Disciplines of a Disciple

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WORSHIP:

Bringing glory to God in all you do – 1 Corinthians 10:31

What does Worship Mean?

  1. Sunday morning gathering at church… worship happens here only
  2. What we do between the announcements and the sermon… worship is music and songs
  3. Happens during the singing together… worship is posture and emotion
  4. Focusing on spiritual truth rather than the secular world… worship is a retreat from earthly realities
  5. Worship is assigning value and worth to someone or something out of respect, gratitude, affection, devotion, or fear

Worship Defined and Described: Psalm 95:6, John 4:23-24

  1. Hebrew: h7812, shâchâh; a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God):—bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship. (bow down, prostrate oneself)
  2. Greek: g4352, proskynéō, pros-koo-neh’-o; from G4314 and a probable derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):—worship. (bowing in respect and devotion)
  3. Everyone WILL worship, the question is WHAT or WHO will we worship. We all value something (relationships, sex, money, fame, possessions, accomplishments, approval, job, appearance, fitness…)
  4. Why do we worship God?
    • It is fitting: Psalm 19:1, Revelation 4:8
    • It is fulfilling: we worship God for our own benefit, offering awe and wonder to our holy God

A Disciple Worships God Alone: Isaiah 43:7, Colossians 1:16

The Psalms Teach us to Worship:

  1. Bowing down: Psalm 95:6
  2. Seeking his face: Psalm 105:3-4
  3. Waiting for the Lord: Psalm 33:20-21
  4. Dwelling in his house: Psalm 27:4
  5. Lifting hands: Psalm 134:2
  6. Shouting to him: Psalm 47:1
  7. Singing to him: Psalm 104:33

How do We Engage in the Practice of Worship? (Sacred Pathways, by Gary Thomas)

  1. Sensates worship with their senses: sight, sound, smell
  2. Ascetics worship in solitude and simplicity
  3. Activists worship through confronting evil and battling injustice
  4. Caregivers worship by loving others
  5. Traditionalists worship through rituals, liturgy, symbols, and structures
  6. Enthusiasts worship through expressive celebration
  7. Contemplatives worship through peaceful adoration
  8. Intellectuals worship by studying the Scripture

Worship Myths versus the Truth:

  1. Gathering at a certain time in a certain place… all day, everyday, bowing to his purpose
  2. We go to worship… we live worship and bring it with us
  3. It’s about spiritual activities (singing, communion, sermons)… all of life can be worshipful and God-focused
  4. It’s about externals (music, songs choices, posture, attire, band/choir)… it is about the heart expressing love and devotion to God
  5. Having to leave with a certain feeling… approaching God in faith, spirit, and truth – John 4:24
  6. I judge whether worship was worthwhile… I participate in worship and leave judgments to God
  7. One kind of worship is better than others… our infinite God can be worship is a variety of ways (publicly, privately, corporately, silently, loudly)

SOLITUDE AND SILENCE:

Learning to Quiet Your Soul – Isaiah 30:15 (how can God get our attention?)

The Bible on Solitude: Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 9:18, John 6:15

  1. Solitude is Preparatory: Matthew 4:2
  2. Solitude is Revealing: allowing me to hear the voice of God
  3. Solitude is restorative: 1 Kings 19:1-4, 9-13

The Bible on Silence: Ecclesiastes 3:7, Psalm 46:10, 131:2, Habakkuk 2:20, Lamentations 3:25-29

Cultivating Habits of Solitude and Silence:

  1. Solitude and Silence leads to… to be with others for the purpose of loving and serving
    • Returning
    • Reentering
    • Reengaging
    • Reconnecting
  2. Everyday life takes it’s toll… to be with God for restoration and renewal
    • Retreating
    • Withdrawing
    • Disengaging
    • Unplugging
    • Disconnecting

BIBLE READING AND STUDY:

Being Rooted in God’s Truth – Psalm 119:105

The Value of God’s Word: John 6:51, Psalm 12:6, 19:10, 19:10, 119:105, Jeremiah 20:9, 23:29, Luke 24:32, Hebrews 5:12-14, 1 Peter 2:2, James 1:23-25, Matthew 13:18-23, Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 5:25-27

God’s Word Impacts Lives: James 1:21 (receive the Word) and James 1:22 (do what it says)

  1. Receiving
    • Hearing
    • Reading
    • Studying
    • Memorizing
    • Meditating
    • Praying
  2. Doing
    • Discipling
    • Teaching
    • Preaching
    • Obeying
    • Sending
    • Remonding

Reading the Bible: Deuteronomy 17:19, Nehemiah 9:3, 1 Timothy 4:13

Seven Ways to Read God’s Word: “Read it through, pray it in, live it out, pass it on” – George Gritter

  1. Prayerfully: he who has ears to hear his Word
  2. Expectantly: meeting a Person rather than getting through a passage
  3. Devotionally: let God speak to you through his Word
  4. Slowly: impact from each word, linger, and savor the Word
  5. Comprehensively: read through in order and in context, intentionally
  6. Regularly: consistency leads to building a habit
  7. Obediently: do what God commands

Studying the Bible:

  1. Observation: Psalm 119:18
    • Asking: what does it say?
    • Probing
    • Exploring
    • Discovering
    • Seeing
    • Investigative Questions
      • Who is mentioned?
      • Who is the primary character?
      • What is going on? What is being said?
      • What is the context?
      • What happens just before this passage?
      • What is the sequence of events?
      • What words did the Spirit the writer to use?
      • What descriptive details to you see?
      • What is the mood and setting?
      • When did this action happen?
      • Where did these events take place?
      • How does the author explain these unfolding events?
      • How does the author explain the motive for the person’s words or deeds?
      • How does the character respond?
      • How does the scene conclude?
  2. Interpretation: Psalm 119:27
    • Asking: What does it mean?
    • Pondering
    • Explaining
    • Digesting
    • Understanding
    • Investigative Questions
      • Hermeneutic disciplines
      • What does God intend to communicate through this passage?
      • It’s not about how I feel about this passage
    • Avoiding wrong interpretations
      • Leave your presuppositions behind
      • Resist getting overly creative
      • Take into account historical, cultural, grammatical, and literary realities
        • Poetry
        • History
        • Wisdom
        • Epistolary
        • Narrative or didactic
        • Descriptive or prescriptive
  3. Application: Psalm 119:60
    • Asking: What do I need to do? How is God speaking to me? What changes are necessary?
    • Practicing
    • Exercising
    • Doing
    • Obeying

D.L. Moody on Why and How to Study the Bible:

  1. Admit, submit, commit, transmit
  2. The Bible’s feast is prepared, are you venturing toward the banquet?
  3. If Bible study is wearisome, you are out of communion with him
  4. The more you love Scripture, the firmer will be your faith
  5. The Scripture speaks into all areas of life
  6. The best law of Bible study is perseverance
  7. So few grow because so few study
  8. What good in an army if they don’t know how to use their weapons?

Scripture Memory:

  1. Why it matters: Psalm 119:11, Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 12:1-2, Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:6-8, 1 Peter 3:15
  2. The best time to memorize: morning, evening or mid-afternoon?
  3. How much: maybe 1-2 verses each week
  4. The trick?
    • Find a verse that speaks to you
    • Read the chapter and focus on the verse
    • Write out the quote, write the verse’s address
    • Read it out loud
    • Break it into chunks of phrases
    • Write it on a card to pull out during the day
    • Review often
  5. God will help you: Deuteronomy 6:6, Colossians 3:16

PRAYER:

Communing With God – Ephesians 6:18

What is Prayer? Simply communing with God – Exodus 33:11, Acts 17:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Why Do We Pray? Colossians 4:2, James 5:16

  1. Prayer is how we approach God: James 4:8, Proverbs 15:8, Romans 8:26
  2. Prayer aligns us with God’s purposes: Matthew 6:10
  3. Prayer is an expression of faith: Hebrews 11:6
  4. Prayer give peace: Philippians 4:6-7
  5. Prayer is powerful: Isaiah 38:5

How Should We Pray?

  1. In faith: Mark 11:24
  2. In Jesus’ name: John 14:13
  3. According to God’s will: 1 John 5:14-15
  4. Unceasingly: 1 Thessalonians 5:17
  5. Confidently: Hebrews 4:16
  6. Stubbornly: Luke 18:1
  7. With the Spirit’s help: Romans 8:26

How NOT to Pray (snares to God-pleasing prayer): Luke 8:9-14, Psalm 66:18-20, James 4:2-3, 1 Peter 3:7, Matthew 6:5-8, James 1:5-7, Isaiah 29:13

Rules for Praying: Not really, but consider these passages

  1. Prayers from all kinds of people: 1 Samuel 3:10, Luke 2:36-38, Psalm 139, Jonah 1:14, Joshua 7:6-9, Judges 16:28
  2. People Praying (alone and groups): Matthew 14:23, Acts 1:14
  3. People crying out to God: Psalm 63:6, Acts 21:5, Luke 6:12, Genesis 24:11-12, Luke 18:10
  4. At different times: Psalm 55:17, Acts 16:25, Psalm 5:3
  5. Posture for prayer: 2 Samuel 7:18, Mark 11:25, Acts 9:40, 1 Kings 8:22
  6. Believers praying: 1 Samuel 1:13, Ezra 3:11-13, Philippians 1:4
  7. Jesus prayed: Hebrews 5:7, John 11:41, Matthew 26:39
    • Morning: Mark 1:35
    • Evening: Mark 6:46-47
    • All night: Luke 6:12
    • In lonely places: Luke 5:16
    • In agony: Luke 22:39-46
    • While dying: Luke 23:46
    • Praising the Father: Matthew 11:25
    • He thanked the Father: John 11:41
    • Praying for God’s will: Matthew 26:39
    • Praying for followers: John 17:9
    • Praying for forgiveness for enemies: Luke 23:34
    • Praying for children: Matthew 19:13-15
    • Praying for himself: John 17:1

We Should Pray About What? Matthew 6:9-13

  1. God’s nature
  2. God’s glory
  3. God’s kingdom
  4. God’s will
  5. God’s provision
  6. God’s mercy
  7. God’s protection

Application: Ephesians 6:18, 1:15-23, 3:14-21

DISCERNING GOD’S WILL:

Figuring Out What God Wants You to Do – Romans 12:2

What is Discernment? The ability of God’s Spirit to help us distinguish and ecide between what is true, wise, and good, and that which is false, foolish, and evil. – Colossians 1:9, Philippians 1:9-10

What is True, Wise, and Good?

  1. God’s will is discernible: Romans 12:2, Psalm 143:10
  2. God’s will is good: Psalm 84:11, 107:1, Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:32, Matthew 26:42
  3. Discerning God’s will requires God’s resources:
    • God’s Word: day by day following a path, not a full itinerary for life
    • God’s Spirit: John 16:13, 17:17, Psalm 119:105, 2 Corinthians 5:7
    • Other resources available to us:
      • Godly counsel: Proverbs 15:22
      • Sovereign circumstances: Ecclesiastes 7:13-14
      • Holy contentment: Colossians 3:15
      • Divine compulsions: Acts 20:22, Romans 8:14
      • Common sense: Proverbs 16:22
  4. Discerning God’s will requires effort on our part:
    • You were created for: Isaiah 43:7, Mark 12:28-30
    • You were called to: Matthew 28:18-20
    • You were commanded to: John 13:34-35, 1 Peter 4:11
    • You were counseled to pray: James 1:5-7

When God’s will is not black and white:

  1. Will this bring glory to God? 1 Corinthians 10:31
  2. Am I trusting God or my own wisdom, or someone else? Proverbs 3:5-6, 2 Corinthians 5:9-10
  3. Is this “too good to be true”? Proverbs 14:12
  4. Could my faith be damaged or my character corrupted? 1 Corinthians 15:33
  5. How does this square with me call to holiness? 1 Peter 1:14-15
  6. Would this decision harm Christ’s reputation or my own integrity? Ephesians 5:3
  7. Could this be the first step toward spiritual or moral danger? Proverbs 4:14-15
  8. Would this action cause a weaker brother to stumble or violate my conscience? 1 Corinthians 8:9
  9. Is it wise (even if not sinful)? 1 Corinthians 10:23
  10. Do older and wiser believers agree with my chosen course of action? Proverbs 12:17

FASTING:

Cultivating an Appetite for the Things of God – Joel 2:12

What is Fasting? To abstain from food, to be empty.

Why is Fasting Important?

  1. To show sorrow for sin, whether personal or national: 1 Samuel 7:6, Daniel 9:3-5, Ezra 10:6, Nehemiah 1:3-4
  2. To attempt to hear from God and/or to seek his intervention: Esther 4:16, Ezra 8:21-23
  3. To seek discernment for a looming decision or guidance for next steps: Acts 9:9, 13:1-3, 14:21-23
  4. To practice self-control: 2 Peter 1:5-8

How Does Fasting Work? Leviticus 16:29, 31, 23:27-32, Esther 9:31, Zechariah 8:19, Matthew 4:2, 6:16-18, Luke 5:33-35

GIVING:

Understanding Generosity and. Stewardship – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (what we think about money speaks volumes about who we are and what we believe)

Three Encouraging Truths About Money:

  1. God is generous with his children; he promises to provide for all our needs: Psalm 145:16, Matthew 7:11, Philippians 4:19
  2. God gives generously to his people so we can give generously to others: Genesis 12:2, 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, Luke 6:38
  3. God says he blesses the generous:
    • You have what you need to live: 2 Corinthians 9:8
    • You see increasing fruit from your sacrificial giving: 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11
    • You receive more in order to give more: 2 Corinthians 9:11
    • You give out of poverty or out of your excess? Mark 12:41-44
      • She gave two tiny coins, not a large amount
      • She gave out of poverty, not out of surplus
      • She made a sacrifice, not a contribution
      • Jesus invited others to “come see this” (but silent about the large donors)

Cultivating a Generous Attitude:

  1. Recognize that your stuff is really not your stuff: Exodus 19:5, Job 41:11, Psalm 42:1, Haggai 2:8, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Corinthians 4:2, 6:20 (the Bible says money is…)
    • A blessing: Proverbs 10:22
    • A stewardship: Psalm 24:1, Romans 14:12
    • A test: Luke 12:48, 16:9-12
    • An indicator: Matthew 6:21
    • A false hope: Proverbs 11:4, 1 Timothy 6:17
    • A danger: Matthew 6:24, 13:22, 19:23, 1 Timothy 6:9-10
    • A tool for honoring and blessing others: Proverbs 3:9, Matthew 6:20
    • A testimony: Ephesians 5:3
  2. Remember that giving is transformative: 1 Timothy 6:9-10
  3. Regard giving as the safest and wisest investment of all: Matthew 6:19-24, James 5:3

Whom Shall I Support?

  1. Family: 1 Timothy 5:8
  2. Local church: Acts 5:1-4
  3. The poor: Proverbs 19:17
  4. Believers: Galatians 6:10
  5. Neighbors: Luke 10:30-37
  6. Para-church organizations:
  7. Agencies devoted to relief work, helping those who are suffering

How to Honor God with Money:

  1. Trust God not money: Revelation 3:17-21, Deuteronomy 8:18
  2. Relying on God’s wisdom or pleasing someone else: Proverbs 3:5-6, 2 Corinthians 5:9-10
  3. Focus on things most important: Matthew 22:37-39, Proverbs 15:16-17
  4. Remember God enduring faithfulness: Romans 8:32, Jeremiah 29:11
  5. Ask God to meet your financial needs: Proverbs 30:8-9, Matthew 6:11
  6. Solicit divine wisdom in money matters: James 1:5
  7. Act responsibly in your finances: Romans 13:7
  8. Invest in eternal things: Luke 12:33, Matthew 6:33
  9. Be generous and share: Deuteronomy 15:7, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
  10. Cultivate contentment: 1 Timothy 6:7-8, Acts 20:33-35
  11. Praise God for generous blessings: Psalm 112:1-5

SERVICE:

Laying Down Your Life for Others – 1 Peter 4:10, Ephesians 4:11-12

Disciples Are Called to Serve: Mark 10:45, Philippians 2:5-7, Galatians 5:13

Disciples Are Gifted to Serve: 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4

  1. Every believer has at least one: 1 Corinthians 12:11, 18, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 11
  2. Every gift is meant to promote the body: 1 Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 4:12-13

Disciples Are Obedient to Serve: 1 Peter 4:10

Disciples Have a Sweet Spot of Service: the overlapping of Needs-Passions-gifts – 1 Corinthians 12:7

More on Spiritual Gifts is found HERE.

EVANGELISM:

Sharing the Message of Your New Life in Christ – 1 Peter 3:15

Why Believers Don’t Share Their Faith?

  1. Fear
  2. Lack of training
  3. Minimal contact with lost people
  4. Shaky theology
  5. Lack of concern
  6. Losing sight of the power of the gospel
  7. Disobedience
  8. Forgetting what successful evangelism is

Bible Study on Evangelism: 1 Peter 3:13-18

  1. Evangelism myths and truths:
    • Sharing is not dependent on having a slick presentation, but a surrendered heart
    • Sharing does not take a ton of theology, but to know Christ as Lord
    • Sharing is not just for the pastor, but every disciple
    • Sharing (witnessing) is not an activity, but everyday life
    • Sharing is not lifestyle alone, but adding words to your good deeds
    • Nobody is interested in the gospel, but they are interested in a life transformed by the gospel
    • Sharing is not inviting people to religious gathering, but to invite people into your life
    • Sharing is not confronting people/strangers, but loving people that God has placed in your life
    • A witness does not have it all together, but should be authentic and transparent
    • Sharing is not using whatever means to get the message out, but be honest and ethical and respectful
    • Success in witnessing does not mean someone prays the prayer, but that God has used you to bring someone closer to God and his love
  2. What is a witness? 1 John 1:3
  3. What is a testimony? Acts 26:1-31
    • How Paul met Christ: Acts 26:4-11
    • How encountered Jesus: Acts 26:12-20
    • How his life changed because of Jesus: Acts 26:21-23

Writing Your Testimony: write for clarity and flow, concise, without rambling churchy language

  1. Describe you life before Christ
  2. Describe your failed attempts to fix your own problems
  3. Describe events that led to your trusting Jesus, the process
  4. Describe clearly the steps you took to put your faith in Christ
    • Include being a sinner, separated from God
    • Include the penalty of being a sinner
    • Include how Jesus had paid the penalty for sin
    • Include that faith in Jesus alone brings salvation
  5. Describe what difference Jesus makes in your life

Testimony Tips:

  1. No two testimonies are alike, be real and authentic
  2. If saved as an adult, you may have a before, how, and after story. If as a child, this is harder to report radical changes
  3. Avoid Christian cliches and terminology
  4. Avoid controversial statements, like rants on certain sins
  5. Avoid criticizing specific churches or denominations
  6. Avoid steaming details of your past life
  7. Keep your story warm and personal, it is about I and ME
  8. Practice sharing with a friend and tweak as necessary
  9. Void boring people with tons of details, a brief summary is fine
  10. Use a meaningful Bible verse, which will engage the power of God’s Word: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 10:10, 1:12, Ephesians 2:8-9

Creating Opportunities to Share Your Faith:

  1. Avoid spending all your time with church people: build relationships with people far from God
  2. Avoid condemning unbelievers for living like unbelievers
  3. Open you life: talk about real stuff you’re going through
  4. Discuss personal struggles needs: how you and God handled them
  5. Ask if anything you have said if relatable to their life, does it make sense?
  6. Avoid arguments: no one is dragged into the kingdom
  7. Avoid the dump truck: say less and allow them to ask for more
  8. Piggyback off of contemporary situations and stories: asking provoking questions
  9. Avoid continuing when you sense they are uncomfortable: allow the Spirit to set the pace

MISSIONS:

Embracing God’s Heart for the Nations – Acts 1:8

The Great Commission: Matthew 28:18-20

The main point about our purpose is that Jesus gave us the Great Commission, and as it says in Evangelism Explosion, “His last command is my first concern.”

  • The Purpose: The Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20
  • The Task: Make Disciples, 28:19, Imperative
  • The Process: a Three-fold Process, with Participles

In dissecting the main parts of Matthew 28:19-20, the main verb is our command to “make disciples.” The other verbs in this sentence are participles, so the command is not to GO, BAPTIZE, and TEACH, but to make disciples. A participle supports the main verb, for instance “as you are going” make disciples; baptize those whom you are making into disciples; as you are making disciples, teach them. So, how and what are we to teach them?

  1. ALL – let’s not pick and choose our favorite passages, or pet doctrines, ignoring the harder sayings, warnings, and difficult teachings.
  2. I – remember who is doing the teaching, it’s not about me or some famous Bible teacher, it is all about Jesus.
  3. COMMANDED – we are going to take a look at the imperative statements of Jesus throughout the gospels.
  4. YOU – we are not supposed to teach that which we have not learned ourselves, so it is of vital importance to embrace the commands of Christ, wrestle with them, submit to them, apply them… I cannot impact others if God’s Word has not already impacted me.

God Has a Heart for the Nations: g1484, éthnos; probably from G1486; a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan):—Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

  1. God creates the world: Genesis 1-2
  2. People begin to multiply and spread out: Genesis 10-11
  3. God chooses a person to be the founder of his people: Genesis 12:1-3

After the Fall, God Desired to rescue humanity and bless all peoples: Genesis 26:4, Psalm 67:2-3, 7, 86:9, 117:1, Matthew 24:14, Acts 22:21, Mark 11:17, Luke 2:27-32, Revelation 7:9-1

Our God is a Missionary God:

The Bible portrays God as a “missionary God”—one who actively initiates, seeks, sends, and extends salvation to all peoples and nations, not just one group. This theme runs from Genesis to Revelation: God pursues lost humanity, chooses Israel as a channel of blessing to the world, and commissions His people to proclaim His glory universally.

Old Testament Foundations: God’s Missionary Heart from the Beginning

God’s mission starts in creation and the fall, where He seeks out rebellious humanity rather than abandoning it – Genesis 3:9, 12:1-3, Exodus 9:16, Isaiah 49:6. Other key OT verses include: Psalm 67:1-2, Isaiah 56:6-7, Zechariah 2:11. These show God’s heart for His glory and salvation to fill the earth (Numbers 14:21; Habakkuk 2:14).

New Testament Fulfillment: The Sending God in Christ and the Church

Jesus embodies God’s mission (“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” — John 1:14), and He sends His followers – John 3:16-17, Luke 24:46-47, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Revelation 7:9. Additional NT support includes Mark 16:15 (“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation”), 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (believers as ambassadors of reconciliation), and passages like Acts 28:28 and Galatians 3:8 affirming salvation for Gentiles.

Overall Theme

God is not passive or tribal; He is the sending, seeking, saving God who creates a missionary people in His image. Israel was to be a kingdom of priests and a light to the nations (Exodus 19:6), fulfilled ultimately in Christ and the Church. This missionary nature flows from God’s character—loving, holy, and glorious—and culminates in the renewal of all things.

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]

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