What is True Discipleship?
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Definition: (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.)
Definition: (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.)
Discipleship - (noun)
1) Punishment
2) Instruction (Obsolete)
3) a field of study
4) training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.
5) a) Control gained by enforcing obedience or order.
b) Orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior.
c) Self Control
6) A rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity
Discipline (verb):
To punish or penalize for the sake of discipline
to train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control
to bring (a group) under control.
No wonder “discipline” is considered to be a four letter word! The dictionary captures the way that the word is commonly used. Our usage of discipline exists toward the bottom of the list. Usages 5b, 5c, and 6.
So the world’s view of discipline is something that is imposed upon a person from the outside.
That is not in line with what we know to be God’s Way or godliness.
Freedom of Will
Freedom of Will
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
One of the basic things God has given us is free will. He allows us to choose. Otherwise we would be automatons - robots.
It’s why sometimes bad things happen to good people. We get to choose what we want in life - to live God’s way or not. We are an amalgamation of the choices we made in life.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Our approach to discipline is one of free will choice. We want to do God’s Will. We want to do it better, more consistently, with greater efficiency and impact. We do this because God wants us to and because there is great benefit from doing so.
Basics of Discipleship
Basics of Discipleship
It’s a learning process requiring Doctrine, Reproof, and correction
1- Revere / Give Heed to God (Come ready to learn)
1- Revere / Give Heed to God (Come ready to learn)
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
However, before we can accomplish this we need to start with the fundamentals.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Discipline starts with milk. We always make it a habit to check our fundamentals.
If a person is not allowed to complete their Way Corps training they need to start back from the beginning, because ministers cannot be too well versed on the fundamentals.
We have meekness, reverence and respect for God and His Word.
2. The Fundamentals
2. The Fundamentals
2a. Listen and don’t speak. (Give your tongue a rest)
“hear” is used 11 times in Proverbs
Proverbs 1:5–8 (KJV 1900)
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning;
And a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation;
The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
My son, hear the instruction of thy father,
And forsake not the law of thy mother:
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
We need to hear the Word to have the correct thoughts to think. To listen with a purpose.
We need to first hear the Word of God in order to renew our minds to it.
Any person new to fellowship should just sit and listen - not comment. Shows meekness and effort.
That’s why we encourage people taking the class to just sit and listen the first time through. - Don’t take notes.
If we speak in fellowship it should be the Word and it is profitable.
We all need to strengthen this ability - to hold our tongue and listen more in fellowship. But we need to want it.
Speaking is an advanced discipline topic.
I am not saying to take a vow of silence like monks do but listen a lot more than we speak.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Not once does it mention talking. All of this can be done silently except for the one speaking the Apostles doctrine maybe.
2b- Think the thoughts of the Word / of Christ
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2c. Learn to believe - Claiming promises - praying - appropriating the things of God.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
3- Control the tongue.
3- Control the tongue.
3a. Think Before Speaking (Filter what you are about to say)
- Does what I am about to say line up with the Word?
- Does it promote peace?
- Will it be gentle? Not harsh.
- Will is be easily entreated? - Will it be a stumbling block to any of the hearers?
- Is it merciful? (withholding judgement or criticism)
- Will it be beneficial to the body as a whole? Good Fruits?
- Is it biased to certain groups or people?
- Has the information been vetted by example - not hypocritical?
- Will it minister grace to the hearers?
- Does it meet the standards of the Wisdom of God? (James 1:17)
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Until these filters are applied we should not speak.
If we are freely talking without thinking it will cue the new person to do so as well - problems.
3b. Lead by What You Do - not by what you say.
3c. Say what you mean and mean what you say
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
4- Take Action - Do the commandments of God / Walk in the spirit
4- Take Action - Do the commandments of God / Walk in the spirit
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5. Be circumspect - Become spiritually aware and concerned for things spiritual
5. Be circumspect - Become spiritually aware and concerned for things spiritual
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.