Discipleship relationships...

Member Handout: Plugging into Discipling Relationships

New church members have lots of questions. A common one is, “How do I get connected in a discipling relationship?”

What a great question! Discipling is critical for our Christian growth as individuals as well as for making the gospel visible in our life together as a church. So we are seeking to do everything we can to cultivate a culture of discipling in our church.

1. What do we mean by “discipling”?

In one sense, almost everything we do as a local church is about being and making disciples. The songs we sing, the prayers we pray, and the sermons that are preached all aim to grow us as God-glorifying disciples.

But for this handout we have something more specific in mind when we use the word “discipling.” We are thinking particularly about individual relationships. More formally, we are talking about the intentional encouragement and training of disciples of Jesus on the basis of deliberate, loving relationships.

Jesus tells us to pursue one another like this: — “This is what I command you: Love one another. How did Jesus love His disciples in ways that could be imitated? He loved them intentionally, purposefully, humbly, joyfully and normally. Let’s think about these descriptions.

Intentional: “You did not choose me but I chose you …” (). Jesus did not merely stumble across His disciples; He took loving initiative. He chose them. Christ-like love is not passive; it takes initiative. Loving other Christians like Christ loves us means taking the initiative.

Purposeful: “… and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (). Christ’s love for His disciples is purposeful. He called them to bear fruit for God’s glory. In other words, His love is not merely sentimental, but has a wonderful, God-glorifying agenda. If we are to love one-another as Christ has loved us, surely we will share Jesus’ goals for one another, namely, the spiritual good of our friend and God’s glory through their joy in the gospel.

Humble: Jesus says, “As the father has loved me, so have I loved you,” () and “Instead [of slaves], I have called you friends” (). Jesus condescends to be our friend, even though He is infinitely far above us in majesty, holiness, and honor. Surely, then, we must relate with all humility to our fellow fallen brothers and sisters. We treat them as friends whom we love, not as “projects” or “lessers.” We don’t lord it over, we honor and cherish.

Joyful: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (). Jesus commands us to love one another so that we would know His joy. Setting out to care for other Christians, encouraging their growth in grace, can be hard work. But it is wonderful work, and Jesus says it is joy-producing work!

Normal: Jesus makes this kind of loving discipling His basic command to all His people and, thus, normal for all Christians. Listen again: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” Not surprisingly, you will find talk of basic Christian discipleship throughout God’s Word:

— But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.

— Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Outdo one another in showing honor.

— Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Outdo one another in showing honor.

— Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

— Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

The New Testament is filled with such exhortations. Jesus and the apostles did not mean for discipling between Christians to be exceptional, but normal.

As a member of our church, we want you to be:

Intentional

purposeful

Purposeful

Humble

humble

and Joyful

and joyful

All this as we work together at making these kinds of one-on-one relationships normal.

Do this by letting people get to know you.

Do this by working to know them.

Really, it is all of our work to cultivate a culture of discipleship in our fellowship.

2. What do we mean by a “culture of discipling”?

You have probably been hearing that phrase a lot around us. Most dictionaries define a “culture” as something like “the shared values, goals and practices that characterize a group.” That is pretty much what we have in mind when it comes to discipling at our church. We don’t want a program, we want mutual love and encouragement to be a value, goal, and practice that increasingly characterizes all of us in all that we do in our homes and churches.

Formal programs are not necessarily bad, but we want to make sure we do not fall short of the biblical ideal. And the biblical ideal, we have said, is to become a place where it is normal to take initiative in doing one another spiritual good.

You don’t have to sign up for anything or get permission before loving fellow members this way.

Nor do you want a church where discipling only happens when the church leadership sustains it.

That’s not a healthy church!

No, we want you to pray and think about how you can jump in. And talk to an elder or some other member about your unique opportunities and stewardships.

3. What should I do in a discipling relationship?

The most significant aspect of any discipling relationship, often, is not exactly what you do when you meet, but that you build a relationship with biblical truth at its core. As such, there is no “set program” for discipling relationships in our church.

[I long to be able to say this to Members coming in]

“Members do a number of things:”

• Meet weekly to discuss the prior Sunday’s sermon, a Christ-centered book, or a book of the Bible.

Meet weekly to discuss the prior Sunday’s sermon, a Christ-centered book, or a book of the Bible.

• Attend a Core Seminar together and discuss specific application in one another’s lives.

Attend the prayer meeting together and discuss specific application in one another’s lives through Scripture in prayer.

• Invite unmarried members to sit in on family devotions.

Invite unmarried members to sit in on family devotions.

• Accompany mothers with young children as they run errands.

Accompany mothers with young children as they run errands.

• Help dads with yard work and ask them for counsel.

Help dads with yard work and ask them for counsel.

• Schedule “play dates” for kids and talk about the Sunday night talk.

Schedule “play dates” for kids and talk about the Sunday sermon.

Examples abound, and the venues are flexible. What’s important, again, is that you pursue something, something where you have time to relate to another member with the intentional aim of encouraging and being encouraged by the truth from God’s Word.

So be creative! But be intentional about loving one another in the best, the highest, the most biblical way—by aiming to do the other person spiritual good.

If you would like even more help thinking through discipling relationships we have a thirteen week Core Seminar class on discipling. Attend the next time it is offered on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. Or download the discipling class manuscripts from www.capitolhillbaptist.org.

4. How can I get into a discipling relationship?

There are three ways to establish a discipling relationship at Redeemer, Good Shepherd, or Cornerstone Church (lol).

First, take the personal initiative to try to work out a discipling relationship with any other member (of your same gender, please). No pastor permission needed (lol)! Instead, show up to church early. Stick around late. Attend Meals After Church (I’d love for someone to spearhead this. “MAC Sunday”s) Sunday nights. And start getting to know other people. Over time we hope you will begin to build the kind of relationships where these things happen naturally.

Second, talk to your Care Group leader (hoping we have more leaders later) for suggestions and assistance. They may not be free to meet up with you regularly, but as they get to know you, chances are they can help connect you with another member who would.

Third, if neither of these avenues results in a regular discipling relationship, feel free to contact pastor Joel for help. There are always a number of members who, because of schedules, geography, or other reasons, find it difficult to connect with another member one-on-one. In those cases I’d be happy to help. Just call.

We do encourage you to start with your own initiative. It just might cause you to flex and even develop the discipline and evangelism muscles that will serve you and others for years to come. You might find that doing so becomes one of the most satisfying experiences of your life as a Christian. And you might find yourself understanding more clearly what Jesus meant when he said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” ().