Aiming to Please The One

Intro: We have been talking about our core values.

We have talked about how the Gospel brings us from death to life and connects us to God and others by grafting us into the body of Christ, the church.

Last week Alfredo talked about growing in Christ and how God uses the Word of God to transform our lives.

This leads us to our 3rd value, multiplication. The Bible shows us when a person is connected to God and the church and is in a growing and has a vibrant relationship with the Lord, multiplication will happen. How do we know this?

First and foremost, we know that Jesus will build His Church. We know this because that is what the Bible says in Matthew. Jesus was walking one day and asked his disciples, who do people say that I am? Then he turns to them ad asks “who do you say that I am?” Simon answers

Matthew 16:16–18 (ESV)

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Jesus said on this rock, the confession that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God, upon this confession of faith, upon Jesus the church will be built. Jesus is our foundation, he is the chief cornerstone by which all churches are measured.

But Jesus says upon this rock, I will build my church! Jesus will build his church, Jesus is still calling people to belief and repentance. Jesus is the one who will ultimately build his church

Second we see in the book of Acts this value of multiplication.

Acts 6:7 (ESV)

And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts 9:31 (ESV)

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Acts 12:24 (ESV)

But the word of God increased and multiplied.

In the book of Acts, we see

when the word of God increases in the church Disciples are multiplied.

When the church is transformed by the Word of God, disciples are multiplied.

When the church is dependent on the Lord, disciples are multiplied

Why do we see this multiplication in the book of Acts?

When the word of God increases in the church, and church members are transformed by the word of God and the church is dependent on the Lord. The church will proclaim the Gospel, make disciples at home and across the world, causing multiplied growth.

What we see is a commitment from Jesus himself to build his church. In the book of Acts we see how the Lord builds his

The Word of God increases in the church

The church members are transformed by the Word of God

The church grows dependent on the Lord

The church proclaims the Gospel

In 2 Timothy 2:1-7 we see Paul explain to his disciple Timothy the commitment it takes to make disciples and multiply.

We need the

Devotion of a Soldier

Discipline of an Athlete

Diligence of a Farmer

2 Timothy 2:1–7 (ESV)

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

I. The Devotion of a Soldier

When Paul talks about the devotion of a soldier, he does so from a negative viewpoint and a positive viewpoint.

A. Negative Viewpoint

Paul says a good soldier does not get entangled with civilian pursuits. What is Paul talking about?

The Greek word for civilian here is bios, it means life. We get the word biology - the study of living organisms from this word. This word bios is interesting the way it is used in the New Testament, here are a couple of examples.

Luke 8:14 (ESV)

And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

Luke 15:12 (ESV)

And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

1 John 3:17 (ESV)

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

Paul is saying a good soldier does not become entangled with the pleasures of this world or consumed by this worlds goods. He is not distracted.

B. Positive Viewpoint

The reason the soldier does not get entangled with this world and its pleasures is because his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. The soldier has a devotion to please the one who is in charge, he is devoted to carrying out the orders of the Captain. All he does is aim to please the one.

II. The Discipline of an Athlete

I recently watched Greater, it is the story of Brandon Burlsworth, who was a walk on OL for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Brandon was told he would never start for the Razorbacks, but he didn’t accept no for an answer. He worked hard, showed Discipline, worked extra hours, went above and beyond what his coaches asked of him. By the end of his career Brandon Burlsworth was an All American OL because of his discipline.

Are you disciplined like Brandon Burlsworth, not to become and All American OL, but to become a citizen in the kingdom of God who knows the Word, who is tranformed by the word, dependent on the Lord and proclaiming his name among the peoples of little rock and across the world.

If you have given your life to Jesus, how has the Gospel reshaped your life? What is different? How much of a priority do you place on spiritual growth in your life? How much of a priority do you place on serving in the local church? Disicipling others? Sharing the gospel?

Paul says we need the Discipline of an athlete.

III. The Diligence of a Farmer

When you think of the farmer, he is diligent and works hard. He prepares the ground before planting. Then he plants, waters and cares for the crop and waits. He patiently waits for the harvest.

Do you show the hard work and diligence of a farmer?

Do you prepare the ground?

Do you plant, water, and care for the crops?

Are you patient when waiting for the harvest?

IV. We Need to Be Devoted, Disciplined and Diligent When It Comes to Multiplying Disciples

Paul in this passage is telling his disciple Timothy, when it comes to multiplying disciples you need to be devoted, disciplined and diligent. All this speaks to being intentional about discipleship.

Look at what Paul says, 2 Tim 2:2

2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

We see 4 generations of disciples here

Jesus to Paul

Paul to Timothy

Timothy to Faithful men

Faithful Men to others

Paul in his final words to Timothy, says do not lose sight of the mission of God - make disciples.

Timothy, you must Aim to please the One by being devoted to Jesus and his mission to make disciples.

Timothy, you must aim to please the one by being disciplined to study, be transformed and serve his church and make disciples.

Timothy, you must aim to please the one by being diligent, to prepare the field, plant, water, care and patiently wait for the harvest while you make disciples.

Timothy, aim to please the one, by being devoted, disciplined and diligent. But Timothy, you are not on your own and you can’t do this in your own power. “My child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus”.

Timothy the grace of God will strengthen you and the presence of Jesus will be with you through the power of the Spirit as you go and make disciples.

FE, you must Aim to please the One by being devoted to Jesus and his mission to make disciples.

FE, you must aim to please the one by being disciplined to study, be transformed and serve his church and make disciples.

FE, you must aim to please the one by being diligent, to prepare the field, plant, water, care and patiently wait for the harvest while you make disciples.

FE, aim to please the one, by being devoted, disciplined and diligent. But FE you are not on your own and you can’t do this in your own power. “My children, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus”.

FE the grace of God will strengthen you and the presence of Jesus will be with you through the power of the Spirit as you go and make disciples.