Living the Call to Discipleship!

March 18, 2007

Taking the Gospel Into the World

Living the Call to Discipleship

It's one thing to talk about discipleship and quite another thing to live it. Even the first disciples did not fully understand what Jesus was calling them to do.

"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:16-20)

Notice the progression in the above verses:

• The disciples first had to go to where Jesus would meet them.
• "When they saw him, they worshipped him…"
• Jesus made himself known to them.
• Jesus reminded them that he had "all authority in heaven and on earth…"
• Jesus sent them out in his power.
• We are to be teachers by example.
• We are assured of Christ's presence with us.

Thoughts for reflection:

• Living the Christian life as a committed follower of Jesus Christ involves living by example. Will that make a difference in the choices we make each day?
• How will you answer God's call on your life to be a disciple of Christ?
• Do you believe the LORD may be calling you to rethink priorities?
• What do you need from the LORD to enable you to become a more committed follower?
• Is your understanding of discipleship different now after these weeks of
study than when we began?
• Take time to reflect on what the LORD has been doing in your life to draw you closer to Him, and prayerfully consider if He may be leading you to share your story with someone as a means of teaching by example.

Topics covered in this class:

What is discipleship?

1. Laying the Groundwork…It's all about Jesus!(Ephesians
3:20)

2. Prayer (The Lord's Prayer—Matthew 6:9-13)

3. Worship (Isaiah 1:18a)

4. Food for the Soul: the Word of God (Psalm 119:103)

5. Our Call to Service—Reflecting Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)

6. Our Call to Relationship—Growing with Others (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)

7. Generosity: "Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8)

8. Taking the Gospel Into the World (Matthew 28:16-20)

Generosity!

March 11, 2007

Generosity—Abundant Giving is God’s Idea

“Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)

We frequently associate generous giving with sermons preached on stewardship during the church’s pledge campaign and the close relationship of that to the offering plate passed each Sunday. Monetary giving is part of living as a disciple of Christ, but it is not all of it. Our giving comes from a heart linked to God’s heart and encompasses every area of life as we faithfully live out our calling to be Christ’s disciples. In fact, I would like to suggest to you that emptying our wallets on Sunday morning as the offering plate is passed is scratching the surface of discipleship. The generosity of God and our response as Jesus’ disciples goes much deeper.

The Sermon on the Mount teaches us how to live in response to God’s love (Matthew 5:3-12). When we have encountered the Living God in relationship our lives are changed forever and we live as strangers to planet earth. No longer do we seek prestige for Jesus tells us “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” Out of our poverty of spirit comes the realization that everything we have is from God and will return to God.

The world says, “Be happy!” Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn…” because in mourning we receive God’s comfort. The world says, “Strive to be your own person…experience success!” Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth…those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled.” The world invests in humanitarian efforts, but the sons and daughters of God go a step further—“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

What does all this have to do with living generously? We give, not as the world gives. Because we follow our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, we give from His abundance, not ours. He fills us with everything we need—mercy, grace, forgiveness, love, hope, joy—and then asks us to give it all away. As we give it all away for Him, He gives us more, so that the words of Matthew 10:8, “Freely you have received, freely give,” become our standard by which we live.

“For God so loved the world that He gave…” (John 3:16)

At the beginning of our series on discipleship we discussed the cost of discipleship. The cost is great. It is easier to hold a grudge than to forgive. It is easier to give money to the church than to invest time. It is easier to criticize than to support and encourage. It is easier to adopt the standards of the world than to stand apart. Our Lord calls us not only to separate ourselves for His sake, but to give generously to those who cannot or will not ever repay us.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.”
(1 John 3:16)

Our Call to Relationsip

March 4, 2007

Our Call to Relationship—Growing with Others

“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Thessalonians 1:2-3)


God calls us to relationships that matter. We are part of a bigger picture than gathering for a few laughs throughout the week and then returning to our individual ambitions. We are called to nurture one another in Christ. It is our sacred duty as members of the Body of Christ.

Throughout the Epistles the Apostle Paul refers to those who work alongside him in the faith. If you read through his letters carefully you will see the high priority that Paul puts on relationships. Even though Paul received a direct revelation from Christ and was appointed an apostle, he knew the value of relationship in spreading the Gospel. Paul knew the message of the Gospel was wrapped up in relationships. We are not called to be a Christian of “one.” Our witness depends on relationship. Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs to minister and the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost when the disciples “were all gathered in one place.” (Acts 2:1)

There is strength in pairs. There is strength in friendship and family. Family ties are not easily broken—we have proof of that in the number of divorces that sadly occur in our families and churches. Relationships matter to God.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

The Apostle Paul at the end of his letter to the Colossians emphasizes his need of his brothers and sisters in the faith by these words: “Remember my chains.” (Col. 4:18) The persecution(s) Paul faced in his ministry were lighter to bear because those he loved in the faith surrounded him with their love and prayers even when they were separated from the apostle. We need each other.

Consider how God may be calling you to new friendships and restored family relationships as part of your commitment to being a disciple of Christ. Within this church family would you consider meeting with someone on a regular basis to build a relationship, encouraging them in their faith and thereby carrying out the work of making disciples for Jesus Christ?

Our Call to Service...

Discipleship: February 25, 2007

Our Call to Service: Reflecting Christ

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”
2 Corinthians 2:14-15


Ministry involves Christ’s love expressed to the Church. Mission is God’s response through us to the world. We are called to do both. Jesus taught us the essence of service. “…so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (John 13:4-5). The Apostle Paul included in his letter to the Philippians the Christ Hymn that would have been familiar to the early church as a reminder to be imitators of Christ. (Philippians 2:6-11)

Paul continues in the Epistles to challenge us to “sow to please the Spirit.” (Galatians 6:8b). “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:9-10).

God has gifted us for service. Everyone who is in Christ—who has become a believer—has a gifting from God to serve His Church. Too often, service within the church becomes a matter of “need” rather than “call.” The need is never the call…the need is an opportunity to prayerfully consider whether God may be calling you to serve in a specific way. God does not expect us to serve where He has not gifted us!

The same principle applies to domestic and world missions. God does not send us where we are not equipped to go. He may challenge us beyond our comfort zone, but if He has not gifted us for a particular mission, He won’t call us to it. I heard a young woman one time express concern that if she joined the church God might force her to go to Africa as a missionary and that was the last thing she wanted! God already has enough reluctant servants on this earth, so the young woman was probably safe from being called to a task she dreaded.

When we serve God out of our own strength we become disillusioned, disappointed, discouraged, and resentful. When we serve God from the gifts He has given us for service, we become renewed and revived because the lifeof the Son of God is living through us.

The Christian life is one of service done in the power of God!

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

The Word of God!

Discipleship: February 18, 2007

Food for the Soul: the Word of God

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

(Psalm 119:103)

The words of Scripture are an invitation to a relationship.

(Michael Foss, Real Faith for Real Life)

So much could be said about the Scriptures—the words of the Bible are intended for transformation, not simply information. The Word of God results in understanding of spiritual truths—understanding that transforms. We could spend a lifetime studying how to study, read, and pray Scripture, but the goal and end result is growth in Christ—a transformed life!

By taking in the Word of God we are providing nourishment for our soul, but, like prayer, it takes some practice to feel skilled at reading Scripture with understanding and applying Scripture to our lives. A receptive heart is key.

Ask the Holy Spirit to be your teacher—asking God to teach us; asking Him for understanding; seeking to hear only His voice through the ancient words so that we might live for Him…that is the goal of daily Bible reading as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

(Psalm 119:11)

As you become more skilled in listening to God’s part of the eternal dialogue through the words of Scripture, ask Him to guide you deeper into His truth, for in His Word are gems to be mined and mysteries waiting to be revealed!

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

(Psalm 119:105)

Thought for Reflection:

We are drawn up into the love of God to become whole people in His Kingdom. Just as there are many parts to a “whole” so there can be many facets to reading and studying the Bible. There is no right or wrong way to read Scripture if we truly desire to hear God speak to us. Discover Him on the pages of Scripture…explore the Word of God and seek Him with all your heart…pray…worship…

…and grow!

“I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.”

(Psalm 119:125)

Worship

Discipleship: February 11, 2007

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…” Isaiah 1:18a

“Worship is about the coming of God.” (Michael Foss, Real Faith for Real Life).

Worship, like prayer, can be misunderstood. We talk about a good “worship service” or “the worship” referring to the music/praise we offer to God in a planned service, but worship is not about what we gain for ourselves in worship or even what we can give to God. Pure worship is placing ourselves before the throne of grace knowing that we bring nothing to the relationship but ourselves…and that is exactly what God wants—us.

“The sacred meeting time called worship happens when God’s Sabbath gift to us meets our reverence, and praise is our response to this giver and the gift.” (Michael Foss, Real Faith for Real Life)

Worship is the outpouring of all that we are—to God, who delights in our worship. Worship is meeting the Living God in the Sanctuary called the human heart—God’s dwelling place. Recommended reading to encourage you to give all of yourself to all of God is the following publication:

My Heart—Christ’s Home

by Robert Boyd Munger

Revised Edition 1986; Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship

Suggested reflections for the week:

• Reflect on what it means to let Christ reign in your heart.

• Meditate on the following Scriptures and ask God to teach you to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

1. 1 Chronicles 16:29
2. Psalm 95:6
3. Matthew 2:2
4. John 4:24
5. Romans 12:1

Practicing Daily Prayer!

Discipleship: February 4, 2007

Prayer is learned. Prayer may be the natural language of the soul, but learning to speak it fluently takes time. Just as other marks of discipleship require training, so does prayer. We fall into false thinking if we believe that prayer is easy or automatic. Prayer is often hard work.

Prayer is relational. Prayer is our way of communicating with our living Lord. Prayer is a two-way channel—we speak to Him and He speaks to us. The Holy Spirit may leave impressions on our hearts and minds, or we may feel led to a particular Scripture after or during prayer. God may answer through a change of circumstances, or He may nudge us to take a step of faith, or He may tell us “wait.”

Prayer is confident. Our confidence is in God—that He hears us, He responds, He loves us, and calls us into His presence.

Prayer is continuous. When we have practiced prayer and are fluent in our prayer life, there comes a time when prayer becomes continuous. We may not be aware of it, just as we are not always aware of the blood pulsing through our veins or our lungs taking their next breath, but those life-giving activities are happening all the time. So it is with prayer. Our prayers are a conscious and unconscious reality of life in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit prays for us in ways that we don’t understand, and our abiding relationship with Christ is lived out in those prayers. Continuous prayer is like a husband and wife who can sit silently with one another and yet be communicating at a deep level of understanding.

Prayer is expectant! Jesus said that the prayer of faith would move a mountain. What are the mountains in your life and in the lives of those you pray for that need to be moved?

Prayer is multi-faceted. The acronym ACTS has often been used to describe the nature of prayer:

* Adoration: appreciating God for who He is and beyond what He has done for us.

*Confession: acknowledging to God our sin and seeking His mercy.

*Thanksgiving: thanking God for His blessings.

*Supplication: interceding for ourselves and others.

So much could be said about prayer, but when all is said and done prayer is “better felt than telt!” Set a goal to maintain a regular prayer time. Perhaps use a journal to record insights as you meet with God in prayer, and be prepared for God to show up in ways you may never before have imagined!

Practicing Joyfulness!

Thoughts on discipleship for the week of January 21-27, 2007

“I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.”

(Psalm 119:30)

The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5:1-12

The work of Jesus—the reign of God entering the world through Him—can be seen in the Sermon on the Mount. Notice the call to blessedness through poverty: poverty of spirit, poverty of the essentials of earthly life, poverty of strength, poverty of purity; poverty of the means of protecting self, poverty through persecution.

The point: God is bringing deliverance into the world through Jesus Christ. We are called to faithful and joyful living as a response to that deliverance. “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…” (Matthew 5:12) If we know Christ, we have been delivered. We are to offer deliverance to others.

“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) What greater meaning can there be in life than to participate in the deliverance that God is extending through Christ?

Thoughts to ponder:

1. Think about what it means to “know” Christ—hearing, learning, obeying, and understanding His commands. The Greek word for “hear” is the same word for “learn,” “obey,” and “understand.” Hearing is not passive. It is action-oriented. Hearing is responding. Notice the sequence in one Greek word: “I am hearing,” “I am learning,” “I am obeying,” and “I understand.”

2. Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12) and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to faithful living as we study and apply Scripture in order that we might walk as disciples of Christ.

3. Imagine meeting Jesus at that hillside convention. What would He say to you specifically? Imagine Him calling your name…sitting with you…teaching you…healing you…giving you His joy. What does that feel like? Who would you like to share your joy of that encounter with?

Discipleship is two-fold: inward-oriented and outward focused.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20)

Laying the Groundwork…

Discipleship: January 14, 2007

It’s all about Jesus!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Discipleship is not about us. It’s about Jesus. Christianity is not about us. It’s about Jesus. Church is not about us. It’s about Jesus. It’s God’s grace, not ours, that saves. It’s the faith God gives us to follow Him that counts. We can’t muster it up on our own.

Everything is about God through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only visual we have of the Father. He came to extend the deliverance of God the Father to us, in us, through us, because of us, and sometimes, in spite of us. Discipleship means clinging to Jesus. Whatever it takes you to cling to Jesus, do it. Prayer, worship, Bible study, listening, serving, giving, nurturing are signs of being a disciple. They are important disciplines, but by themselves they mean nothing.

Discipleship…your mission…

…should you choose to accept it. Think about it. Pray about it. The costs are high—being a disciple of Christ means counting the cost. The world is watching for those who claim to be followers but who pull back, who can’t cut it, can’t make the grade, and give up. The world is watching and pointing a finger. They know hypocrisy. The world is an expert at hypocrisy because it fits the standard of the world. Jesus tells us, “Come apart. Take up the cross, count the costs, and commit your way to me.”

Jesus knows that His power will see us through. Our step is to place our lives, our religion, our purpose, our destiny into the hands of the Savior, and He will provide the rest. You see, it’s all about Jesus.

Assignment for the week of January 14-20:

1. Read Ephesians chapter 2:1-10. Remembering what it means to receive God’s grace and peace (from your reading of Ephesians 1), reflect on how your life has been changed by knowing Christ.

2. Read chapter one of “Real Faith for Real Life.”

3. Memorize the key verse found at the top of this sheet (Ephesians 3:20)

4. Reflect on what it means that God is to receive glory in the church throughout all generations. Consider how you will share the good things of Christ with someone else this week. Are you willing to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

Where to Begin…

Discipleship: January 7, 2007

Where to Begin…

The Christian life—the saved life in Christ—is not easy to explain. In fact, it defies explanation, but if we ask enough people we will discover that everyone’s faith story (while different, perhaps, in external situations) has a common element—one of a changed life. Salvation is for the here-and-now as well as the hereafter! “Jesus saves” is present tense. The problem appears to be that while we all have this head-knowledge of salvation few Christians understand how to grow in a salvation that we rarely understand and that we did not initiate. That brings us to the importance of dialogue.

Interacting with one another at various levels of spiritual discernment and faith is vital to our spiritual growth. Jesus did not function in a vacuum and neither should we. The importance of dialogue with other Christians is often ignored in our society as we get busier and busier and ultimately retreat from sheer exhaustion into our own spiritual shells. My hope and prayer is that our walk together, growing into mature believers in Christ, and reaching out to those who need Christ but maybe don’t even know how to seek Him, will be blessed with a spirit of unity even within diversity.

In order to achieve unity within diversity we have to have a common goal: to grow and to let grow. Simply stated, that means that our dialogue must be seasoned with grace. There is room for everyone at every level of spiritual longing whether it is to know what this strange world of Christianity is all about or whether it is to know Christ in deeper and more profound ways as the years of being a believer mount up. Dialogue is crucial to our journey. We must (as a group) continually seek to understand our God and each other before we can truly understand our selves. For that reason I would like us to covenant with each other to always strive for the good of the other person in our conversation. There is room for each one to express freely the desires of the heart in finding and knowing Christ.

Assignment for the week of January 7-13:

1. Spend some time in reflection over the “cost of discipleship.” How does that cost intersect/mesh with/conflict with the joy that comes with a relationship with Christ? What personal sacrifice have you made or will you make to be a disciple of Christ? What does the following quote mean to you? Is it hard to understand?

“The cross intersects at the deepest point of our need.” (anonymous)

2. Read the first chapter of Ephesians daily—read it aloud so you don’t skip over anything. Concentrate on the elemental truths found in that chapter such as “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

3. Reflect on what it means to receive grace and peace from God.

4. Consider beginning a journal of your spiritual walk based on our text.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Ephesians 1:17)

What is a Disciple?

“Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

What is a disciple? The answer can be as simple or complex as we care to make it. The simplest definition of a disciple is a “learner” or “follower.” In antiquity there were many philosophical and religious schools—each led by a teacher with “disciples” in tow. The difference, of course, is that our Lord offers us the gift of relationship and eternal responsibilities and privileges through worship of the One True God.

Consider your own definition of what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

What responses should characterize the lives of Jesus’ disciples based on the following verses?

• John 8:31-32

• John 13:34-35

• John 15:8-10

Write a brief description of a disciple based on your findings of the previous Scriptures.

Discipleship is fundamentally a relational process.

Consider your response to the claim of Jesus on your life and the challenges of discipleship. Decide how you will put your response into action in the following areas:

• Practicing daily prayer

• Participating in weekly worship

• Listening for God’s voice through daily reading of Scripture

• Serving others

• Developing nurturing relationships

• Giving generously

Questions for reflection:

Is our experience of the love and joy of Jesus worth transmitting to others?

Have you ever been in an intentional discipleship relationship in which someone has walked with you over time with the express purpose of helping you become mature in Christ?

What might the impact be on our own lives, our church, and our community if we take the time to invest in someone’s spiritual life?

It does not matter where or how we start. It only matters that we start.

“Disciples cannot be mass produced.” (Leroy Eims)

Discipleship Class Schedule

January, 2007: What is Discipleship?

February 4 Prayer

February 11 Worship

February 18 Food for the Soul: the Word of God

February 25 Our Call to Service—Reflecting Christ

March 4 Our Call to Relationship—Growing with Others

March 11 Generosity: “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Mt. 10:8)

March 18 Taking the Gospel into the World

“For God so loved the world...” (John 3:16)