make coverts He made disciples. People who walked with him for 3.5 years and saw all the things that He was doing. They were there for the miracles, for the ups and downs. He taught them to pray, He taught them how to plant seed, He taught them how to fish for me. He taught them how to go after God and follow Him. He used everyday moments to make it happen. He used the fig tree and the mustard seed to teach them. He was in the crowd every day all day. He kept his circle close. Discipleship is walking life with people. Its the good the bad and ugly all wrapped up into life. There is something that happens though when a new believer doesn’t have discipleship in their lives. The excitement and joy of salvation began to wear off because there is good bad and ugly in life. and it takes over and burns away at what little growth is evident. The root system to see growth and to bring the water from the soil and the nutrients needed happens through the root system. The system is what brings growth and keeps the plant producing. Discipleship is our DNA is not a mantra, its truly our system to bring growth and nutrients to the body. The problem with quick conversion and no discipleship is that it wont grow or reproduce. Here is Jesus explanation Mark 4:16-17

Mark 4:16–17 NIV

Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

There is a beauty to see a convert but we as NPC must be diligent to dive into discipleship. we must be intentional is discipleship. Our plan can’t be focused on the new salvation. Yes we celebrate yes we enjoy baptism as a fellowship of believers. Yet we must be willing to walk the path with them. We must remember that there is no way they will be perfect. A new convert may deal with things that we don’t like, they may deal with cursing, they may drink socially, they may enjoy the occasional “sin” yet it’s not just about being saved salvation doesn’t stop habits. It’s the habit of discipleship that stops old habits and the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. If you are to “Holy” to walk out discipleship because you don’t want to deal with the “sin” you see… then you are nothing like Jesus! You are a “church person” who is religious.

So there is a 3rd case that Jesus shows us Mark 4:7

Mark 4:7 NIV

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.

It was planted intentionally and discipleship was happening but the circumstances of life overtook the plant before it was mature. I love the way Jesus explains it to his disciples. Mark 4:18-19

Mark 4:18–19 NIV

Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Worries of this life, lure of wealth and desire of other things. These are people who are focused on the things of life that they want. They are not willing to go beyond. The excuses are what keep them from growing. It’s these kinds of people that live one way on Sunday and another of Monday. There is no level of depth to their relationship. These are the type of people that choose rest on Sunday or choose to give into false assumptions or get mad when something is said they don’t like. These type of people are comfortable being on the edge but refuse to go any further because it would cost them to much. You see discipleship true discipleship cost. It’s not easy. It’s not quick to happen the cost is deep. It’s faith to say I can make it its faith to step away from whats comfortable. Its like the followers of Jesus we talked about 5 weeks ago those who were not willing to follow now but wanted to say i’ll follow just give me some time and space. The follow never happens because we live in a fallen world where there is always something else vying for your attention. Something else will always take precedence unless you choose to make time for it. You make time for what you want. If you don’t want to do it you won’t because you don’t make time for it. There unfortunately is a deep level of this in the church today. We are ok with things because well its culture or we are afraid of what’s to happen if we stand up and call things sin. We focus on what looks good sounds good and keeps others happy instead of actual discipleship. The cost to disciple is great because it cost us time, space, and precious things. There may be times that we must choose discipleship over how we feel. There may be times that our purpose is to speak life even when we don’t feel like it. The church today is ok with this Its like growth with discipleship but it never matures to the point of producing fruit. Which is the purpose to produce others who produce fruit. SO we are constantly multiplying. This is the purpose of the church and the body of believers. It’s not comfy seats and good music. It’s not good message and O I feel goose bumps. It’s so that the Kingdom of GOd can be advanced. Matthew 11:12 “And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing,* and violent people are attacking it.” YOu say what? I don’t understand that PZ. The kingdom of God is advancing forcefully. Have you ever seen an avalanche go down a mountain? Or a tsunami break froth from the ocean? It’s quickly advancing and there are people who grab hold and will not let go. There will also be others who will try and stop it from going there because that gets close to what they hold dear. We must be willing to let the advancement of the Kingdom deal with us as well. There may be times that we are convicted and must change. There may be times that discipleship changes us as well disciple others. So lets review these things for a moment.

You have open scatter, no plan no purpose just hope it sticks…

Superficial soil planting-It looks good it is a real conversion but no root system to make it grow

planting and discipleship but no maturity-All the right things are there but no level of commitment to giving up what we hold dear.

The fourth case study is one that most people know of.

Mark 4:8 NIV

Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

The word for fertile is good its soil that is broken up and ready to receive the seed. Its a place where its ready to receive. The root system grows deep, they go beyond excuses and are willing to be real and they mature and produce a harvest or crop. This is not just for the farmer but the harvest produces seeds that produce more harvest. This is the plan of the Kingdom of God a bountiful harvest that produces more. You see God isn’t about addition. He starts with multiplication. 1 begets 1 in mans world but in God’s Kingdom 1 multiples and creates 2 and 2 4 4 8 8 16 16 32 32 64 64 128 128 256 256 512 512 1024 its not just one to one its double what you are creating its producing a harvest 30 60 100 fold. a 10 fold crop would be incredible but Jesus says that those who plant God’s word are not just adding one or two but multiplying out 30 60 100 times Jesus explained it like this Mark 4:20

Mark 4:20 NIV

Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

This is not the actual bible yes it’s important to hide God’s word in your heart but this is truly about the advancement of the Kingdom Of God and the word of the lord as it goes out. When we think about the advancment of the kingdom of God we picture out city and our neighborhoods. God sees nations and generations. We can sense that God is doing something, we must be willing to look beyond what we see so the next generation can see the fulfillment of the promise. I’ll explain with the father of faith Abraham. Genesis 21:33-34

Genesis 21:33–34 NIV

Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time.

Abraham planted a tree…what does that have to do with anything about generations and nations. Well you have to go back to when God gave Abraham the promise Genesis 15:5

Genesis 15:1–5 NIV

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield,  your very great reward. ” But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

God gave him a promise of descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky…Yet without children. He was unaware of what was about to take place a promsie of God may be years in the making but it’s not a dead promise if it doesn’t happen in our time. There is a level of wanting to see the fulfillment of what God has shown us but we may be planting for the next generation or creating so others can come to God. You may be saying PZ I have made mistakes I don’t know if God can still use me. Can i tell you that Abraham made a grave mistake. He attempted to go around God because well he was old and he was uncertain if God was going to come through. He created Ishmael out of his own doing. Yet God blessed Ishmael and was with him according to scripture. God can take your mistake and use it. He is watching out for you because a promise of God is going to happen. God is concerned about nations and generations. So let’s be honest what in the world does Genesis 22 have to do with discipleship? What does a tree have to do with it.

 Tamarisk (saltcedar) trees possess an exceptionally deep and extensive root system, with taproots capable of extending up to 100 feet down to reach the water table. As phreatophytes, they "mine" this groundwater, consuming up to 200 gallons per day, which significantly lowers water tables and displaces native vegetation in arid regions.

The primary root system grows straight down with little branching until it hits the water table once the water table is reached, the roots branch out profusley and can extend 50 feet or mare laterally.

A single mature plant can absorb around 200 gallons of water a day

Tamarisk reproduce rapidly, with roots able to produce a new sprout if the stem is damaged.

Some tamarisk trees can take up to 400 years to reach full height.

To a Bedouin or a Jew, you don’t plant a tamarisk for yourself, you plant it for the generations to come. Abraham was saying by planting that tree that “this shade is for the generations to come, even if I’ll never get to use it.”

Abraham planted that tree, knowing fully well that it would be generations of his that would enjoy the full extent of the tree. Remember Abraham’s descendants? Who would have come walking through the wilderness 400 years later; the freed Hebrew slaves.

It was not just for him, we get this passage in mark 4 so wrong when we assume its just for a harvest now. No we are planting and discipling not for our generation not for us but for those who follow us. We are planting for 400 years from now when people will walk by and the tree planted is producing shade and reproducing itself. God thinks generations and nations. So we must when we consider the discipleship pathways here at NPC.

It must take root before it can produce fruit. The goal of discipleship is our DNA is not a mantra but its a plan a purpose and intentional discipleship. Lets be real not everyone will buy in because discipleship is slow, its meant to be a slow burn. It’s meant to be a time of pruning, and growth maturity that doesn’t happen quickly but over time. DNA doesn't change over time but some things become more important over time and others aren’t needed anymore and so they get bookmarked but not used all the time. There will be times that the slow growth of Discipleship causes us to see what things are important and what things we need every once in a while. DNA doesn’t change and Discipleship doesn’t change its slow and grows with us. It’s mutliplication not for us but for those who follow us. It’s that multiplication that leads us to the discipleship pathways at NPC. If discipleship is our DNA then we must have a pathway for you to follow. For most that pathway is LIfe Groups. We have 3 life groups that meet here at NPC. Each life group is unique and each one is life giving. One of them is celebrating a wedding soon and the life group is a huge part of the wedding. We have others that are celebrating new life and togetherness. One life group may be more focused on the deep things while others are dealing with new believers. Each one poses united challenges and growth at different levels and rates. You see that’s how it works when the church actually buys in is each person has a place and someone they can count on and call on to help them grow and deal with the life that is happening. Our purpose is multiplication. Our call is to plant water and produce. So coming up we are adding a new pathway to discipleship. That pathway is a Midweek Pulse a time when we can check the heartbeat and grow together. This is not a take over but an addition to grow its a health check where we are. This is going to be a session of time when we will look at rhythms of life. We will look at different topics and spend time growing and multiplying. This will be a time of growth and will create a heartbeat that gives discipleship the heartbeat and helps the body grow.

If Life Groups are where the body lives, the Midweek Pulse is where the body gets its rhythm.

So how do we lean into discipleship is our DNA we begin by saying ok God I will make sure the ground is good soil and I will step into what you are doing. The altar today is simple its a heart check. Are we actaully living on mission for God or are we being choked out by the things of this life. Are we going about things that are not meant to bring growth but division. DO we focus on the wrong things at the wrong times or the right things at the wrong times. Are we using things as bully pulpit or are we speaking truth in the right season at the right time. God has been showing me that there is a cleansing that is happening. He is searching for a spotless bride with blemish. None of us are perfect no not one. None of us are good. Yet we can live on mission for God. There was a consensus among the NT church that was no matter the cost no matter the things that happen we are going to advance the Kingdom of God. WE will do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. There is a cleansing that is happening among God’s people. He is revealing hidden sin that was not repented of. He is showing things that break us as believers. It makes us sick to even stomach some of it. It comes as a shock to us but not God. You see GOd is not a God that brings destruction without repentance. IF you look throughout history and the history of the children of Israel multiple times in multiple ways God called his people to repentance yet they refused yet they kept going because they didn’t realize or failed to see that God was there. So many times destruction fell. They were overthrown they were put into prison they were slaves in a land. Destruction came and destroyed what they felt was the crowing in jewel. They strayed and never came to repentance. The God of the Abraham Issac and Jacob is Holy Pure and True. He is not a GOd who is senseless or will destroy without cause. Yet We can intercede we can step up and live on mission and disciple the next generation. “CALEB AND JOSHUA” Today you may be here are are dealing with unrepented sin. You may even be serving and struggling. You may be here and are fighting the tears back right now because God is calling to you. You are not to far gone you are not to far gone the Lord sees you and is calling you. You may be here today and are the “holy people.” God is asking you to soften your heart. You may be here are pretending to see growth. You may be “walking through discipleship but are drawn by the “things” of life. Today GOd is calling to you to produce fruit. You are not called to step up and dive in. Some today have been planting seed and the Lord says that the fruit is coming in keep your eyes not the road because they will be coming down the path…]

Altar

Salvation

Rededication

Baptism in the Holy Spiri t

Words of Wisdom and Knowledge