Overthinking Discipleship

Last week we began our series, “Pray for one.” The focus of this series is to bring into action a simple prayer that we all pray every single day. “LORD give me one person that I can show your love to today.” The showing of God’s love will be different every single day. God’s love is vast and He expresses His love in so many ways, and the same will be true for our showing His love to others. It will be in our telling someone the Gospel. It will be in loving your children better. It will be in serving your spouse. There are going to be countless opportunities to show God’s love to people. You will not be limited in your opportunities, unless you back down. That was our focus last week. Before we can ever begin to pray this prayer, which will be answered, we have got to recognize if we have the heart of a hireling or the shepherd. The way we tested our heart is by focusing on evangelism. Now, pray for one is not just about evangelism, but for many this is probably the most intimidating aspect of the Christian faith. We essentially tested whether or not we were afraid of heights by walking to the top of a ledge. What did you find? For some of us we were convicted. We went to the LORD in prayer to call it what it is and asked for the heart of the Shepherd. That is where we needed to start. We cannot even begin to take these first steps if we have any hint of backing down. We cannot back down. God will answer this prayer, every single day, and we need to step into the call. What a beautiful and terrifying call it is. Extrovert, introvert, social, anti-social alike. But it is also exciting.

This week, assuming we have taken the past week to address our hearts, seeking to share in the same burden at the Shepherd, I want us to look at the sheep we are responsible for. Last week we looked at the parable to the lost sheep and how the Shepherd went after the one. I want us today to look at the sheep we have already been entrusted: our spouse, our children, our grandchildren, and our dear friends.

Lets actually use that list as our order. Our spouse, how can God be calling us to begin with them? in our prayer to pray for one, God may go no further than the person you wake up next to. “LORD, give me one” and He is like (Mime). You cannot overlook the importance of His divine love constantly being injected into your marriage. In our 3/3rds discipleship group a couple weeks ago I felt believed that God was wanting to teach me something through service. My wife is an outstanding wife and mother. She truly works hard at both. But, I found myself, backing off. I began handing more over to her in terms of house maintenance and cleanliness. I truly believed God was calling me to learn something in my life and service was the mechanism through which He was going to show me. I needed to help more. Tired or not, wait, that “or not” does not exist anymore, tired or really tired I need to push through and be obedient to the process. I am still growing in this and trying to help more, and He has not shown me what I think He is going to, but He certainly has created in me a deeper love and appreciation for her being my wife. Beginning with the one you are married to is an outstanding way to pray for one. 1 Peter 3:7 7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. At first glance you might read this and be a little offended. Weaker!? I get it we live in a time where testosterone does not exist. But even still this is not what Peter is getting at. Doug Wilson, I believe, explains best what Peter is expressing here. Has anyone ever grown up with this useless thing called “China?” That very expensive crystal which was never used but took up and entire cabinet? Horrible to clean and very delicate. Or lets take jewelry. Why does it seem that the most precious jewelry is so delicate? It is not that women are weak in their standing but that they are valuable. In all that is of great value there brings with it also the delicate nature by which we are to handle them. Have you ever been given something expensive. The incredible panic which floods through your body. “What id I drop it! What if I break it!” This week, I would like for you to read Proverbs 31 specifically verses 10-31. I will only read Proverbs 31:10-12 10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. Men we read that and think, “Yes! That is the woman I need!” Men, let’s begin by treating them as the delicate, valuable, priceless crown upon our head that they are before we start making demands as to how they are to treat us? She is more valuable than precious Jewels and as Peter commands, we are to treat them that way. Pray for one, let’s start there men.

Women, to have a husband who treats you with tenderness and care, is easier to read your commands as a wife with willingness. Ephesians 5:22 “22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” That is a little bit easier to do when He is doing what he should be doing. But what happens when he is not. What happens when he is in a funk. He had a bad day and does not know how to express it. He is not a believer at all. What then? Peter also helps us, 1 Peter 3:1-5 “1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. 3 Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;” Peter begins by encouraging women to recognize the example they carry to their husbands. No one’s opinion means more to a man than what his wife has to say. Wives you have a remarkable opportunity of influence your husband for Christ. But it begins with your conduct. It begins with how you carry yourself. How you honor him. How you submit to his headship. Peter uses the adornment of a woman, he doe snot condemn women for adorning themselves, but he does express that the inward adornment of a woman is where the Love of God is expressed. If you remember last week, we cannot show anyone the Love of God unless we know the Love of God for ourselves. Wives, you can show God’s love to your husband through the way you treat your husband. Many men have been converted to the faith because of their wife. Lee Strobel faced this, as an atheist, when his wife became a Christian he saw a noticeable change in her that he could not reconcile. This sent him on a journey which brought him to faith in Christ.

We want to pray for one. We want God to show us the person we are to show His love to. For many of us, it starts at hoe with our spouse. Husband and wife, if we cannot even love each other with the sacrificial, self-less Love of God how can we ever express it to the world? As you begin to pray for one, do not miss the sign which points directly to the one sleeping right next to you.

For some of you God will call you to your children. I am not foolish to think we do not have any broken homes in our church or listening online. You have shared custody. Or maybe you find yourself working a lot to provide for your families. Regardless as you begin to pray for one God will call you to show your children the Love of God.

How do we show the love of God to our children. I am wrestling with this because our daughters are so young they cannot really comprehend what we are talking about but I have this conviction that says, “So what!” Deuteronomy 11:18-19 “18 “You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 19 “You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.” So many times we think, there is a curriculum that we are to teach our children. because we think there is a daily curriculum so many parents already feel disqualified in the discipling of their children. No! God’s Word tells us what we are to do and no degree is necessary. First, impress the Word of God upon your own heart. being in God’s Word. Take His Word to memory. Then talk about it to your kids! Talk about it while your in the car. Talk about it at the dinner table. Talk about what you read, or the sermon you listened to and ask them what they think. Yea they will say I don’t know. They feel pressure that they are supposed to have the right answer. Yes, the interpretation of God’s Word is crucial and there is a right answer, but your children should not feel this burden. Center your discussions around a dialogue. Express yourself and open it up to them. Be vulnerable with them. Say you read Ephesians 6:4 “4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Father’s ask your children, “Do you think I have been to harsh at times? What did I do?” Take their answers as an opportunity to model repentance to them. Look I get it, say your child snuck out, and you took a layer of skin when they got home. You can address it honestly. I am sorry I disciplined you so hard. I had a wide range of emotions all at once and I had a hard time with it. I felt upset because what you did was defiant, but I felt fear and anxiety on a level I never felt before and I did not know how to react to all of these emotions all at once. It showed in the discipline, but I did not mean for it to. Have that vulnerable conversation with your child about what you felt. You do not have to excuse sin but you can acknowledge we do not always handle situations perfectly as parents. You do not need a degree to to this mom and dad. You simply need to be active in your faith and vulnerable with your kids.

Can I go down another road for a moment? As a father for less than 2 years who has all the answers, let me bestow some wisdom. No, I am just kidding, I do want to pull from the 10 years of experience working with teenagers. By the time they are teenagers you see the manifestations of their upbringing. Can I share with you what I found from kids from both two parent and single parent homes? Kids want to be loved. That seems so silly but please hear me out. Become a child for a moment. You are raised in a world which says your parent or parents love you. This is just a given. What happens when you are raised in a neglectful or abusive household? That’s love. Mommy loves me and she beats me every day. Daddy loves me and he says mean things to me all the time. There are kids who grow up in homes who parents show love in a good way. Both the child who is hurt and the child who is loved ultimately still need love from people who are not mom and dad. Who are not family. In the first case they need love because they have never recieved it. Pray for one. In the second case, they are obligated to love me, but what about people who have the choice?

This church is filled with mothers and fathers. This church is filled with grandparents. This church may have a higher average age, but if you think you do not have a one in our children’s ministry or our student ministry you are in error. You are never too old to show the love of God to anyone especially to the youth of the church. Whether or not they come from a bad environment or a good one, they both need people to love them. Do you know why? To experience the love of God from someone, makes it possible that God would love them. *LET IT RIP*

This brings us to the love of God expressed through grandparents! Some of you know this very well. Being a grandparent means you answer to no one! You want cupcakes for dinner? Guess what you with grandma and grandpa, cupcakes it is. Send them hope doped up on sugar! Ah, its the dream! At least that’s what I hear, and of course I do not have any premeditated plans...

2 Timothy 1:3-7 3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. As we read this text we see Paul call upon the faith of Timothy’s mother Eunice and Grandmother Lois. Here is what makes Paul charge to Timothy and the calling back to His grandmother so important. In verse 6 Paul tells Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God from the time, more than likely Paul laid hands upon him. But even this is built upon a greater foundation which was found in the heritage of faith in Timothy’s life. This heritage goes back to his grandmother.

2 Timothy 3:12-17 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Once again we see Paul, not only call back to his influence on the life of Timothy but also the influence of his mother and grandmother. Only now the context of this recalling of what Timothy has been taught, is found in hardship. Timothy will be persecuted. His life will be difficult, and Paul again calls upon the heritage of faith. Why?

Sometimes, it is the faith of other’s and their strength that carries you through your own struggles and hardship. Grandparents, your faith in Jesus Christ is not lost on the lives of your grandchildren. Your experience is not lost on the youth of the church. The strength shown in the midst of your hardship creates a heritage of faith which can be called upon by your children and grandchildren. Sometimes our strength is failing and our faith is dwindling. To look back and see the faith of another can bear up under them. Your faith, your commitment, your perseverance is a gift to your grandchildren that God will use in their time of need. God will remind them, “See how I was there for them, I am here with you.” They can face their own hardships and even if they do not see God working, God will call upon your life, and remind your grandchild, He was there for you and He is there for them. Sometimes we need to see the fruit of someone else’s hardship to trust in our own. You can give this to your Grandchildren and the children of the church.

As we pray for one, God will draw you also to your friends. I will make this claim and I will not apologize for it, a true friendship is one of discipleship. A friendship which is defined by the sharpening of one another in Christ. Caring for one another through hardship. Spurring of one another to move in the LORD. This is what true friends do. A friend who will not call you out, encourage you, and help equip you to grow in Christ is not a friend. They can be someone you like but they should not have the authority to speak into your life as a Christian.

Ephesians 4:11-16 “11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” It is my job to educate you in the Word of God. I am not here to be your motivational life coach. I am here to teach you. If you are active in our church I have 2 days out of 7 to teach you about the Word of God. Sunday and Wed night. That is not enough. I also lack the administrative skills and time to follow up with every single person here and disciple you one on one. So, who is discipling you and who are you discipling? We first look to Jesus, Mark 3:13-15 “13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.” Right up front you and I do not have the authority to give one another the authority to caste out demons. “Hey Ross, you got this.” No! All the supernatural gifting we see in Scripture comes from one source, Christ. Though verse 15 does not apply to us, we see in verses 13-14 a very clear approach. Jesus’s discipleship was intentional that discipleship had a purpose.

Being intentional is key as we pray for one. We are stepping out in faith asking for one. But the point I want to make about Biblical discipleship is the second part of verse 14, “so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach.” Jesus discipled in such a way that His disciples could then make disciples. We will get more into this next week, but Jesus had a purpose to His discipleship. Then as we see His disciples went out and made disciples. Then those disciples made disciples. This is what set Christianity apart and it spread throughout the world. Christianity is rooted in discipleship. We cannot live out the Christian faith without discipleship. Christianity is not about coming on Sunday and Wednesday. The church did not expand and grow because they met two days a week. Christianity did not expand across the globe because they had a dynamic speaker and emotionally driven worship. It grew and souls were saved regardless of race, culture, and political affiliation because Christianity is rooted in discipleship not race, culture, and politics.

I cannot see how someone can even profess being a Christian, and they have nothing to do with discipleship. Moses had Joshua, Elijah had Elisha, Jeremiah had Baruch. Paul Had Timothy. John had Ignatius and Polycarp. Who do you have and who has you? To believe that we can live out our faith apart from discipleship shows we have missed something crucial to the faith. This does not mean you were not saved. No, you were saved by the blood of Jesus, not discipleship. Your salvation is not at stake but your maturity in the faith certainly is. I have met many Christians who were still infant’s in their faith because they were not discipled. Whether by arrogance or ignorance they never grew up, Hebrews 5:11-14 “11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” An infant in Christ, is someone who either refuses to be discipled or someone who has never been discipled. One’s resume in their faith is not, “How many years have you been a Christian.” It is found in, “How many years have you been discipled and been discipling?” We are called to be disciples who make disciples.

Praying for one may start much closer than you think. God may call you to show His love to your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, or a friend. I do not know who God is calling you to show His love to, but I assure you He is calling. Let’s pray for one.