Discipleship (1)

The Challenge of Discipleship

The “I” generation rather than the “we” generation.

In 1950, for instance, only 4 million Americans lived alone, and they accounted for less than 10 percent of all households. Today, more than 32 million Americans are going solo. They represent 28 percent of all households at the national level;

Dever, Mark. Discipling: How to Help Others Follow Jesus (9Marks: Building Healthy Churches) (p. 12). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Definition of Discipling- Helping others follow Jesus

Following Jesus is not for loners. We need the help of each other. We need to follow and be led in this pathway.

Loving Jesus is directly tied to loving other () Your love for Christ is displayed in the way you love others.

Love to Christ involves obeying His command to disciple others.

Discipling involves transmitting the knowledge of God and His Word through every moment of life ()

Definition of Disciple- One who follows Christ

This does not begin by something we do. It begins with Christ’s work and invitation. He paid the price and united us to Himself.

The response to such a work is extravagant love (Mark 8:34)

There is no such thing as a disciple who does not follow Christ.

Don Carson has said, “To die to self means to consider it better to die than to lust; to consider it better to die, than to tell this falsehood; than to consider it better to die than to . . . [you name the sin].”

Dever, Mark. Discipling: How to Help Others Follow Jesus (9Marks: Building Healthy Churches) (pp. 15-16). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Dever, Mark. Discipling: How to Help Others Follow Jesus (9Marks: Building Healthy Churches) (pp. 15-16). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Components of discipleship

Proclaiming and Presenting

When consumed with self, circumstances are a curse or blessing based upon how they work with my agenda.

Imagine all of life (blessing/ hidden blessing) is being used for a lasting purpose. Paul’s suffering is for others. (v. 24)

The believer can be a servant of the body of Christ- this is a high privilege. It is an actual stewardship given by God. If we think that reduces us to a slavish, non-important life, we must think again. You are never enslaved; you are always commissioned.

One may not be informing of new news like Paul was with the unveiling of the mystery, but can the reality of Christ being in people ever be exhauasted. (The prisoner of bitterness is free, the anxious has a courageous one withing)

Life is now spent proclaiming a person. One is not coercing, deceiving, bribing etc..

The proclamation involves warning and teaching. Warning against that which is worthless and damning. Teaching is availing the people of wisdom and the surpassing riches had in Christ (V. 28-29)

The goal is presenting each individual mature in Christ. This requires long term thinking. One is not living on the accolades of today. One is choosing an investors mindset rather than a now-mindset. Each encounter with others is a sowing opportunity. The coming of Christ is not an end of our temporary fling of pleasure. It is something that each one is being prepared for.

discipling is the only way I can evangelize non-Christians and equip Christians in that one place where I can never travel—the future beyond my life. Discipling others now is how I try to leave time-bombs of grace.

Dever, Mark. Discipling: How to Help Others Follow Jesus (9Marks: Building Healthy Churches) (p. 34). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

This involves struggling sacrificial work now. One will experience agony now rather than trying to live from one high experience to another.

This involves God working in you. This removes pride and fear. This is sustained by God’s love not the people’s love.

There is the reality that all of us are changing. This can be positive or negative. There is a world that is trying to change us negatively.

Influence

Who introduced you to your favorite restaurant?

Who introduced you to your favorite restaurant?

Who first brought you to the grocery store?

Who introduced you to your favorite movie?

Influence is always happening. You are being influenced by others and they by you.

shows that servants and wives influence from what may perceived of as lowly and undesirable circumstances and positions

you even have influence in your weakness.

Partnership

Imitation

There is the imitation aspect (; ; ; )

We could summarize the Pauline model of ministry training by saying that it looks a lot like parenthood: It begins as someone is instrumental in bringing someone else to new birth. It is long term and loving. It includes passing on knowledge, wisdom and practical instruction. It involves modelling and imitation. It forms not only beliefs and abilities,

Marshall, Colin. The Trellis and the Vine (Kindle Locations 925-929). Matthias Media. Kindle Edition.

Is there life outside of discipleship- Survival without outside guidance, living without influencing others.

What do we do if we don’t want that kind of responsibility?

What seems threatening about it?