Sermon Tone Analysis

Last week we asked the question what is a disciple?

What we tend to think:

What the NT reality actually looks like:

How long does it take to teach someone all the commands of Jesus?

How long does it take to teach someone to observe all the commands of Jesus?

A lifetime- One life to a life for life- that is what a disciple looks like!

So, the next logical question- how do you make a disciple?

And is there a NT example of a local church doing it?

If we are going to spend our lives making disciples- its got to be biblical.

If it is biblical we should be able to find it in the Scriptures, not just the propositional truths, but those same truths being lived out in a local church.

The Thessalonian church is the NT church model of disciple making.

I believe you see in exact detail how this church obeyed the Great Commission and made disciples, and my proposition for you is that we should imitate them.

We should be like the Thessalonians in our efforts to make a disciple.

How did they do it?

How do you make a disciple?

I. Disciple-Making must start at the right place

II.

Disciple-Making must be bathed in prayer

III.

Disciple-Making requires that we win people to Christ through the gospel

Winning people to Christ through the gospel is the work of the power of God, not merely human efforts.

(Gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit.)

Without the power of God working through us all our efforts would be in vain.

We have been entrusted with the gospel not to please man, but to please God!

Salvation comes when we speak the words of the gospel!

(So we speak)

Speak the plain message of the Bible and let the power of God work in people’s hearts.

We do not give the gospel for the glory of people, but solely for the glory of God!

1 Thessalonians 2:6 (ESV)

6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others...

(Aside): Note about our good news testimonies- we do not give testimonies about the gospel to seek glory from people, either from you or from others!

All glory be to God who graciously uses us to reach people.

So why do we do good news testimonies?

To stir up one another to love and good works!

We are commanded to do this in Scripture.

It is an essential part of coming together as a body of believers.

I want those of you who have not engaged in disciple-making to hear the testimonies and say, “I want to do that.”

And I want those who are engaged in disciple making to continue to do it!

Sharing the gospel requires that you build redemptive relationships with people!

IV.

Disciple-Making requires that we follow the example of a spiritually mature person

Imitators- mimickers

Who do we imitate?

Us (Paul and his team of disciple-makers!) and of the Lord- imitate me as I imitate Christ.

Who are you really imitating?

Jesus- but you need to connect your life to another life for growth toward spiritual maturity.

V. Disciple-Making requires that we lead a less spiritually mature person

Example- mark that perfectly conforms to the thing that made the indentation

This is the cool part!

Who did the Thessalonians become examples to?

All the believers in Macedonia and Achaia!

(Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois), how is that possible?

Through spiritual reproduction!

They followed the great commission.

They won people to Christ through the gospel, they themselves had already follow someone and grown in spiritual maturity, so that they were ready to lead that new believer in Christ and teach them to observe all that Jesus had commanded them.

Look at what happened!

They worked Paul out of a job!

How do you make a disciple?

Follow One, Win One, Lead One

Our prayer is that everyone in this church would get involved in time in at least one area of the NT model!

How about you?