Gospel Centered Discipleship: The Privileges, Prerequisites, and Practice

Transcription

1 Mary Somerville Grace Community Church June 1, 2013 Gospel Centered Discipleship: The Privileges, Prerequisites, and Practice Introduction: Discipleship is an intentional relationship in which we walk alongside other believers in order to encourage, equip, and challenge them in love to grow to be more like Jesus. One of the most effective ways to do this is through example. And it involves equipping the disciple to teach others. I. Why Make Disciples? The Privilege to: A. Obey your Lord s command (Matthew 28:18-20). B. Express your gratitude for the love of Christ through loving others (2 Corinthians 5:15). C. Participate in the stewardship of the Gospel and present disciples to Christ (1 Corinthians 9:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20; Philippians 4:1). II. What are the Prerequisites? A. A vital relationship with Jesus Christ as a growing Gospel-centered believer and start with yourself. 1. You must desire holiness more than to serve God in ministry. 2. The Gospel motivates us to continually root out sin in our own life. (Matthew 7:1-5; Galatians 6:1; 1 Timothy 1:18) 3. You must rely on the Gospel for your own salvation and sanctification. 4. You must be an example worthy of being followed because when your disciple is fully trained, she will be like her teacher (Luke 6:40). B. Confidence in the sufficiency and superiority of the Scripture for growth in Christ and handling all the personal and interpersonal problems of life. 1. The Scriptures genuinely address the heart (Hebrews 4:12). 2. The Scriptures provide all that we need pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). C. A solid, biblical theology on which to build your own discipling/counseling practices. 1. The Word of God thoroughly equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). D. An understanding of discipling/counseling as a one another ministry of the local church with the goal of completeness in Christ (Titus 2:3-5; Romans 15:14; Colossians 1:28, Ephesians 4:13). III. What is the Practice of Discipleship? A. Teaching your disciple how to grow into the likeness of Christ the goal of the Christian life which brings God glory (Romans 8:29; Ephesians 4:17-32; Colossians 3:1-15). 1. Recognize that it is all related to the Gospel and who we are in Christ (Ephesians 1-3). a) The indicatives (obligations) flow out of the declaratives. 2. Remember our condition! We are: a) Saints We are holy ones in Christ (Colossians 3:12). b) Sufferers We go through fiery trials (1 Peter; 1 Corinthians 12). c) Sinners We all sin (1 John 1:10). 3. Realize that sin is a vicious task-master and must be put off (Ephesians 4:17-22; Galatians 6:1-2; Proverbs 28:23, 27:5-6, 25-32; 1 Peter 1:15-16).

2 a) What is your situation, problem or sin? What circumstances affect you? When? Where? With whom? See The Three Trees Diagram (The heat trouble). b) How are you reacting? Actions? Words? Thoughts? Fantasies? Emotions? (Thorns--sins). c) Where do these originate? (In the heart or root). d) Dig deeper. What do you want? Expect? Demand? Believe? What are the consequences of your reactions? (Bad fruit). e) What does the Scripture say about the problem/sin? You are not to think, feel and behave (walk) as you used to walk (Ephesians 4:17-19). f) You are to live differently in Christ (Ephesians 4:20-21). 4. Repent and put off the old self! You can seek God in repentance and faith by looking to\the cross where your sins have been paid for (Ephesians 4:22). You call her to this, clarifying her responsibility, offer loving accountability while reminding her of her identity in Christ. 5. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind (Ephesians 4:23). Have a cross-centered perspective through meditating on the Gospel (Ephesians 1-3). 6. You are called to put on the new self! (Ephesians 4:24). Good fruit out of the good root a heart that loves God and wants to please Him. a) Examples Ephesians 4:15, 25; 28, 29; 31, Rely on His grace and power to accomplish change as you pray and ask Him to work according to His Word (John 15:7; 1 John 5:14,15; James 4:2b). 9. Real change comes through the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 2:20; 5:22-23). See the DWT Bible Study Guide. B. Encourage your disciples to make disciples (2 Timothy 2:2). C. Celebrate victories. Conclusion:

3 DISCOVERING WONDERFUL THINGS Psalm 119:18 Before you begin to study...pray for understanding! (Proverbs 1:23) PASSAGE DATE: OBSERVATION What does this passage say? Write out the text. Read the text out loud slowly in different translations. Memorize it. INTERPRETATION What does this passage mean? (Define words, see cross-references, examine the context). Write out the interpretation. What declarations of the Gospel are included in this text? What are the imperatives in this text? - Is there a reproof (a sin to avoid)? Is there a correction (a command to obey)? Is there instruction in righteousness (practical steps in how to put off the old self and put on the new)? Ephesians 4:17-32; 2 Timothy 3:16. APPLICATION How does this passage apply to me? How should this change my life? What specific things can I do to apply this truth to my life? Write down what you are going to do, with whom and for whom and when you will start. PRAYER Write out a personal prayer asking God to accomplish in your life what the passage requires. RESULTS What happened in my life because I applied this truth? Be sure and thank Him! Developed by Dr. Robert B. Somerville, Permission is granted to copy this and to use it in individual counseling or teaching opportunities. July 2012

4 A QUIET TIME What is it? It is a time set aside in your day to meet with God/Jesus. It is to give God the worship, devotion, and fellowship that He deserves and desires from us. We come with the heart of the psalmist who said, As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God (Psalm 42:1, 2). It is to develop an intimate relationship with Him through the reading of His Word and responding to it. If your relationship with Jesus is alive you will want to spend time with Him abide in Him and have His Word abide in you. He speaks to you through His Word and you speak to Him through prayer. What are the goals? First to get to know God better which will result in a deeper love for Him and desire to worship Him and live for His glory. Secondly, as He speaks to you through His Word you respond by praying that He will change you in accordance with it. How? First, open the Word and ask God to speak to your heart as David prayed: Open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from Thy Law (Psalm 119:18). He will speak to you as you listen to His voice from His Word. You may want to start with a Psalm to warm up your heart as the psalms are full of praises to God. It s good to read from the Old Testament as well as the New. Read a smaller portion of scripture, consecutively, so as to be able to think on it (meditate) in order to pick out the central thought of the passage and determine how God wants you to respond either with praise or asking Him to change you in a particular way. Record in your own words that wonderful thing in a quiet time journal. Also write out your response to it in the form of a prayer. Seek to share your wonderful things with others. A good goal would be to spend 20 minutes a day, preferably in the morning, 5 days a week. Seek to be consistent. Secondly, talk to God through prayer. Use this acrostic: Adoration for all He is as God His character qualities such as love, justice, grace, etc. Confession ask for cleansing of specific sins and thank Him for forgiveness Thanksgiving for all He has done for you specifically Supplication specific requests for others and yourself Keep a prayer journal of your specific requests. (John 15:7) Indicate when a prayer has been answered. It s a faith-builder to see all the specific answers. You can make categories to pray for each day or on different days: Family Unsaved Most Wanted Missionaries Friends at church and school Self A good booklet to encourage this practice is My Heart, Christ s Home by Robert Munger.

5 How People Change by Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp, p. 97. The Three Trees Diagram

6 RESOURCE LIST Growing Your Faith Respectable Sins The Transforming Power of the Gospel Trusting God : Even When Life Hurts Carroll, Joseph S. How to Worship Jesus Christ Chan, Francis, Mark Beuving Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples De Moss, Nancy Leigh Lies Women Believe & the Truth which Sets Them Free DeMoss, Nancy Leigh Becoming God s True Woman DeMoss, Nancy Leigh Singled Out for Him (on Singleness) Because He Loves Me Comforts from the Cross Counsel from the Cross Give them Grace: Dazzling your Kids with the Gospel Helper by Design How to Overcome Fear, Worry, and Anxiety Idols of the Heart Love to Eat, Hate to Eat The Afternoon of Life, Laura Hendrickson Will Medicine Stop the Pain? ed. Women Counseling Women, Carol Cornish ed. Women Helping Women George, Elizabeth Beautiful in God s Eyes (Proverbs 31) George, Elizabeth A Woman After God s Own Heart George, Elizabeth Loving God with All Your Mind Hughes, Barbara Disciplies of a Godly Woman Hughes, Lisa God s Priorities for Today s Woman Hunt, Susan By Design: God s Distinctive Calling for Women Hunt, Susan Spiritual Mothering James, Sharon My Heart in His Hands: Ann Judson of Burma Jones, Rebecca, Does Christianity Squash Women? Mahaney, Carolyn Feminine Appeal Anxious for Nothing Bible Studies (On individual books of the NT) Fundamentals of the Faith (13 Lessons) How to Study the Bible The MacArthur Scripture Memory System Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong Twelve Extraordinary Women; also Workbook What the Bible Says About Parenting McCulley, Carolyn Radical Womanhood Miller, Paul A Praying Life Myers, Ruth 31 Days of Praise Ogden, Greg, Discipleship Essentials Peace, Martha Attitudes of a Transformed Heart Peace, Martha Becoming a Titus 2 Woman Peace, Martha The Excellent Wife Piper, John Don t Waste Your Life Piper, John When I Don t Desire God: How to Fight for Joy Powlison, David Seeing With New Eyes Powlison, David Speaking Truth in Love Rico Tice, Barry Cooper Christianity Explored; also Handbook Somerville, Mary One with a Shepherd Lisa Tatlock, Pat Ennis Becoming a Woman Who Pleases God Lisa Tatlock, Pat Ennis Designing a Lifestyle That Pleases God Lisa Tatlock, Pat Ennis Practicing Hospitality Tripp, Paul Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands Tripp, Paul Relationships: A Mess Worth Making Tripp, Paul War of Words Welch, Edward When People are Big and God is Small Whitney, Donald Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

7 SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Anger/bitterness Anxiety/worry Child Rearing Conflict Resolution Contentment Depression Discernment Delighting in God and our Savior Jesus Christ Difficult Family or Other Relationships Emotions Excellence for God s Glory Fear of Man/the Lust for Approval Finding God s Will for a Husband Forgiveness Gossip Guilt Hospitality Humility Identity Integrity Jealousy Joy Loneliness Love Materialism Modesty/Vanity Patience Pride/self-absorption Purity Self-control/Self-discipline Servant Leadership Single But Not Alone Spiritual Gifts Submission Suffering Wife for God s Glory