Christianity is Discipleship!
To be a Christian is to be a disciple.
Chapter 1 - Foundational discipleship principles
1. Pursue Discipleship
• Who are you discipling?
• Who is discipling you?
2. Know the Gospel
Build reminders into your daily rhythm & routine
The more you rehearse the gospel, the easier it will be to share.
3. Pursue Relationships
You can’t just come Sunday mornings and think you’re on the path of discipleship. True discipleship requires deepening relationships. One of the best ways to pursue relationships here at Fellowship is Home Groups
4. Get a Leaf Blower/Stoke the Fire
If you’re a believer, there’s a fire in you that came in when you were saved.
What will you do this week to Stoke the fire?
5. Accept Suffering
Suffering is part of the picture of being a disciple of Jesus.
1 Peter 4:12-16
6. Remember Your Calling
He began a good work in you
He will sustain you through every trial
And He will complete His work in you
7. Remember You’re Secure!
He saved you - He is sanctifying you - and He will glorify you when He returns.
He is a faithful God
8. Theology Matters
Don’t shy away from learning theology
You cannot know Jesus better if you’re not growing in what you know about Jesus
9. Your Community Matters
Who you associate with matters.
The group of people you spend time with will influence you greatly (Proverbs 13:20, 1 Corinthians 15:33).
10. Be Strong in Grace
Timothy didn’t need more grace. He needed to be committed to and have full confidence in the grace that had already been poured out [on him] richly through Jesus Christ
(#11-14 are how to be strong in grace)
11. A Disciple Disciples.
One of the things a pastor does is systematic, careful, intentional theological training.
Raising up & training pastors/elders & deacons is in view here. It’s one of the things a pastor does
It’s also the pattern of all believers
Colossians 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom teaching and
admonishing one another…
12. A Dedicated Soldier
A soldier is focused, willing to suffer, and prepared for endurance.
13. A Disciplined Athlete
To be a great disciple, you must have great spiritual discipline. You must train with great determination.
14. Hard Working Farmer
Farmers work hard. They have to toil every day.
It’s difficult, often thankless work.
Discipleship is not some great mystery that you just can’t figure out.
It takes thought, hard work, discipline, and commitment.
A radical obedience to a passionate pursuit of knowing God and making Him known.
The final four elements speak to
–– The Disciple’s Motivation
15. The Preeminent Christ
Remember Jesus Christ and what He did for you in salvation. Keep him in first place. He must always be THE priority
16. The Powerful Word
God’s truth goes forth in God’s power.
Paul is in chains - the gospel is still going forth.
He is chained - God’s powerful Word is not.
17. The Purpose Eternal
God’s plan to save us stretches from eternity past to eternity future. Paul has full confidence in the proclamation of the gospel.
18. The Promise in Jesus
Salvation is dying to self
Suffering for His sake
Remembering that God is faithful in salvation
He is faithful to save those who trust Him.
He is faithful to His promise of condemnation for those who do not trust Him.
Spurgeon: “The same sun which melts wax hardens clay. And the same gospel which melts some persons to repentance hardens others in their sins.”
In Conclusion
2 Peter 1:10-11 – Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and choosing sure; for in doing these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
These elements must be every Christian’s daily pursuit!
Think on these things
Pursue these elements of faithful discipleship.
May God’s Word bring deeper sanctification to your life as you pursue Him in faithful, obedient discipleship.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob
