Win 1 - Disciple 1 Series

“WIN 1: DISCIPLE 1” Acts 8:26-40

FBCF – 1/2/22

Jon Daniels

INTRO – You want to know how our church will, without a doubt, grow numerically & spiritually? Not some newfangled church growth plan, or some new book that’s been written, or some new strategy that no one’s ever thought of. It’s not a matter of traditional or contemporary worship styles. Or whether the pastor wears a coat & tie or blue jeans. Or being cooler or more cutting edge than other churches. This church will grow when we do 2 things: 1) Win lost people to Jesus. 2) Disciple saved people to grow in Jesus. If you want to see this church grow, do those 2 things.

- Don’t expect the Pastor & staff to be the only ones who do those things – YOU do them.

- Don’t expect other more mature, more committed believers to do them – You do them.

Can you imagine the excitement that we’d experience if we all started doing those 2 things? Imagine what this service would be like today if we were doing those 2 things! Imagine what this church would look like! Imagine the excitement:

- If this past week, we had been out in the community sharing Christ w/ the lost

- If there were people here today who were brought to church by a Christian friend who had witnessed to them this past week

- If there were people here today to make their public profession of faith b/c a Christian friend had led them to Christ this past week

- If, when the invitation is given, Christ-followers would step out into the aisle, bringing a friend w/ them to make their profession of faith

- If lost teenagers were here w/ friends who had told them about Jesus at school, or on the ballfield, or at cheerleader practice, or on the bus on the way to a ballgame, or while they were hanging out on Friday night

Man! Wouldn’t you be excited? Wouldn’t you be encouraged? Wouldn’t you want to be a part of something like that?

Well, you can. It can start today w/ YOU!

EXPLANATION – Acts 8:26-40

Need to define some terms as we start this “Discipleship 101” series & this sermon, “Win 1 – Disciple 1.”

EVANGELISM – euangelion – Can simply mean “the Gospel.” Or it can also mean the activity of telling that news to others. That’s the “Win 1” part.

DISCIPLESHIP – The Gk word for “disciple” is mathetes – student, follower, adherent. So, the process of discipleship, or “making disciples” (Matthew 28:19) is when we intentionally come together to help one another be more devoted, more passionate, more serious followers of Jesus Christ. That’s the “Disciple 1” part.

The two go hand-in-hand. Can’t have one w/out the other. They’re inseparable.

- Lead people to faith in Christ (evangelism)

- Help them grow in their walk w/ Christ (discipleship)

- As they grow in their walk w/ the Lord (discipleship), they will lead others to faith in Christ (evangelism)

- Process continues on & on as long as we are alive.

APPLICATION – As Christ-followers, we must witness to others about Jesus, & disciple others in their walk w/ Jesus.

STEPS FOR WINNING & DISCIPLING:

BE OBEDIENT – v. 26-29 – The foundation of the life of the Christ-follower is obedience. We obey the call of God on our lives to accept Christ as Savior. But that’s just the beginning of a life of obedience.

- Baptism – step of obedience followed by a lifetime of obedience.

One of 1st things we see in Philip is his immediate obedience to God.

- Angel said “Go” – Philip went

- Holy Spirit said “Go” – Philip went – “ran”

Are you walking so closely to the Lord that you can hear Him when He says, “Go”? Another reason discipleship is so important so we will be growing in our walk w/ the Lord so we will KNOW when He speaks, so we CAN hear Him when He speaks, & so we can OBEY Him when He speaks.

- Get your heart right

- Make yourself available

- Get in the right position & the right place – Hard to witness to lost people if you’re not intentionally around them.

- Listen & GO!

Evangelist D.L Moody once asked a man about his salvation. Reply: “That’s none of your business.” Moody: “Oh yes, it is my business!”

- It is EVERY Christ-follower’s business to be obedient to the commands of God to evangelize the lost & disciple the saved!

ENGAGE THE PERSON – v. 30-31 – We don’t normally witness & disciple from a distance.

- Sure, Gospel is shared from this pulpit. Discipleship does happen from this pulpit. Corporate worship & preaching of the Word are necessary parts of our walk w/ Christ.