Sermon Notes February 15, 2015 FBCam
Jesus Christ: Disciple-Maker
How Does a Church Make Disciples? Acts 1:1-8
Last week we discussed “How Can I make disciples?”
Today we want to look at the corporate aspect of disciple making by answering the question, “How does the Church Make Disciples?”
The Church Makes Disciples through a Corporate, Intentional Decision
Matthew 28:19-20 is BOTH individual and corporate
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”” (Acts 1:8, ESV)
Acts 1:1-8 provides the Bridge Between the APOSTLES and US.
Notice the introduction to Acts.
Luke, the author of Acts is writing to a man named Theopholis. From the sound of his name he is likely a Roman official and one whom Luke was helping to become a disciple of Jesus. Luke wrote the gospel of Luke to explain the things that Jesus did and said. The second book (Acts) is a follow-up of Luke with an explanation of how the Apostles completed the task that Jesus gave them.
This introduction to Acts includes the KEY VERSE for ACTS = Acts 1:8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”” (Acts 1:8, ESV)
This is exactly what the Apostles did. They carried the gospel to the known world and made disciples.
ACTS PROVES that the Great Commission is for the CHURCH.
Aubrey Malphurs describes the obedience of the Apostles, and the fact that the Great Commission applies to all of us: "The book of Acts makes it very clear that the disciples took on the primary leadership role in the early church as apostles…and their mission, in turn, becomes the church's mission. What Jesus gave to them as disciples, he gives to all his disciples." (Strategic Disciple Making, 16)
The ramifications: A Disciple Making church will sacrifice personal preferences and personal comfort to obey the Great Commission.
The Church Makes Disciples Through Preaching and Pastoral Leadership
(Ephesians 4:11–13, ESV) “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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,”
Apostles and Prophets were foundational (Eph 2:20)
Pastor/Teacher and Evangelists remain to equip the church
The body is built up through the teaching of the Word. The TEACHING of the Word helps us mature as disciples of CHRIST John 8:31 “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,”
Paul sent Timothy to a CHURCH (1 Corinthians 4:17, ESV) “That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.”
The Church Makes Disciples Through Personal Faithfulness.
“I urge you, then, be imitators of me.” (1 Corinthians 4:16, ESV)
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1, ESV)
Can you say “follow me?” Admittedly, this is hard because we all know our weaknesses, our faults and our sinful past. But the question is are you living a life of commitment to Christ right now. Following doesn’t mean do what I did in the past. It means go where I am going in the future!
None of us are perfect
None of us have an uncheckered past
“Follow me” is said with humility
Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
John MacArthur says it this way. “You need to tell the person you are discipling, “I want you to follow me as I follow Christ.” You don’t say it proudly, you say it humbly, understanding your own weakness. And your example will be a great encouragement, because a perfect person would be too hard to follow. (John MacArthur, “The Masters Plan for the Church,” 64)
The Church Makes Disciples Through the Christian Home.
Paul’s relationship with Timothy is a great example of the importance of the Christian home. Paul trained Timothy. He regarded him as “a son” (Philippians 2:22). But before Paul ever knew Timothy, his mother and grandmother taught him to love God, and Paul recognizes the irreplaceable impact that made in young Timothy’s life.
2 Timothy 1:5-6 “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. 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,”
Tim FIRST LEARNED at home
Paul BUILT upon that foundation
AT Faith Bible Church, we embrace the importance of discipleship that takes place in the home. One of our Values states is about the “Family: We are passionate about strengthening our children and young people to become mature Disciples of Christ.”
And through the years, we have seen many examples of how godly training in the home produces godly lives, and some who become Pastors and missionaries. The following list is people who are now in full time Christian ministry that got their training through moms and dads who were part of Faith Bible Church. I’ve limited this list to pastors and missionaries, but it could be broadened to include the many who are faithfully serving the Lord here or another place.
Tim and Jill are missionaries in KENYA. Tim is the son of Ken/ Diane and Jill is the daughter of Dick and Janet.
We have a couple serving in a limited access country. He is the son of Lou and Marge, she is the daughter of Dick and Janet.
Kevin and Jeanine serve the Lord among INTERNATIONAL students in NYC JEANIE is the daughter of Bob and Marianne
Nate and Kate serve in the CZECK REPUBLIC. NATE is the son of Tony and Gale
Sarah Singer serves needy children in INNER CITY LYNCHBURG She is the daughter of Gil and Sandi
Brian and Pamela. He is the ASST PASTOR, of an inner city church in York, PA and the son of Craig and Faye
Scott and Lisa. Lisa is a PASTORS WIFE, PA serving in inner city Philadelphia. LISA is the daughter of Frank and Susan.
Steve and Katie. Steve is a YOUTH PASTOR and the son of Bob and Barbara
Faith Bible Church is honored to have so many serving as pastors and missionaries. We want many more!
We are committed to encouraging the Christian home and providing excellent children’s ministries. Sometimes the scope of those ministries escapes us.
The Church Makes Disciples Through Mutual Edification and Spiritual Gifts
COLOSSIANS 2:6-7 “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
“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.” (2 Timothy 2:1–2, ESV) FOUR GENERATIONS
Paul
Timothy
Faithful men (taught by Timothy)
Others (those that the “faithful men” will teach)
Making Disciples is for EVERYONE
“You may feel that you don’t know much. Find someone who knows less than you do and tell him what you know. Find womeone who know more than you do and listen to him. Teach and be taught. P pour my heart into the people I disciple, and I learn from others. All of us have to be in that flow. We’re not to be isolated we’re a chain all linked together” (MacArthur, 63)
“Just Stay One Chapter Ahead” (Victory Church, Manila) “Our church’s process of equipping and empowering young disciples to minister has developed into its current form simply because we believe that anybody making any porgress with God should be making disciples.... “
“Take what you’ve learned and share it with someone else!” (FBC)
The Church Makes Disciples Through Relationships with non-Christians
After ZACCHEAUS’ believed: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”” (Luke 19:10, ESV)
“Discipleship begins with non-believers” (Steve Murrell, Wikichurch, 56).
CONCLUSION: Discipleship is how we pass on our faith
Not a 50 YARD DASH
Not even a MARATHON
The Christian life is a RELAY RACE
Takes a team. The CHURCH is the team
Individual excellence helps, but the CHURCH must work together
WE must successfully PASS the BATON
