The Making Of A Disciple - 09/05/2021

GIVE THANKS

OPENING PRAYER

BIBLE CONFESSION

I. INTRODUCTION:

Saints of God, today, I want to share with you a topic that is truly near and dear to my heart; discipleship.

In today’s message, you learn the biblical qualifications of a disciple. You will also learn some disqualifications as well.

I would also like to share some of my discipling experiences today.

For that, I’m going to roll back the hands of time to around my first year of salvation, to 1992-93.

The title of today’s message is; The Making of a Disciple.

GOLDEN TEXT:

JOHN 8:28-32, 36

King James Version Chapter 8

28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

King James Version Chapter 8

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

CROSS REFERENCES:

JOHN 14:6

John 14:6 KJV 1900

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

HEBREWS 3:15

Hebrews 3:15 KJV 1900

15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

So, essentially, to reject God’s word is to reject his truth; to reject his truth is to reject HIM!

JOHN 3:14-21

King James Version Chapter 3

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be lreproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

JOHN 9:5

John 9:5 KJV 1900

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

ROMANS 8:1

Romans 8:1 KJV 1900

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

BODY:

1. MY PERSONAL DISCIPLESHIP EXPERIENCE:

Now, let’s roll back the calendar to 1992. This was the year I received Christ. Actually, November 1992. I don’t remember what day though.

Lady Kay and I were visiting each other’s church before we got married to determine which church we would ultimately make our own.

One thing we both knew is that we certainly was not going to be members of separate churches.

I didn’t know anything about being planted or being led during that time, but over a period of time (of approximately a few months), knew in my heart that I should join her church.

After making this decision, my mother was not pleased with this, but soon got over it when she was able to see the fruit of my decision, as I was growing in leaps and bounds.

Within my first year of joining the church, I became the pastor’s armour bearer, which was my primary role, and I operated in that role for all seven of the years I served there.

Within a year’s time, I took on what I believe was the most pivotal role I served in; the Leader of the Men’s Fellowship.

It was interesting that there was a Women’s Fellowship, led by the First Lady, but didn’t have a Men’s Fellowship before I came along. This was something I knew had to change.

It was in this role that I learned that I was a leader of men. I was a 23 year old young man that didn’t have a lot of life experience, was a newlywed with a newborn baby, leading a group of men that was 40 to 60+ years old, most of which had adult children and were already grandparents themselves!

But I was on fire for the Lord like nobody’s business and was bold and outspoken about the things of God, especially, where it pertained to the leadership and support of the pastor. That’s why the pastor chose me to be over the Men’s Fellowship!

What I was bringing to the table was radical change in opposition to vain tradition!

I led monthly men’s meetings which included teaching the word of God on topics mostly involving authority, leadership and unity; organized church clean ups, coordinated men’s retreats to 3 TD Jakes Manpower Conferences in Charlotte NC; Washington DC and Memphis TN, and even spear-headed 2 Men’s Conferences of our own.

Keep in mind, this church didn’t even have a Men’s Fellowship before I joined the ministry in 1993.

One of the biggest challenges I had, which was also an Achilles hill to the pastor, was the spiritual pride of one of the deacons.

He wasn’t over the deacons but carried most of the influence, which often dictated the direction of the deacons.

Everything that came out of my mouth was about honoring the pastor, following the pastor, blessing the pastor, supporting the pastor, etc.

The words that came from the opposing deacon’s mouth was, “I don’t see why we have to do all this stuff for the pastor, he’s a man just like I am, he put his pants on one leg at a time just like I do!”

MY RESPONSE: WHAT! He’s not an ordinary man, he’s God’s anointed and that’s how we need to treat him, rather we like it or not!

CONCLUSION:

You all may be wondering what does all of this have to do with discipleship? It has everything to do with it.

One of the primary discipleship attributes I was operating in was that found in John 8:31;

…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.

I continued in God’s word, which fueled my fire to start the Men’s Fellowship. This was inspired by the Lord.

The main person that was eventually won over was the head deacon.

His no’s turned into yes’s! His disagreements turned into yes pastor, whatever you want to do; you’re the pastor.

My own personal discipleship, was in essence an invitation to compel men to come; and the head deacon finally came!

This made the pastor’s life easier and it opened the door for the pastor to get more done, even though some chose to hold on to tradition.

We all saw the head deacon’s attitude toward leadership change, all because somebody chose to continue in God’s word, which had an impact on his life.

So, I was only able to get to one qualification of a disciple this week. Tune in to Part II, next week.

IV. SERVICE WRAP-UP:

LIFT YOUR HANDS AND GIVE GOD PRAISE

CLOSING PRAYER

ALTAR CALL

PRAY FOR MEMBERS AND VISITORS

PRAY FOR PASTOR HOLMES

SPECIAL PRAYER FOR CHILDREN, TEACHERS AND STAFF GOING BACK TO SCHOOL

REMIND EVERYONE ABOUT MEETING WITH LADY KAY AFTER SERVICE IF INTERESTED IN SIGNING UP FOR THE GOOD NEWS CLUB VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.

DECLARATION OF FAITH

BENEDICTION