Discipleship: The People Connection

Discipleship: The People Connection June 8, 2022 Discipleship: The People Connection • Without Relationships True Discipleship Is Not Possible • Discipleship Is More Than Just Information And Knowledge In Order To Make And Become Disciples:  There Has To Be A Connection  There Has To Be Relationship Discipleship: The People Connection True Discipleship Is About Relationship • Matthew 4:19 (NIV) — 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” •“Effective disciple-makers do not exclude formal instruction, but they understand its limitations.” •Putman, J. (2010). Real-Life Discipleship: Building Churches that Make Disciples (p. 48). NavPress. Discipleship: The People Connection •Discipleship Is About The People Connection •John 1:35–42 (NIV) — 35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter). Discipleship: The People Connection •Andrew's Experience: He Was A Disciple Of John The Baptist •Andrew Hungered For Righteousness and For Messiah. •Andrew Hearing Jesus Was The Lamb Of God, Began To Follow Him •Andrew Was “Once & For All” Turning To Jesus To Follow Him Discipleship: The People Connection Like Andrew We Must: 1. Have A Hunger For The Word Of Christ 2. Hear The Announcement About The Lamb Of God 3. “Once & For All” Follow Jesus Discipleship: The People Connection A Thought: About John The Baptist: • John 3:30 (NIV) — 30 He must become greater; I must become less. • As Disciple Makers – We Must Have The Same Heart As John The Baptist And Point People To Jesus Discipleship: The People Connection • Andrew Wants To Know More -- This Was His Critical Hour • John 1:38 (NIV) "Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"" • Jesus Asked The Basic Question Of Life: What Do You Want? Discipleship: The People Connection Jesus Did 3 Things To Demonstrate His Eagerness To Answer Andrew: 1. When Jesus Turned To Him -- He Opened The Door 2. Jesus Asked The Basic Question Of Life: What Are You Looking For? 3. Jesus Extended An Invitation --He Says To Them “Come.” Discipleship: The People Connection • Andrew's Great Decision: He Came, Saw, and Remained with Christ • He Accepted The Invitation • He Had Found What He Was Looking For •The Lord’s Guaranty To Andrew: If He Would Follow --He Would See And Learn The Truth Of Life and The Way Of The Messiah Discipleship: The People Connection When Jesus Comes Into Our Lives The News Is So Good, We Can’t Keep It To Ourselves And We Want To Tell Everybody – Especially Our Friends And Loved Ones. • Andrew's First Concern: His Brother -- Simon • John 1:41 (NIV) "The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ)." Discipleship: The People Connection 3 Times In The Gospel Of John Andrew Brings Others To Jesus o Jn 1:42 -- He Brings His Brother Simon To Jesus o Jn 6:8,9 -- He Brings The Boy With Loaves And Fishes o Jn 12:22 – He Brings The Enquiring Greeks To Jesus • Andrew Was A Great Witness / Personal Worker • Andrew's Conviction: Jesus Is The Messiah • Andrew's Fruit: Simon Was Brought To Jesus Discipleship: The People Connection •Jesus Sees The Potential Within A Person And Longs To Change Them And Make Them Everything That They Can Become • 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) — 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! •Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV) — 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Discipleship: The People Connection • True Discipleship Is More Than Information And Knowledge  There Has To Be A Connection  There Has To Be Relationship Discipleship: The People Connection DISCIPLESHIP GOALS TO HELP BUILD THE PEOPLE CONNECTION: •5 Keys to Intentional Discipleship •Principle #1: Set a scheduled meeting time and location. •Principle #2: Plan the duration of time you will meet together. •Principle #3: Plan what you will study. •Principle #4: Initiate social times together. •Principle #5: Pray for one another. • MELISSA KRUGER – CHRISTIANITY TODAY Discipleship: The People Connection The Best Way To Build Relationships With Others Is To Build Our Relationship With God  Walk With The Lord – Follow Him  Spend Time With Him Every Day  Live In His Word – Read And Journal What You Discover  Pray In Faith  Spend Time With Other Believers In Fellowship  Look For Divine Appointments To Share Your Faith  Minister And Serve Others In Jesus’ Name