Marks of Maturity - Part 5a

Thesis: Mature churches grow spiritually through discipleship relationships.

WHAT IS DISCIPLESHIP?

“The process of training people incrementally in some discipline or way of life.”

(Lexham Cultural Ontology Glossary, The)

“Discipleship is investing oneself into the lives of others for the purpose of spiritual growth so that they too might invest themselves in still others in an ever-multiplying circle of disciples.”

2 Timothy 2:1-2

NOTICE: There are FOUR generations (spiritually speaking) given in this verse:

2 Timothy 2:1–2 NKJV

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Four Spiritual Generations:

1. Paul

2. Timothy

3. faithful men

4. others

Discipleship can be done in:

“hallway conversations”

“parking lot talks”

“cup-of-coffee” conversations

text messages and emails

intentional meetings

one-on-one

small groups/Bible studies

1 Thessalonians 3:10

1 Thessalonians 3:10 NKJV

10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?

Discipleship = Restoration

The Desire of Discipleship (2:17)

A. Heart to Heart

A connection that no distance can deplete

Having another person on my mind, wondering how they are doing, where they are, if they are OK, and if they are making wise choices.

It’s like a parent wondering about their adult children that have left, or their young children that are away at camp or someone’s home.

Remember, these people are Paul’s disciples

Do you have someone you have this desire for?

1. In Difficulties (1 Cor. 5:3)

1 Corinthians 5:3 (NKJV)

3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed.

2. In Delight (Col. 2:5)

Colossians 2:5 NKJV

5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

B. Face to Face

Paul and Co. were “torn away” from the Thessalonians

The word used (“face”) means the front countenance of another

To “look the other person in the eye”

Numerous eye contact studies have been conducted:

study of 2-5 day old infants: “The results show that, from birth, human infants prefer to look at faces that engage them in mutual gaze and that, from an early age, healthy babies show enhanced neural processing of direct gaze.”

study shows blinking synchronization “Sadato’s team used eye blinks as a marker of synchronization. “Eye blinks can provide social communication cues reflecting the internal state such as arousal, emotion and cognitive load, all of which affect the blink rate,” Sadato told me in an email. When eye blinks are synchronized, he added, “it reflects shared attention between participants.””

eye contact encourages smiling and discourages frowning: “In addition, direct gaze was found to induce facial reactions associated with positive emotion... In other words, the mere perception of direct gaze activated the zygomatic or "smile" muscles and relaxed the corrugator or "frown" muscles.”

This means that we need to make face-to-face conversations with one another a priority.

We need to move more quickly from:

“small-talk” to “real-life talk”

“skin-deep” to “soul-deep”

Discipleship will not maximize its effectiveness without face-to-face conversations

This will require an investment of time and energy on our part (especially for those of us that are reclusive by nature)

1. Earnestly - How Much

2. Frequently - How Often

The Detainment of Discipleship (2:18)

A. Attempted Efforts

“over and over again”

Determination is required

B. Attacked Efforts (1 Peter 5:8)

The name Satan means “adversary”

Satan was likely behind the ruling of the magistrates to extract a payment from Jason which was part of the reason why Paul and Co. left town so quickly

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Why does Satan want to stop discipleship? - because it’s God’s will; it’s the Great Commission!

How do we overcome this?

If Satan was against Paul’s discipleship efforts, do you think he will be against yours?

This verse tells us what to expect when we attempt to engage in discipleship relationships - We have the same adversary!

Don’t expect this to be easy.

The Destination of Discipleship (2:19-20)

A. Anticipating the Future with Christ (v.19)

2 Corinthians 1:14

2 Corinthians 1:14 NKJV

14 (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

The selfless love of the disciple-maker towards the disciple

the disciple becomes the “hope”, “joy”, and “crown of rejoicing”, “glory and joy”

Crown is the word “stephanos”, which means the victor’s crown given to the winner of the games. It was a crown of great honor, a badge of royalty.

Paul was looking forward to seeing his disciples step forward at the Judgement Seat of Christ to receive their own crowns.

To Paul, this WAS his crown!

Imagine watching your own disciple…someone with whom you have spent countless hours pouring yourself into, doing life together, loving and guiding them in their walk with God.

It’s like a parent watching their child graduate high school…so much of the parent is recognized even though it is the student that is honored.

B. Adherence in the Present to Christ (v.20)

This is in the present tense

Paul is celebrating his disciples’ journey so far

And he wants them to keep going!

Have you ever called someone your “glory and joy”?

A timely, winsome, and loving word can make such a difference in another person’s life.

Let’s use our words to build one another up!

Closing Thoughts:

Discipleship can be simple or structured

Discipleship requires communication that goes below the surface

Questions to consider:

Are you willing to be a discipler?

Are you willing to be discipled?

“Only a disciple can make a disciple.” ― A. W. Tozer

WORD STUDY:

“taken away” = apŏrphanizō: bereaved of, separated

“in heart” = kardia: inner thoughts or feelings

“endeavored” = spŏudazō: to make effort, do diligence

“more eagerly” = pĕrissŏtĕrōs: superabundantly, frequently

“desire” = ĕpithumia: craving, longing (sometimes lust)

“hindered” = ĕgkŏptō: (lit. to cut into), impede, deta

“crown” = stĕphanŏs: a wreath or chaplet, a badge of royalty, symbol of honor