A DISCIPLE LEARNS:
Our goal is to become like Christ in character and conduct, so the Bible is our vital resource for our knowledge of God – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
A definition: a disciple is one who 1) knows Jesus and his teachings, 2) grows to be more like Jesus, and 3) goes fr Jesus, serving others and making new disciples. Areas that are effected by Jesus…
- Head – we can know without letting that knowledge penetrate our hearts. This is superficial knowledge or perhaps demonic faith (James 2:19).
- Heart – Knowledge moved from the head into the heart. Here we allow for God to begin the transformation process.
- Hands – we use out hands to serve God and others in Jesus’ name.
- Heels – the obedient follower of Jesus will be lead into places that are outside of our comfort zones, for the sake of the gospel.
Jesus sought to help others gain valuable truths:
- He saw the crowds: Matthew 5:1-2
- His teaching was not his own: John 7:16
- He was personal in his teaching: John 13-16, John 17:17
Jesus taught others God’s Word:
- What God is like: Isaiah 46:8-10
- Why the world is broken: Genesis 3
- How we can know God personally: Acts 17:27, 1 John 4:10
- How broken people can find wholeness, significance, and purpose: John 10:10, 1 Corinthians 5:17
- How Jesus taught others:
- Followers: Mark 1:21, 2:13, 4:2, 13:38, Matthew 11:29
- Publicly: Luke 21:37
- Privately: Luke 10:38-39
- Lectures: Matthew 5-7
- Stories: Luke 15
- Teachable moments: Matthew 15:32-38, Luke 21:2-3, John 4
- Object lessons: Matthew 18:2
- Examples from history: Matthew 12:40, Luke 13:4
The Wisdom and Beauty of God’s Word in Psalm 119:
- Names: laws, testimonies, judgments, commandments, statutes, precepts, words, sayings, way, path
- God’s Word gives:
- Power over sin – Psalm 119:2, 11, 101, 165
- Freedom – Psalm 119:45
- Direction and guidance – Psalm 119:105, 130
- Stability – Psalm 119:89
- Peace – Psalm 119:165
- Hope – Psalm 119:114, 147
- Delight – Psalm 119:16, 24, 35, 47, 77, 92, 174
- How to use God’s Word – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- Teaching
- Reproof
- Correction
- Training in righteousness
Getting God’s Word into us:
- Hearing it read
- Listening to others teach or preach
- Reading the Bible on a regular basis
- Discussing spiritual truth in the context of community
- Studying: reflecting, learning, applying
- Memorizing: right to the heart for better recall
- Trusting: believe promises and claims
- Pay attention how others live out spiritual truth
- Teaching spiritual truth you have learned
- Reflecting on God’s Word: meditating, pondering, praying over what God has revealed
A DISCIPLE GROWS:
Progress: Accept the gospel, follow Jesus, experience life change
God desires for us to grow: 2 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 4:19, 5:22-23, Colossians 2:7, 1 Timothy 4:7 (we should be open to any regular activity that we intentionally practice, which can be a spiritual discipline).
Spiritual Disciplines:
- Something for every believer
- A way I can be with God
- The goal is transformation
- We get to practice discipline, not we have to
- They are a means to an end, life change
- The goal is spiritual maturity
Misconceptions about spiritual growth:
- Growth must be pursued, it is not automatic
- Maturity is a lifelong process, a journey, rather than a destination
- Transformation depends on God but requires my participation
- Information is one part:
- Training – 1 Timothy 4:7
- Working out – Philippians 2:12
- Doing after hearing – James 1:22
- Transformation is possible through consistent training with constant trusting
- The goal is not activity but intimacy
- Growth differs from person to person and season to season
From Unbelief to Christlikeness:
- Skeptic (critical or combative) – Jesus says to “come to me”
- Seeker (curios or cautious) – Jesus says to “repent and believe”
- Saved (confused or childlike) – Jesus says to “follow after me”
- Disciple (committed or concerned about the kingdom) – Jesus says to “become like me”
- Disciple Maker (Christlike catalyst for impacting others) – Jesus says to “go for me”
A DISCIPLE SERVES:
This is about reaching out and serving like Jesus – Mark 10:45
We have a call to action: Matthew 5:16, Luke 10:2-3, Acts 1:8, 1 Peter 4:10
We will become like Jesus, living as he lived: 1 John 2:6, Matthew 10:40, Mark 12:6, Luke 4:18
Becoming a Disciple:
- Trusting in Christ alone for salvation
- Following Jesus to know him and his teachings
- Growing into the likeness of Christ
- Serving others in Jesus’ name
- Making new disciples in the context of community
Making Disciples:
- Rejecting: self-centeredness and embracing a self-less servant mindset – Philippians 2
- Understanding: you have been saved for (wired for) good works – Ephesians 2:10
- Letting: your light shine – Matthew 5:16
- Discovering: and using your spiritual gifts – Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4
- Getting: equipped to minister to to others – Ephesians 4:11-13
- Taking: the truth, training, and blessings of God and investing in others – 2 Timothy 2:2
- Learning: to give reason for the hope inside of us – 1 Peter 3:15
Jesus clearly saw he was on mission with God: John 3:34, 4:34, 5:23-24, 30, 37-38, 6:29, 38-39, 44, 57, 7:16, 18, 28-29, 33, 8:16, 18, 26, 29, 42, 9:4, 10:36, 12:44-45, 49, 14:24, 15:21, 16:5, 17:3, 8, 18, 21, 23, 25, 20:21
- To accomplish the will of the Father: John 4:34, 5:30, 6:38-39
- Not to be served but to serve: Mark 10:45, Luke 19:10
- To what end? Matthew 16:18
This is an outline of the Rose Guide to Discipleship, c. 2016, Rose Publishing LLC, with some of my own additional notes. There is way more information, teaching, and clarification, so please purchase the book [on Amazon]