Follow Me Part II

We started in this series on Discipleship called “Follow Me.” We have discussed up to this point what discipleship is by defining discipleship and then secondly, the call of discipleship.

With this foundation, we must now see the setting and characteristics of discipleship.

When we think about discipleship what comes to mind?

I believe as we think about discipleship there are really two types of discipleship we need to classify.

The first, is what we have here at Sharon Baptist Church in the way of our discipleship program and it would be what we call “formal discipleship.”

I. Formal Discipleship

Formal discipleship consists of a set apart time that is consistent to cover specific material as it pertains to the Christian life.

That set-apart time again involves a teacher and a disciple or disciple(s).

We find biblically that the Lord taught both in numbers and one on one.

I want you to understand that the term discipleship is not found in the New Testament. This is a term that was brought about around the 1540s as best as I could find, but it has it roots in the word disciple (n).

Let’s look at an example of this in the Scriptures, some formal discipleship.

We can see a glimpse of this in the book of Acts chapter 19.

“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve. 8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”

Now from this text we cannot certainly say exactly what the subject matter was of this time period (these two years), but no doubt it involved both teaching and preaching of the Gospel.

The word ‘disciple’ used here (v1, v9) properly denotes a learner or pupil.

And before these were converted they were followers of John’s baptism according to verse 3. They were looking forward to the Messiah, but had not knowledge of “Christ Jesus.” You notice the word order there in verse 4 puts His title of ‘Messiah” or “Anointed One” before his earthly name of Savior (Jesus- Jeshua - Savior).

We know from other places in the Pauline epistles that Paul certainly preached Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.

I Corinthians 2:1,2 “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

But we find also, that he taught believers in the basics of Christianity (following Jesus Christ).

Here is just as few examples:

I Thessalonians 4:2 “For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.”

II Thessalonians 2:1-5 “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?”

In this matter of “formal” and “informal” discipleship what is to be taught?

A. Two Categories

Milk

When we begin to look at the Word of God we find it is our spiritual sustenance.

I Corinthians 3:1,2 “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”

I Peter 2:1-3 “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious”

We see from these several verses that relation between the milk of the word and the maturity of the believer. This would be what we would classify as “first things.”

We also see that there is a connection between growth in the Christian life and a proper intake of the Word of God. The implication is that for ‘babes’ in Christ these ‘milk’ items need to be received.

How many here like to eat? --- And we begin to develop a taste for certain things.

How many can remember being introduced to a certain food that was really good. Prior to having it, you did not understand what you were missing.

What are some “first things” you wish had been taught to you?

Here is a short list just to get you thinking:

Salvation

Eternal Security

Assurance of Salvation

Baptism

Church Attendance

Giving

Stewardship

Spiritual Warfare

Reading/Studying the Scriptures

Prayer

Soul-Winning

Service to the Lord

Meat

This second category is found in Hebrews 5:12,13

Hebrews 5:12

“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. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

The Bible says meat belongeth to them that are of full age… Or we would say spiritually mature. So while the milk is for babes in Christ, meat is for those who are spiritually mature.

John 16:12 tells us that the Lord in His last moments of preparation before the crucifixion told His disciples, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.”

They were not ready to receive at that time the (1) rejection of the Jews, (2) the calling of the Gentiles, (3) the changing from the Mosaic economy, (4) the inception of the church.... etc… They were not in a place to bear those things.

And likewise, in discipleship there is milk and there is meat subjects that need to be taught.

There ought to be a time when we move from teaching someone to just read their Bible, Pray, and come to church. Those things are necessary, but they are babe in Christ subjects.

Example:

What are some things that children learn. ie. Potty Training vs. Work Ethic