A. REVIEW
1. Just before Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, He issued to all His disciples -- the Church U __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ -- the G __ __ __ __ C __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and m __ __ __ d __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to o __ __ __ everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
2. In order to equip His disciples to be able to fulfill His commission to them, our Lord: a. promised the mighty p __ __ __ __ of the Holy Spirit ( Acts 1:7-8 ), who b. demonstrated that mighty power before people from all over the world on the Day of Pentecost ( Acts 2:1-41 ) in order to usher in the Church P __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ --the local church -- which Christ had previously promised to build on the foundation of the confession made by Simon Peter (Matthew 16:13-19 ).
3. The apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:11-16 set forth the primary mission of the local church in the fulfillment of Christ's Great Commission:
"...the e __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of the s __ __ __ __ __ for the work of the ministry, for the e __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of the b __ __ __ of Christ, till we all come to the u __ __ __ __ of the f __ __ __ __ and the k __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of God, to the measure of the stature of the f __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of Christ...."
4. First, we asked ourselves: "What's a saint?"
I like author Frederick Buechner's definition: A saint is a "life-giver," one through whose life the power and the glory of God are made manifest, even though the saint himself may be standing up to his ankles in mud.
5. Last week we asked ourselves: "What's a disciple?"
a. We eliminated the following as "automatic" synonyms for "disciple:"
(1) c __ __ __ __ __ __,
(2) b __ __ __ __ __ __ __, and -- perhaps surprisingly --
(3) C __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
In our Lord's terrifying conclusion to His Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew 7:21-27 ) He prophecied that, on the Day of Judgment, not everyone who expects to enter the kingdom of heaven will be permitted to do so, including a group of people who might very well have been converts, believers in Jesus, and "nominal" Christians.
A disciple is former convert, a true believer, and an authentic Christian who goes beyond belief to o __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __. Such a person fits the description described by Jesus in v.24-25: he h __ __ __ __ the W __ __ __ of God and then o __ __ __ __ it.
b. Last week we began to assemble a "composite portrait" of a disciple, using word pictures painted by Christ Himself and then the apostle Paul. Here was how Jesus portrayed the disciple.
(1) A disciple is one who a __ __ __ __ __ in His Word.
John 8:31-32
(2) A disciple is one who o __ __ __ __ all that Christ has commanded.
Matthew 28:19-20
You might recall from our study of the Book of Judges the three "obedience factors" which God insists upon:
- t __ __ __ __ __ obedience;
- c __ __ __ __ __ __ __ obedience; and
- e __ __ __ __ __ __ __ obedience.
(3) A disciple is one who d __ __ __ to self and f __ __ __ __ __ __ Christ daily.
Luke 9:23-24
(4) A disciple is one who l __ __ __ __ other disciples.
John 13:34-35
6. So we now pick up where we left off last week, with Paul's contributions to our composite portrait of a disciple.
B. Paul on Discipleship
1. A disciple is one who w __ __ __ __ with God. THIS CAN BE OBSERVED BY OTHERS.
Colossians 2:5-7 [ NKJV ]
For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
This steadfast, rooted, built-up and established faith stands in stark contrast to the picture of the immature believer -- the believer who is not a disciple -- presented in the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Hebrews 5:12-14 [ NIV ]
...though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
2. A disciple is one in whom the Word of Christ l __ __ __ __, and this spills over into that person's w __ __ __ __ and d __ __ __ __.
Colossians 3:16-17 [ NIV ]
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
ref: Matthew 12:33-35
3. A disciple is one who c __ __ __ __ __ __ to the w __ __ __ of discipleship.
Colossians 1:28-29 [ NIV ]
We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labour, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 [ NLT ]
...be strong with the special favour God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others.
ref: Romans 12:3-8
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
4. A disciple is one who I __ __ __ __ __ __ his or her w __ __ __ __.
Colossians 4:5-6 [ NIV ]
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
ref: Romans 12:1-2
Matthew 5:13-16
1 Peter 3:15
C. RESPONSE
1. Ron Kincaid in his book, A Celebration of Disciple-Making, sees the spiritual growth in a local church which transforms it from being a decent place to worship and/or to hear some good preaching to a dynamic body of disciples which is fully engaged in Christs's purpose for it occur in four-step cycles.
a. Cycle 1: P __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
GOAL: The Word of God is proclaimed to all.
MEANS: P __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
b. Cycle 2: I __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
GOAL: Individual disciples are grounded in sound doctrine; their Spiritual gifts are discovered and developed.
MEANS: T __ __ __ __ __ __ __
c. Cycle 3: R __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
GOAL: Individual disciples are placed into intimate proximity with other disciples for the purpose of nurture, sharing, care-giving, accountability, encouragement, and prayer.
MEANS: S __ __ __ __ G __ __ __ __ __
P __ __ __ __ __ Partners
d. Cycle 4: C __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
GOAL: Disciples in the "real world" are proclaiming the Gospel in word and deed:
(1) w __ __ __ __ __ __ with God openly;
(2) indwelt by the W __ __ __ of C __ __ __ __ __;
(3) fully c __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ to the work of the ministry;
(4) having a discernible I __ __ __ __ __ on his or her world.
MEANS: Bearing witness to Christ in everything that is said and done. This must start at the f __ __ __ __ __ level, and only then move outward.
2. Two Questions Must be asked by Each of Us.
QUESTION 1: "I am currently living like a disciple, or am I really 'only' a believer?"
QUESTION 2: "What has to change in my life that would move me toward authentic discipleship?"
3. Next comes the sometimes painful but always rewarding process of:
a. c __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __,
b. r __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __,
c. "p __ __ __ __ __ __ o __ __" the "old man," and
d. "p __ __ __ __ __ __ o __" Christ.
ref: 1 John 1:9
Colossians 3:1-16
4. In order for a local church to become a communion sanctorm, it must be made up of individual believers who are growing spiritually, developing toward discipleship, becoming more and more like Christ. It is the responsibility of the church leadership to provide the framework for the proper balance of worship, nurture, and outreach to -- with the power of the Holy Spirit and by the grace of God -- produce balanced and fully equipped disciples, all to the glory of God!
ref: 1 Thessalonians 1:3-10
Ephesians 4:15-16
D I S C U S S I O N G U I D E
1. Read 1 Thessalonians 1:3-10.
a. Paul commends the Christians at Thessolonica for their:
(1) work of faith;
(2) labor of love; and
(3) patience of hope.
Describe what form(s) each of these three might take in a local church like C.O.S.
(1) work of faith
(2) labor of love
(3) patience of hope
b. Read 2 Peter 3:9-14. How should Christians' hope of Christ's parousia ( 2nd Coming ) affect the way they live their lives?
2. Read Colossians 4:5-6.
a. What might constitute "wisdom" in the way a disciple acts toward "outsiders?"
b. Describe conversation that is "full of grace" and / or "seasoned with salt."
c. Both Paul and Peter write that disciples should be prepared to "answer" others. In a specific sense they are referring to what Bible scholars call "apologetics," which has been defined as:
"..a systematic, argumentative discourse in defense of the divine origin and the authority of the Christian faith."
More broadly defined, Christian apologetics is the "effective communication of one's personal relationship with Jesus Christ." For a genuine disciple of Jeus Christ, aplogetics would have to include the explanation and defense of a uniquely Christian world view.
What should be the foundational basis of every disicple's apologetic?
3. What's a "convert?"
4. What is necessary in order for a "convert" to become a "disciple?"
5. What can a local church do to help in this process?
6. Mention was made in yesterday's sermon of the need for Small Groups in disciple-making. on p.8 of last week's Sermon Notes the model for church growth presented by Peter Wagner was considered. It included three "assemblies" in the local church: celebrations, congregations, and cells. Wagner teaches that full participation in all three is necessary for balanced, fully-equipped discipleship. What do you think?
7. Is the Sermon Topic Discusssion Group a "Small Group" in the contemporary understanding of that term? Why, or why not?
8. Read Ephesians 5:1-17.
a. List the three "walks" mentioned in this passage.
b. Which is the most difficult for you? Why?
c. How could a Small Group help you in this particular "walk?"
9. Read Ephesians 4:16 in several translations. In your own words, write the "main truth" of this verse.
10. How can a local church accomplish this?
