Discover Waypoint

Discipleship

Introduction:  

Who am I?- Family, background, history, ministry

Students and discipleship pastor.

Introduce family. Met Rebecca at church 7th grade.

Grew up in the church, Pastors kid. Never thought that I would become a pastor too. But I will talk more about that later on.

I’ve been in ministry almost 7 years now, primarily serving the student ministry.

Passionate about student ministry, connecting dots, students to have a faith of their own and start leading now

Talk about importance of student ministry and community in my own life.

Discipleship; Never really discipled until more recently. Outside of my parents.

Discipleship is for everyone! We all need people walking along side of us. It’s not just for immature Christians.

Ask people to take a minute:

How long have you been coming to Waypoint Wentzville?

What keeps you coming back?

***We are a Gospel-centered church making disciples of Jesus Christ***

Church of multiplication

Multiplying disciples, multiplying life groups, multiplying churches

Why?

God calls us to! He gives a calling and a purpose

Great commission- Go make disciples of all nations…

2 cor. 5 (We are ambassadors for Christ)

our job is to make Jesus known. Not to save. But to go and tell people what we have experienced ourselves.

Today we’re going to talk about discipleship: which is learning more and becoming more like Jesus. Discipleship happens in many ways as we will talk about.

There are certain lies that we often believe about discipleship:

too mature for discipleship

It’s only for kids

There’s only one way to disciple someone

these are all false! We all need discipleship and to always grow in becoming more like Jesus

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When we see a New Testament church starting, we see these things happening that are mentioned in this text.

Pg. 37**

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

— Acts 2:42-47

One of the things that we see in a healthy church is people placing their trust and faith in Jesus and we see people taking public steps of faith with baptisms…it has been so cool to see baptisms happening at Waypoint Wentzville!

Baptisms- Wonderful!! Amazing!

I believe that we are around 60 baptisms in about a year and a half!

If you have any questions about that, we would love to talk to you

If your kids are interested in being baptized or learning more about it, we offer a STARTING POINT FOR KIDS class (next one July 19th) from 8:15-8:45 upstairs in Waykids. This class is for kids to learn more about becoming a Christian and what it means to take the next step in believers baptism.

**Our goal isn’t to have you jump through any church hoops but to have an understanding of what God is doing in your life and take the next appropriate step.

Page 37-

IN THE BOOK OF ACTS LUKE CAPTURES A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH TAKING SHAPE:

As you read through the historical Biblical account and the New Testament letters to the Church, you can identify two foundational aspects of the Christian life.

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The first is simple: God expects us to grow. We are intended to grow in knowledge, worship, love, service, and virtue in every sphere of life. Here at Waypoint we say it like this: “God is teaching us to grow in our capacity to live, give, and serve beyond ourselves.” God always loves us right where we are, but He loves us too much to leave us there. So, we are committed to growth.

God doesn’t save us just for us to live the same way. No! The more we learn about God it should lead us to worship Him more, love Him more, serve Him more…

We have been given a new purpose, new life, new hope… So we are to live outwardly, so that we can minister to other people.

If the God we serve, stepped out of heaven to serve people, what do you think He expects of us?

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THE SECOND THING we see is that they did it TOGETHER.

As you read the scriptures what CLEARLY unfolds is that we were created for COMMUNITY. When we are saved, we are adopted into the family of God. We no longer live for ourselves but for the glory of God and the good of others. God is building His Church, a people who are unified in worship, community, and mission.

THE WESTERN CHURCH HAS MADE THE MISTAKE OF MAKING CHRISTIANITY SO INDIVIDUALISTIC. MY FAITH, MY WAY, CONSUMERISTIC.

VS THE EARLY CHURCH AND GLOBAL CHURCH BEING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY FOCUSED. NOT CONSUMERISM BUT SERVING ONE ANOTHER, SACRIFICING FOR ONE ANOTHER, ON MISSION TOGETHER.

Here at Waypoint, we want you to do life with the church. Best way to do this is to join a life group!

THAT’S ONE OF OUR GOALS… TO LIVE OUT OUR CALLING TOGETHER.

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Today we will explore two of our Five Identity Markers as a Church:

We are Transformed by Truth

We are an Authentic Community

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WE ARE TRANSFORMED BY TRUTH:

MAIN IDEA

The Gospel does not just save us, but it changes us. It teaches us to live all of life all for Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Sanctification: A progressive work of God that we participate in, that makes us more and more free from sin and more and more like Christ in our actual lives.

Testimony of sanctification and understanding that my life is not my own anymore…

**Talk about growing up in church, dad’s a pastor, mom has always helped in the kids ministry. I was there every time the doors were open. I saw things about community but it wasn’t until later in life that the Gospel started to transform me and I started to have a deeper understanding of what it means to be a disciple or follower of Jesus. The more “responsibilities and choices” I had later on gave me a better perspective on being a true follower of Jesus. It wasn’t until I really understood that I had to lay my choices, my desires, my way of doing things down… and be obedient to Jesus and His ways… that’s when real growth started to happen for me. AND THE COMMUNITY AROUND ME WAS A BIG PART OF ME UNDERSTANDING THIS VALUABLE PERSPECTIVE IN MY FAITH.

**I made a decision to follow Christ when I was 10 and was baptized. But even though I was saved, it wasn’t just a perfect trajectory of being sanctified. It’s still a struggle and painful journey to becoming a more obedient follower of Jesus. WHY? Because more of us is being put to death in order to become more like Jesus. We must decrease so that He can increase. THIS IS PAINFUL! WE WANT TO DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO, HOW WE WANT TO DO IT, WHEN WE WANT TO DO IT… But that is not what we are called to do.

A great example of this in my life was actually my call to ministry… Middle school, college, masters, student ministry…

GOD NEVER GAVE ME THE FULL PICURE. JUST BE OBEDIENT AND TAKE ONE STEP AT A TIME..

The power to follow Jesus comes from two things:

the Holy Spirit

the word of God

Let’s break these two things down…

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WE ARE TRANSFORMED BY TRUTH WHEN…

1. We are FILLED with the Spirit of Truth.

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)*** HOW CRAZY!!!! BETTER FOR JESUS TO GO?! YES!

The Holy Spirit has primarily been given to us to:

Convict us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (what a gift conviction of sin is!!)

Comfort us in affliction (Holy Spirit often called the Comforter or Helper) Offers divine peace and strength

Guide us into truth (Helps us discern what is from God and what is not)

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2. We SURRENDER to the Word of Truth.

The Bible is not comprised of good advice; it is filled with the actual words of the Good Father breathing life into our hearts and directing our living.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

How powerful! The Bible isn’t just wise words from man. It’s God-breathed!

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Bible is alive and active. It’s sharper than any double-edged sword…

THE BIBLE REVEALS TO US THE SIN THAT WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES. IT’S LIKE A MIRROR! IT CONVICTS US, TELLS US TO REPENT.. TO TURN FROM OUR SIN AND TO LEAVE IT!

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GREAT QUOTE FROM JOHN STOTT (WELL KNOWN PASTOR & THEOLOGIAN) ON BEING FULLY SURRENDERED TO THE WORD OF GOD

“We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our pattern of thought and behavior.”

There are 4 things we must understand about this TRANSFORMATIVE TRUTH:

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TRANSFORMATIVE TRUTH MUST BE…

Personal

Your God is speaking to your condition offering you hope for your life!

When we repent, we are repenting of specific sins we’ve committed against a real and holy God.

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2. Practical

***The word of God is designed to be LIVED, not just MEMORIZED.***

We are living in a culture that idolizes accumulating information, without experiencing personal spiritual transformation.

The gospel is not just the answer to the test.

Our faith is meant to be lived out. The way that we live in obedience to Gods Word is the way we worship God and live out our call.

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.“ (1 Peter 1:22-25)

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3. Patient

No one has arrived yet.

Our name, Waypoint, reminds us that we are all on a journey.

Discipleship is not about PERFECTION, it is about DIRECTION.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

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4. Persistent

**All of these are a reminder, going back to that word SANCTIFICATION.

We need to learn to keep running the race with endurance by keeping our eyes on Jesus

The way we faithfully endure and run the race can be the most influential thing we ever do. Keep running!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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.“ (Hebrews 12:1-2)

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SECOND IDENTITY MARKER WE ARE AN AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.“ (James 5:16)

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MAIN IDEA

Community is the context for worship, discipleship, mission, and service. It is not a preference to be chosen, it is a part of our new identity as God’s beloved children. We were not made to be alone, but rather we were made for relationship with God and one another. The gospel creates space for us to be fully known and wholly loved.

WHY IS COMMUNITY NECESSARY?

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1. It’s God’s DESIGN

We see community in the TRINITY.

We see community in CREATION.

We see community in REDEMPTION.

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2. It’s for our GOOD

We get our NEEDS met.

We find SAFETY and WISDOM.

We encounter God in OBEDIENCE.

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3. It’s for His GLORY

It displays the POWER of God.

It displays the LOVE of God.

It displays the PRESENCE of God.

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WHAT DOES COMMUNITY & DISCIPLESHIP

LOOK LIKE AT WAYPOINT CHURCH?

1. Discipleship

Life Groups, Bible Studies, Senior Adults, 1:1 Discipleship, Core Classes, (NEW) MADE NEW MENTORS

2. Care Ministry

Care Classes, Recovery Groups, Biblical Care & Counseling

3. Leadership Pipeline

Life Group Leaders, Care Mentors, Bible Study Teachers, Deacons, Multisite Launch Team, Waypoint Leadership Institute (WLI), WayKids Leaders & Coaches, Student Mentors

***you can find all of that on waypointchuch.com or as always we point you to waypoint.info***

**There is so much there to be a part of at Waypoint.

****WayKids AND Waystudents****

    •    WayKids serves families with children from birth – 5th grade. Students 6-12th grade.

    •    Our mission is “Making a way for kids to belong, so that they can believe in Jesus Christ for salvation, and become the disciples God created them to be.” 

    •    We use the Gospel Project for Kids curriculum from Lifeway.  This curriculum covers select passages chronologically through the entire Bible over the course of 3 years. Every week our takeaway teaches kids that each passage in scripture points us to the person and saving work of Jesus Christ. 

    •    We prioritize relationships and age-appropriate activities that engage kids so that they will have fun and remember what they learn, so that God can work in their hearts to save them and make them more like Jesus. 

    •    If you want to join our WayKids team in discipling kids and pointing them to Jesus, they can go to Who’s Next!  If you love the Lord and the Bible, but do not have experience with kids – that is ok!  We will help you find a place to use your gifts, and train and equip you!

Point people to the following but don’t necessarily go over these:

Core Doctrines

What is Doctrine?- a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by the Church

As a church that is gospel centered we want our teachings to be founded on what the Bible says

SANCTIFICATION

(See John 7:17; Acts 2:36-47; Ephesians 5:26; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15)

All people who are truly saved grow every day in knowing and trusting God and becoming more holy like Jesus.

The gracious conviction by the Holy Spirit, confession to God, and continued faith in Jesus results in an ever-changing and growing lifestyle of repentance from sin and pursuit of holiness.

Sanctification is not merely understanding one’s salvation more, but willful actions on the part of a true Christian to conform their lives to the image of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

PERSEVERANCE (See Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:14-24; Hebrews

12:1-3; Romans 8:28-39; John 6:39-40; John 10:28-30)

All true Christians will persevere in their sanctification until they die or until Jesus returns.

This perseverance is empowered and motivated by the supernatural, unchangeable, and unstoppable preservation of God.

There is NOTHING that can separate them from God’s love if they have truly been effectively called and converted to Christ Jesus.

DISCIPLINE (See Matthew 18:10-35; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11)

We believe that God teaches His Church to discipline and correct those who are continually sinning unrepentantly by treating them as an unbelieving non-member.

This is done in order that the sinner might repent. Also, the pastors use it as a way to cleanse the body of sin and deter other sin.

The disciplined person should be forgiven and accepted back as a member if they genuinely turn to Christ for forgiveness and humbly

come back asking for acceptance and forgiveness.

MARRIAGE (See Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:16; Matthew 5:31-32, 19:5-9; 1

Corinthians 7:1-16, 25-35; Ephesians 5:22-33)

We believe marriage is a binding covenant created by God between one man and one woman for our holiness, for our joy, as a picture of the gospel to spread the glory of God.

God establishes that the only normative pattern of sexual relations is between a man and a woman under the covenant of marriage.

According to the testimony of the entirety of God’s word, the

two grounds on which Scripture would allow a divorce are sexual

immorality and desertion by an unbeliever.