Grow: Disicpleship
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Intro
Intro
Good morning Church family.
It is great to be back in the house of the Lord.
We are continuing our current series called REVITALIZATION.
Revitalize - permeate with new life and vitality
The church is to permeate with new life and vitality. Jesus came to bring life and it is through the church that we can continue to bring life to not only our church family, but to our community as well.
There are FIVE FUNCTIONS of the church that we are going to look at during the course of this series that if we put into practice, we will revitalize our church.
Connect
Grow
Serve
Go
Worship
In Acts chapter two we are given a model of how the church is to function.
Acts 2:42–47 (NASB95)
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
When the church functions as it was originally designed to function, lives will be changed and the kingdom of God will begin to grow.
Last week we looked at the function of being connected. Today I want to look at the next step in those connections which is to GROW.
Spiritual Growth
Spiritual Growth
As followers of Jesus, we are called to grow in our walk.
2 Peter 3:17–18 (NASB95)
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,
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.
In a world that is ever changing where people do not know their right from their left, it is imperative that we as followers of Christ know who God is, know who Jesus is, know who the Holy Spirit is, and know who we are in and through them.
I believe discipleship is more important now than it ever was. As followers of Christ we need to understand why we believe what we believe and able to explain it to those who ask.
1 Peter 3:15 (NASB95)
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
We are to be ready to explain the Gospel at any given moment.
So, discipleship, what is it?
Discipleship is the process of devoting oneself to a teacher to learn from and become more like them.
For the Christian, this refers to the process of learning the teachings of Jesus and following after his example in obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit. Discipleship not only involves the process of becoming a disciple but of making other disciples through teaching and evangelism.
Romans 8:29 (NASB95)
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
We are called to become like Christ. We learn how to live our lives the way God had created us to live it before the fall of man.
One thing we need to understand is discipleship is not just about the transfer of information, but transformation of one’s lifestyle in order to become more like one’s teacher. In our case, Jesus Christ.
New Testament Discipleship
New Testament Discipleship
We need to look no further than the model of the first church when it comes to discipleship.
Acts 2:42 (NASB95)
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
One thing I have learned this past week in studying this passage of Scripture is that the disciples CONTINUALLY devoted themselves.
This wasn’t a once a week type of devotion. They didn’t have an on and off relationship with Christ or each other, but it was a continuous process.
As disciples of Christ, we should be experiencing the truths of our faith everyday of our lives and not just on Sundays.
There are three things we can learn from this one Scripture that we as disciples of Christ ought to have active in our daily lives.
Continual Devotion to Scripture
Continual Devotion to Scripture
To be a disciple of Christ, we must experience the Scriptures continually.
What do I mean by experience?
When I say experience the Scriptures, I am referring to practicing the Scriptures and not just memorizing them. Memorization is good, but the goal is to put it into practice.
For example.
1 Peter 1:22 (NASB95)
22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
How can we put this into practice? (We can practice this by rejoicing with someone who recieved a great blessing or weep with those who are full of sorrow and going through a hard time.)
When we put the Word into practice, we are being like Christ. We become a living epistle for Christ!
An epistle is a poem or literary work, which is in the form of a letter or series of letters. In the New Testament, we see this represented in many of the books, which are a compilation of letters written by one of the Apostles to the Church. They were written on scrolls, reviewed, the delivered by a very trusted messenger.
Only now we don’t use the pen and paper method. You become the method in which the message is delivered.
2 Corinthians 3:3 (NASB95)
3 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
To be a living epistle means you are a living, breathing, walking letter of God’s goodness, glory, and grace!
Living out the Scriptures is something you cannot do on your own. You will NEED the work and POWER of the Holy Spirit active in your life.
Ephesians 5:18 (NASB95)
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
Paul tells us to be FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.
Much of what God has called us to do cannot be done with human efforts. It will REQUIRE an infilling of the Holy Spirit and then a refilling of the Holy Spirit.
Continual Devotion to Each Other
Continual Devotion to Each Other
The disciples had a continuous devotion to the Scriptures and a continual devotion to each other.
Acts 2:42 (NASB95)
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Fellowship and breaking of bread were key practices in the early church and should be observed today if lives are to be changed and the Kingdom of God grow.
Fellowship is simply being involved in others lives in the church. It is a community. It is even looked at as a camaraderie.
When the church comes together, food is an essential part of that fellowship. Jesus ate with His disciples and others quite often. Ministry can take and should take place around the table.
I can see why Paul was protective of this part in the early church. The early church lost site of this.
1 Corinthians 11:18–22 (NASB95)
18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.
19 For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.
20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper,
21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk.
22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.
William Henry Willimon, a retired American theologian and bishop in the United Methodist Church said this about BREAKING OF BREAD:
The gathering of the fellowship at the table is another tangible, visible expression of the work of the Spirit among the new community. Go through the Gospel of Luke and note all occasions when “he was at table with them.” Each dinner-time episode in Luke is a time of fellowship, revelation, and controversy…. Eating together is a mark of unity, solidarity, and deep friendship, a visible sign that social barriers which once plagued these people have broken down. - William Willimon
In a world that is full of social barriers, it ought not be so in the church that Jesus gave His life for.
In good Jewish fashion, when the blessing is said at the table, the table becomes a holy place and eating together a sacred activity…. Perhaps every meal for the church was experienced as an anticipation of the Messianic banquet, a foretaste of Jesus’ promise that his followers would
Luke 22:30 (NASB95)
30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
This is why we take the first Sunday of every month to sit down at the table as a church. It is a picture of what is to come.
I encourage you church, this next meal we share as a church, make an effort to make turn the table you are sitting at into a Holy Place where the Spirit of God can continue to move even after the service.
Not only that, I encourage you to connect with others and do this more than just once a month. But pray and ask God whom you can share a meal with. The early church broke bread from house to house.
Continual Devotion to Jesus
Continual Devotion to Jesus
Finally, and this is the most important key of the early church. They had a continual devotion to Jesus.
Acts 2:42 (NASB95)
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Being a disciple of Christ requires a lifestyle of fresh encounters with Jesus. Not just on Sundays. Not just on holidays. But continuous encounters with the King of kings.
The early disciples continuously devoted themselves to prayer. This is one of the main ways we can encounter Christ.
Leaders of New Life, we must never get too busy working for Him that we lose our relationship with Him.
Church family, we must never get too busy in life that we lose our relationship with Him.
I have found that if the enemy can’t get you to fall through temptations, he will make you too busy for God.
Being, Under, Satans, Yoke
Paul said this,
Philippians 3:8 (NASB95)
8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
Nothing was more important to Paul than knowing Jesus Christ.
In 2019, H&R Block and OnePoll conducted a survey on Americans and the result said, “59% of Americans find it extremely difficult to balance work and their personal schedules.”
In fact, the average participant claimed to be so busy they only get about 26 minutes of free time a week.
Twenty six minutes of free time a week. That’s too busy.
Maybe that is you. Maybe you find it hard to find time to spend with God. Maybe you find it hard to find time to spend on personal spiritual growth.
If only I had 1 more hour in a day I would spend it with Jesus.
No. No you wouldn’t. You would just fill it with something else.
The truth of the matter is this. You are too busy.
The bible actually talks about this.
Luke 10:38–42 (NASB95)
38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.
40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”
41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;
42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Jesus made a profound statement that we will miss it if we are too busy to digest it.
42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Only one thing is necessary.
What’s the one thing Jesus cares about the most? A relationship with you.
He said Mary has chosen the GOOD part.
This word good in the Greek means: useful, joyful
The word part in the Greek means: an assigned part, a portion
While Martha was busy running around worrying, anxious, and I am sure tired....I wonder how many of you are here this morning/online who are full of worry, you’re anxious, and tired?
While Martha was running around being busy, Mary chose the useful portion. Mary chose the joyful portion. Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus over being busy.
The Psalmist writes:
Psalm 16:5 (NASB95)
5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot.
The the prophet Jeremiah wrote:
Lamentations 3:24 (NASB95)
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”
We too have access to a PORTION. His name is Jesus. He is not just any portion, but an assigned portion. A useful portion. A joyful portion.
What does this mean?
When a biblical writer says, “God is my portion,” he means that God is the source of his happiness and blessing. “Portion” is translated as “inheritance.”
What these writers are saying is they are content with all that the Lord is and provides. They have the best inheritance imaginable and does not seek any possession or comfort outside of God. Riches, honor, friends and fame—nothing is as valuable as the promises of God.
Mary understood where her contentment came from.
Mary understood where her inheritance came from.
Mary understood where her source of security came from.
It wasn’t from being busy in the world trying to put everything together, it was sitting at the feet of Jesus! That was the only thing necessary!
Listen church, stop being too busy for Jesus. Stop over working yourself. Stop making appointments with everyone else in the world and make an appointment with Jesus!
Jesus is the only one who can give you:
Security in this world
Give you rest in this world
Direction in this world
He is the only one who can give you peace in this world
Hope in this world!
Everything else will wear you down. The only thing that truly matters in this world is your relationship with the One who died for this world!
Mark 8:36 (NASB95)
36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?”
The early disciples were continuously devoted to Christ and the result was not only a transformation in their own lives, but it affected the very community they lived in!
Daily they continued in the Scriptures. Daily they broke bread with one another. Daily they spent time in prayer with Jesus. And DAILY GOD was MOVING!!!
Too often the church is waiting on a move of God failing to realize that when we continuously follow Jesus we BECOME a MOVE OF GOD!!
Closing/Altar
Closing/Altar
It’s time to move church! It’s time to move!
Praise team come to the front.
Continual Devotion to Scripture
Continual Devotion to Each Other
Continual Devotion to Jesus