- 5 Key identity in Christ that will cause you to soar! #ChurchDNA 1
- Our Heart in Christ: #ChurchDNA 2
- 8 Biblical Secrets to Walking in Love: #ChurchDNA 3
- 13 Biblical Keys to Pursue His Presence: #CHURCHDNA 4
- 5 Reasons why Church becomes judgmental – #ChurchDNA 5
- The Key that Unlocks Heaven on Earth – #ChurchDNA 6
- 7 Keys to Finding Treasures that Truly Count: #CHURCHDNA 7
- A Church That Makes Disciples – Our Mission: #ChurchDNA 8
- 7 Keys that Reveal who the Holy Spirit is: #ChurchDNA 9
[Translation: [French | Italian | Spanish]
Hello friends! In this part 8 of Church DNA series we will talk about the biblical basis for discipleship.
As a church of Jesus Christ, we should be focused on making disciples. But what does it really mean to be a disciple?
Discipleship is about making people more like Jesus, and walk with Jesus and do His will, being there to help them when they fall down (provide community) and teaching them how to feed themselves spiritually. It’s about looking at people not only as children of God, but also as tools in God’s hands.
Discipleship is a command to all believers.
As children of God, we have all been given the mandate to rule over creation. It is written in the Old Testament: “And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28 ESV)
Jesus’s power and His eternal presence provide the foundation for the discipleship mandate in the New Testament: “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)
Jesus commanded us to follow Him as a disciple would: “Follow me, I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19 ESV)
The disciples followed Jesus until the end. Jesus gave His disciples one final command and ascended into heaven: He told them it was their job to finish what He started.
What does it take to become an effective disciple of Christ?
Three points on effective disciple-making
1. Discipleship is still being available
The Scriptures depict the church as full of proactive disciples. The truth is that a majority of the now-a-day believers are only passive recipients of the Word.
Lack of commitment is NOT something totally new. BUT…the church is still there and still provides opportunities for spiritual growth!
2. Discipleship is not forcing people to think and act like me
Discipleship is not about teaching someone how to be and act like us, but rather teaching them who Jesus is and challenging them to fall radically in love with Him.
3. Discipleship is teaching them you’re not perfect
If discipleship is about becoming like Jesus then you have to teach the disciples that you’re not perfect. Let them turn their eyes to Jesus and learn from Him.
How do I disciple someone to become like Christ?
1. Guide them to Baptism after Salvation
Every Baptism in the Bible happens after the disciples met with Christ. Baptism is your response to Christ and your obedience to His command.
Obedience is the sign of true salvation.
2. Guide them to have a personal spiritual life with Jesus
Hebrews 4:12 says that God’s Word is living and active.
Teach people to read the Bible and pray! It is similar to teaching a child to eat on his or her own and not wait to be spoon fed.
Share with them how reading the Bible and prayer have changed your life personally.
Prayer is actually a time when we connect with God in worship, confess sin, declare how awesome He is and then pour out our hearts to Him.
3. Encourage community and fellowship
When Jesus sent out the disciples—He sent them out in pairs, none of them went alone!!!
God commanded us to assemble regularly to worship Him in spirit and in truth. Hebrews 10:25-27 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation.”
Attending a Bible believing church IS a form of discipleship.
4. Discipleship is more than theory – it’s an action!
To become a disciple of Jesus also means to make disciples. As a Lord’s disciple, your most important responsibility is to spread the Word to the lost: “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16: 15-18 NIV)
Discipleship is a commitment to be a part of a local body of believers and support it with our time, our money and our prayers. [tweet this]Allow Jesus to FULLY bring OUT OF YOU what HE has PLACED INSIDE OF YOU by being FULLY INVOLVED IN CHURCH!
I hope you have been blessed with this message. Don’t forget to share this with your friends!