On Being Discipling Disciples...

Ok, here are some post-sermon notes to follow up yesterday's message. 

If you weren't able to be with us yesterday, or would like to share the message with someone, 

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON VIDEO PAGE

This whole “Discipleship thing” really gets me excited. To think about everyone in our church caring for each other and deeply committed to each other’s spiritual growth.... MAN!!! This is such a fantastic thought. 

Already, I’ve heard people talking about getting together for discipling relationships. 

(P.S. - the “One-to-One” book is already checked out. Here’s a link to find it on Amazon)

As I mentioned in the sermon, you’ll find all of the Scripture passages I referenced in the sermon here in this blog, along with the “what to do” steps in discipling relationships. 

There’s also a few book recommendations at the end if you’re looking for a book to read together and discuss. 

As always - if you need any additional clarification or would like some help figuring out how to put any of this into action, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. 

Soli Deo Gloria!
Rob Signs

What is Discipleship?

First and foremost - Discipleship is following Jesus

Mark 1:16-18 – Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

This following was also an impact on those left behind:

Mark 1:19-20 – And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰ And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. 

• To be a Christian is to be a Disciple. 

“Disciple” simply means follower. 

When we use the term in a Christian context, we mean a follower of Jesus Christ.

Webster’s definition says:

• full loyalty and support to 

devoted allegiance to the teachings

zealous attachment

• The goal of a disciple is Spiritual Growth. 

Growth is one of God’s blessings

Psalm 92:12-13 – The righteous flourish... in the courts of our God. 

Proverbs is about how to grow and how to increase in wisdom (be with wise people)

Matthew 13:31-32 – “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. ³² It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree

Discipleship & Spiritual Growth go hand in hand.

Our starting point is 

Matthew 28:16-20 – Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Go therefore and make disciples

Go - as you are going...

• Discipleship isn’t just following Jesus ourselves –– It’s also helping others to follow Jesus. 

1 John 4:19-21 – We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. ²¹ And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 

• We love our brothers and sisters best when we help them to follow Jesus better. 

Discipleship Thoughts:

1. There Is Influence & Change

Life is all about change. We’re all constantly changing (not just physically as we grow older).

Change is largely due to external influence.

And we have influence over those we’re around as well. 

Scripture acknowledges this:

1 Peter 4:4 – they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;

The world presses in on us

Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind

2. Be Others Oriented

All of our decisions when we’re at church are an opportunity to be Others Oriented.

The Bible consistently points to this “others” dynamic. 

Moses gave the 10 Commandments in Deuteronomy 5, then in

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise

Discipleship is about teaching in the ebb and flow of daily life. 

Paul Discipled Timothy and instructed him to disciple others:

2 Timothy 2:2 – 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.

Do you see the multi-generational approach?

This is to be the pattern of church life. 

The core of Jesus’ ministry was personal, intimate engagement with a small group of men for three years. 

Mark 3:14 – And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach

Paul the discipler wrote: 

Colossians 1:28-29 – Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. ²⁹ For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. 

What was the end goal?

2:2 – that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ

We should all be radically, intensely dedicated to this happening. 

When we look again at the set of questions that began this series:

• How am I reflecting holiness?

• How am I contributing to unity?

• How am I showing love?

both in my personal life

and as part of the Body?

Discipleship is one of the main ways that the Bible answers that question:

• HOW DO I DISCIPLE?

The specific details are different with every relationship. 

The Big-Picture Outline is the same. 

Even if you were never formally discipled, you CAN disciple someone else. The best way to learn how to do it is to do it. 

Step 1

1. Initiate

Be intentional. 

You can initiate in either direction. 

It’s not just an informal occasional thing.

Who should I initiate with?

• Parents - start with your children

• Spouses - Husbands, disciple your wives.

• The Lost -

A great pattern:

establish a relationship

share the gospel

call them to repentance

see them baptized into membership

continue to walk with them as they grow

• Usually - find another church member.

We have a greater responsibility to those

that are members of our church. 

We have covenanted with them specifically. 

We sit under the same teaching

We have the same statement of faith

We run into each other at least weekly.

• Same Gender - for so many obvious reasons.

• Age - normally an older, more mature believer will disciple someone younger, but it’s not a hard and fast rule. More important - someone farther along disciples someone younger in their faith.

• Teachable - they need to be teachable.

1 Peter 5:5 – “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 

• They’ll Keep the cycle going

the goal is teach others who will then teach others, and others, etc.

• Schedules work together

This will likely be the biggest obstacle.

You’ll have to make effort and sacrifice, but sometimes schedules just don’t work. 

• One vs. Several

Depending on various things, you might disciple one person, or be involved in a group discipleship option. 

Example: There are 3 Men’s Discipleship  - options at Fellowship

This isn’t a “formal program” that you sign up for.

It’s something that we should all be doing as a part of the regular ebb-and-flow of our lives as members of the church. 

The Christian life was meant to be lived together in this way. 

I do?

2. Spend Time together - engage

Invite them into your life

Much of discipling is just doing what you normally do and having meaningful conversations along the way

(Jesus did this)

2 Timothy 3:10-11 – You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, ¹¹ my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

Timothy had a front-row seat to Paul’s life

And what an education in following Christ that would have been, right?

3. Invest/Commit Time

Not just time this week or next week. 

Think long-term thing

4. Be Word Centered

Talk about sports, hobbies, family, etc.

But also talk about the sermon Sunday

Talk about what God is teaching you

Read the Bible together

One-to-One Discipleship book

Read a book together. Here are some good books to choose from. 

If you’re looking for something more focused in a particular direction, get in touch with me and I’ll help you find something. 

5. Pray

Pray for each other

Pray with each other

Talk through what you should be praying for

6. Love

John 13:34 – just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another

Our love for Christ will result in love for the Body, which means which means love for individuals

Here are the Questions we all need to contemplate:

• where am I in this process?

• how might I intentionally structure my life 

  so that this becomes an active part?

• who should I ask?

  either: disciple-er or disciple-ee

We need to be, as Philippians 1:27, commands: standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. 

May we be a church of believers committed to Christ and committed to each other.