How To Be One and Make One
Disciple: Be One. Make One. • Sermon • Submitted
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· 28 viewsThis is a follow-up to last weeks sermon which answered the "Why?" of Discipleship. This serman will answer the How of Discipleship.
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Disciple: How To Be One and Make One!
Disciple: How To Be One and Make One!
Introduction - Last week I left you with a question, a convicting question (at least for me)...
As a Christian, I want you to answer yourself in a brutally honest way. I don’t want you to think about what you’ve accomplished in your past, I want an honest assessment of your walk with Jesus today. Here’s the question. How well would the church fulfill her mission from God to make disciples of all nations, if your present practice of discipleship were the practice of all Christians today?
After that I invited you to...
Invitation -
Main Idea
Confess to the Lord, right now if you have not obeyed him in this area of your Christian walk
Ask that He would give you the eyes to see what He can accomplish through your willingness to obey
Main Idea
Make a commitment to doing this, this year!
• I would like you, right now to write down three people you will prayerfully pursue to disciple.
• A family Member -
• A friend -
• A person at church -
But I also promised you that I would give you practical ideas an tools on how to disciple someone...
Last week I tried very hard to give you the “Why” of discipleship. In other words, “Why should I make disciples” and we looked at the Great Commission for the answer...
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.”
Matt 28:
And we see from this passage that Jesus let His disciples know that He is God and He has all authority and so they are wise to listen to Him and “observe all that He has commanded them...”
As believers, we all have different gifts and talents. We are all unique in the body of Christ; diversity is a great strength...
However, there isn’t a unique “Gift of Discipleship” left for a few people or the pastor to accomplish. No, Jesus and the whole of the Scriptures makes it abundantly clear that Christians are disciple-makers! No Christian gets a pass! To be Christian means you make disciples! And, by the way, this is a powerful barometer of our spiritual life!
So today and next week we are going to focus on how to accomplish this exceedingly important responsibility for every Christian. This week we will focus on the individual as disciple-maker, next week will be the church as a disciple-making machine!
So, there should be no question in our minds to day of our responsibility. We are to be ONE. We are to make ONE. But How do we accomplish this?
Main Idea - How to Fulfill your call to make disciples
When it comes to discipleship, the Apostle Paul was a master. We can easily get erroneous the idea the Paul as a loner, someone who did ministry on his own. A rugged individualist. Not so. When you read through Acts, as well as His letters, you can see he was often with one or more people! He was rubbing shoulders with them and, no doubt, discipling them!
Check this out...
PAUL’S MISSIONARY TRAVEL COMPANIONS
AQUILLA, ARISTARCHUS, BARNABAS, EPAPHRAS, GAIUS, JUSTUS, LUKE, MARCUS, ONESIMUS, PHILEMON, PRISCILLA, SECUNDUS, SILAS, SOPATER, TERTIUS, TIMOTHYTITUS, TROPHIMUS, TYCHICUS
ARISTARCHUS
BARNABAS
AQUILLA, ARISTARCHUS, BARNABAS, EPAPHRAS, GAIUS, JUSTUS, LUKE, MARCUS, ONESIMUS, PHILEMON, PRISCILLA, SECUNDUS, SILAS, SOPATER, TERTIUS, TIMOTHYTITUS, TROPHIMUS, TYCHICUS
EPAPHRAS
GAIUS
JUSTUS
CO-WORKERS & FELLOW PRISONERS & SUPPORTERS
LUKE
ANDONICHUS, APPHIA, ARCHIPPUS, CARPUS, DEMUS, EPAPHRODITUS, ERASTUS, LUCIUS, LYDIA, JASON, JUNIA, NYMPHUS, ONESIPHORUS, PHEBE, TYRANNUS, URBANE
APPHIA
MARCUS
ARCHIPPUS
CARPUS
ONESIMUS
DEMUS
And I do not believe for a minute that Paul “just hung out” with these people. I thing he was intentional and very purposed on following the Lord’s instructions to make disciples. He looked at people with eyes to see what they could be in Christ.
EPAPHRODITUS
PHILEMON
Wayne Muri did this for me and for this I am eternally grateful. He saw something in me that others didn’t see at the time. He invested in me and took a huge risk on me. I had very little training when Wayne asked me to become the Youth Pastor at LBC. I hadn’t finished my undergraduate degree not to mention seminary/graduate degree. I was relatively new to the faith. And yet he spent time with me, invested in me and eventually offered me an opportunity to become the Youth Pastor. I remember very clearly the day the church was to vote for me to come on staff as a pastor. There was an older gentleman and one a fellow youth worker, both friends of mine and Angie’s that stood up un the public meeting before the vote to express that they disagreed with me being put in the position of Youth Pastor. They both said I was a novice and that the church was laying hands on me too quickly. Perhaps they were right? Talk about humbling! They had every right to do what they did. But Wayne, by God’s grace, saw something in me that they didn’t see. Wayne saw what I could be. Wayne saw what Christ could do with a punk like me. Now, he didn’t just see it, he did something about it. He purposed to disciple me. I learned a ton going to seminary. I learned far, far more from Wayne daily investment in me.
ERASTUS
This is the relationship between Paul and his son-in-the-faith...
Timothy was one of the many of Paul’s disciples. And we get a glimpse of Paul’s heart and interaction with Timothy through Acts, but especially in the two letters he wrote him. 1 Timothy is more procedural on how to run a church. How it’s structured, leadership standards and so forth. His second letter to Timothy was far more personal and designed to disciple this young man as a person and as a pastor.
LUCIUS
PRISCILLA
SECUNDUS
SILAS
SOPATER
Just listen to the opening of his letter. Listen for how Paul is concerned for the spiritual welfare of His son-in-the-faith...
TERTIUS
TIMOTHYTITUS
9. LYDIA
10. JASON
11. JUNIA
12. NYMPHUS
13. ONESIPHORUS 14. PHEBE
TROPHIMUS
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 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. 6 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, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
15. TYRANNUS 16. URBANE
TYCHICUS
Just in these few opening verses you can feel Paul’s heart for Timothy. He is so concerned for him. He prays for him. He wants to be with him to encourage him and fill him with joy, not tears. He reminds him of his genuine and authentic faith, a faith that was passed not from his Greek, unbelieving father, but through his grandmother and mother. Paul affirms and encourages Timothy that he sees the same faith in him as well! He also takes the opportunity to remind him that God has gifted him in a particular way and he is responsible to cultivate that gift. And he also addresses his weakness (timidity) and uses Theology to get Timothy’s thinking back on track.
Folks, this is personal, one on one discipleship! Look at the ten things Paul does for Timothy!
1. He has a heart for him!
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
2. He is thankful and prays to God for him!
2 Tim
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.
Prays for him!
3. Prays for him!
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.
3. He has empathy for him!
4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.
4. Encourages him regarding his sincere faith!
Reminds him of his sincere faith -
5 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.
5. Reminds him of his gifting!
6 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,
Reminds him of his gifting -
6. Addresses the areas needed for growth!
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Addresses the areas needed for growth -
But Paul doesn’t stop there! Look at what he says in verses 8-18...
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. 15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.
2 tim
7. Teaches him the reality of suffering and the motivation to get through it (verse 8-12)
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
2 Tim
7.
8. Challenges him to follow the sound words of Christ
13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy
9. Teaches him the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
2 tim
10. Teaches him the realities of ministry - not all will stay, but some will!
15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.
The Top Ten realities of discipleship that Paul continues to pour into his disciple, Timothy!
When I read this, I was blown away with all the practical truths Paul was encouraging Timothy with. I mean, you could take this list of eleven things out of this letter and mature yourself in your own walk and then find someone who needs to grow as well!
Well, that is exactly what Paul wanted Timothy to do! He didn’t want him just to hold on to it for himself, no! He wanted him to pass it on and invest in others just as he was being invested in. Look at the next chapter...
1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 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.
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.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 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. 6 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, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. 15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus. 1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 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. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. 14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
So what we see here is a four fold progression of intentional discipleship...
1. From Jesus (and others) to Paul
2. From Paul Timothy
3. From Timothy to Faithful men
4. From faithful men to others.
Simple, clean, challenging and the only process God has given.
Listen to the personal nature of this important letter found in our Scriptures...
And so this begs the question, WHAT is to be passed on?
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 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. 6 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, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
What is the goal of discipleship? In Tony Payne’s book called “The Vine Project”...
“The goal was for them (the disciples) not only to know what their teacher knew, but also to be like their teacher, to walk in his ways.”
His young “Son in the Faith” was given to timidity and fear and so Paul worked very hard to bring him along!
“A disciple is someone engaged in transformational learning.”
“Transformational Knowledge”
Remember the Great Commission?
This letter is a personal note to Timothy. It is a reflection of Paul’s heart of discipleship and investment in Timothy.
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.”
Matt 28:
Two things disciple makers are to focus on....
First - Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…Baptism is the formal identification of a believer and the entry point into the church. In the Lord’s wisdom, baptism is important, in part because it assumes evangelism! In order to baptize someone, there needs to be preliminary work done, namely the evangelistic process...
“Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Second - “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” To “observe” is transformation learning!
Observe = tereo (τηρέω), “to keep, to guard,” “to be kept in charge,” “hold, observe, preserve, watch.”
W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 97.
Do you understand the point of what Jesus is saying? His is not saying, simply to teach them information. No, although that certainly is part of it! He is telling His disciples that when they are making disciples, they are to teach them to OBSERVE!
So, in the handing down process laid out in 2 Timothy (and ) we can assume two main categories, Baptism and Teaching. And if we keep these two ideas in mind, we will begin to answer the question of how do I be a disciple and how do I make a disciple.
First and foremost in our Vision Statement we must all look to ourselves and we must assume nothing. What I mean to say is, we must be sure that we are ONE. In order to be one we must be sure we have crossed the line of faith and that we have repented of our sin and come to the conclusion that there is salvation in no other name under heaven than Jesus Christ!
Church attendance, good works, being raised in a Christian home are nice things, but none of them guarantee entrance into heaven! There is only one way into heaven and that is exclusively through Christ and Christ alone! Are you a genuine Christian? A follower of Jesus Christ? Are you BORN AGAIN? And if so, have you been baptized? In order to be a disciple-maker, you must be a disciple.
But entry into the church isn’t the stopping point, it’s just the glorious beginning! For too long many people have become baby Christians only to stay infant or toddler Christians ad infinitum! This should not be the case in Christianity! And it will not be the case here at ABC! We are embarking on becoming a church that pursues discipleship for everyone. And you, disciple, need to be part of the solution! Christianity and passivity are mutually exclusive. In other words, every born-again believer in Jesus Christ has a responsibility to grow in Christlikeness!
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—
18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
This is just a cursory survey of the scriptures that clearly demonstrates you and I have a biblical responsibility to GROW! We cannot be passive God! We cannot be Apathetic about His ways! We dare not be lax in His love!
So, the first step in being an effective disciple-maker is to be a growing disciple! And I will tell you, this is a life-long process that will not end for you in this life. You are either growing for Christ or shrinking from Christ.
Let me ask you, what are you doing to “put yourself in the way of Christlike growth?”
Process - Be FAT
Faithful - Faithful in the small things. You must do the small things to obtain the large...
Available - Life on life...
Give a process...
Teachable - Constantly growing, constantly learning! (Show them books on table…)
As your “disciple” cup fills you have a marvelous opportunity to pour your life into the life of another. The irony is that if you do not take what is in your cup and pour it into the life of another, that which is in your cup begins to spoil and rot. You will only grow in Christlikeness when you are engaged in making disciples. Perhaps you are feeling stuck in your walk and can’t figure out why the initial joy in your salvation has ebbed away? Maybe your prayer life is cold and reading the bible is dry and unrewarding? Are you involved in making a disciple for Jesus? Yes, it is hard. Yes, it is messy! Yes, it is costly! Yes, it is amazing and wonderful to see growth and change in the lives of others.
My wife had the privilege of leading a 19 year old young woman to Christ many years ago...
When I am active in obeying the Lord and making disciples, the whole of my Christian walk is more vibrant, more holy and righteous, more purposed and more filled with joy and hope! This is God’s plan! When you disciple, you will grow as a disciple. When you do not, you will stagnate and begin to stink!
So now that I am confident that I am a disciple, how do I disciple?
How do I disciple? Well, we can certainly learn form the very practical pattern that Paul uses with Timothy! Let’s review the ten steps I gave earlier with you and me in mind.
If I want to make a disciple...
1. Have a heart for them!
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
2. Be thankful and pray to God for them!
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.
3. Pray for them!
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.
3. Have empathy for them!
4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.
4. Encourage them regarding their sincere faith!
5 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.
5. Remind them of their gifting!
6 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,
6. Address the areas needed for growth! Be lovingly bold!
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
7. Teach them the reality of suffering and the motivation to get through it (verse 8-12)
8. Teaches him the reality of suffering and the motivation to get through it (verse 8-12)
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
8. Challenge them to follow the sound words of Christ
13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
9. Teach them the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
10. Teach them the realities of ministry - not all will stay, but some will!
Be Intentional - Do the ask, don’t let opportunities pass you by
15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.
Do you notice what is not in this list?
Berate them
Lord your position over them
Judge them and make them feel inferior
Lecture them
Be Structured (yet flexible) - When (goals), where (consistent place), how (tools), and never forget the why!
Be Available -
Become frustrated and quit on them
Be Wise - Boundaries (you are not their Messiah)
Be Ready - You might get hurt
Be Faithful -
Be Humble - You will never know everything!
Be Persistent - "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense." - Winston Churchill
Jesus invested in Paul. Paul invested in Timothy. Timothy invested in the Faithful. The Faithful invested in you...
Who are you investing in?
First yourself! - BE ONE
Then someone else! - MAKE ONE
This is our call! It is not an option, but rather a glorious privilege!
Imagine, the God of the Bible, the creator of all that is, the Alpha and the Omega, the greatest being that has ever been has set His sights on you, saved you and now wants to use you for a very special task. A task so important that the very future of the church is depending on the church today to fulfill her responsibility. God wants you to Make Disciples!
Imagine with me this morning if each one of us here who name the name of Christ determined to give our lives to making disciples? Can you imagine what our church will be like at the end of 2018 and beyond.
The question is what steps will you take today to start or grow in this essential task!
250-300 words per page = 50,000 - 60,000 words total
Be Prayerful - Pray and ask the Lord to lay someone on your heart -
Be Intentional - Do the ask, don’t let opportunities pass you by
Be Structured (yet flexible) - When (goals), where (consistent place), how (tools), and never forget the why!
Be Wise - Boundaries (you are not their Messiah)
Be Ready - You might get hurt
Be Humble - You will never know everything!
Be Persistent - "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense." - Winston Churchill