Church Culture. Picture of a Disciple. Cultures Are Built Through a Shared Picture of a Disciple

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Tracy Carpenter
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1 Church Culture Picture of a Disciple Culture Building #4 Cultures Are Built Through a Shared Picture of a Disciple When Christ calls a man, wrote pastor and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, he bids him come and die. There s no sentimentality in this statement. There is only an honest assessment of a disciple s life. Jesus mission was clearly about recruiting and making disciples. The very essence of the word disciple means a learner or a follower. In the ancient world, both Greek philosophers and Jewish rabbis had disciples. These followers identified themselves with the person and teachings of their master. Discipleship could be compared to an apprenticeship, a concentrated period of time for learning and mastery. A disciple s goal was to master a rabbi s or philosopher s teaching and pass it on to others. Jesus calls His disciples do this... and much more! Discipleship was a self-identifying word in the New Testament. Jesus early followers found their identity in linking their reputations and lives to Him. Unfortunately, our church cultures have lost this identity. Researcher George Barna writes the following: In one recent nationwide survey we asked people to describe their goals in life. Almost four out of ten adults described themselves as Christian. Four out of ten said they were personally committed to Christ.... But not one of the adults we interviewed said that their goal in life was to be a committed follower of Jesus Christ or to make disciples. Suppose we were to de-emphasize attendance statistics, square footage, and income figures in favor of a commitment to depth and authenticity in discipleship? Barna s research included pastors and hundreds of people who regularly attend church. We often identify ourselves by our occupations, political affiliation, or neighborhood, but seldom as a disciple of Jesus. Following Jesus, and not the latest business guru, celebrity, or political leader, should provide the true identity of each Christian. If a church is to be a disciplemaking church, it s imperative to establish a clear picture of a disciple. After all, how can we measure whether we re making disciples as Jesus commanded in the Great Commission? This picture must be rooted in the Scriptures so that our personal preferences, applications, or the latest popular author are rooted out. In this Bible study, you will explore how Jesus used the word disciple and follower. Our goal is to establish Jesus description of a disciple and translate this description into a picture for your church or ministry. Before you get started, pause and write out in the following box your current understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. You will come back to this description later on in the study. Navigator Church Ministries. Navigatorchurchministries.org Version 2.0 All Scripture, unless otherwise noted, is from the English Standard Version of the Bible. 1

2 Stop and pray. Ask God to clear your current picture of a disciple and to focus on His definition. Be open to some fresh findings from the Scriptures. Part One: Why should I follow Jesus as His Disciple? Disciples always follow someone, swearing allegiance to a master, teacher, or leader. From the following verses, describe why you would want to follow Jesus as His disciple. Passage What makes Jesus so attractive to follow? Isaiah 53: Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. John 3: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 6: When many of his disciples heard it, they said, This is a hard saying; who can listen to it? 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe. (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father. 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, Do you want to go away as well? 68 Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God. 2

3 Revelation 5: And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! 14 And the four living creatures said, Amen! and the elders fell down and worshiped. 1. What are some reasons for following Christ? 2. A disciple is always in relationship with a master. How would your picture of a disciple change if you viewed Jesus as the Master of your life? 3. In one to two sentences, write out your personal reasons for following Christ as His disciple. 3

4 Part Two: How did Jesus demonstrate a strategy for making disciples? In the middle of His three-year ministry, Jesus made a momentous decision. Instead of investing in the multitudes that were flocking to His teaching and miracles, Jesus chose to invest in twelve men. The following passages are several snapshots of Jesus investing in the twelve disciples. What can you observe about how Jesus invested in His disciples? Passage How did He invest? Mark 3:7-8, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea, 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve... so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach.... Mark 4:34 - He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything. Mark 6:1 - He went alway from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. Mark 6:7 - And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two.... Mark 6: The [disciples] returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Mark 8:27 - And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, Who do people say that I am? Part Three: What does a disciple of Jesus look like? Read the following passages and list the characteristics of a disciple of Jesus. These characteristics would include both the actions and character qualities of a disciple. Passage Characteristics of a disciple Matthew 4:19-19 And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 6:24-24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 4

5 Passage Characteristics of a disciple Matthew 7: Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 9:9-9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, Follow me. And he rose and followed him. Matthew 10: And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:42-42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. Matthew 11: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 16: Then Jesus told his disciples, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 28: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Luke 6:40-40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6: Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a 5

6 Passage Characteristics of a disciple man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. Luke 14: Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. John 8: So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 12: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 13: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 15:8-8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. John 15:16-16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. Acts 6:7-7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. 6

7 1. List all the characteristics of a disciple that you discovered. Identify both the actions and character qualities of a disciple. 2. Now write out a definition or description of a disciple. 3. How was your original description of a disciple affirmed or challenged? 4. Why do you think many Christians do not find their identity as disciples? 5. Do you think Jesus description of a disciple is realistic in today s culture? Why or why not? 6. If you were to write a motivational speech extolling the privilege and advantages of being Jesus s disciple, what main points would you emphasize? Jesus was to start a movement which would reach the whole world. He had three years in which to do it. And He deliberately devoted Himself to twelve men.... It occurred to me that such a strategy could not be improved upon. Richard Halverson 7

8 7. From all of the observations you ve made from Scripture, identify six to eight actions or character qualities of a disciple. Write out each one in a complete sentence with the appropriate verses to support your conclusion. 8. With each of these qualities, identify one to two ways that people would practically demonstrate this quality of discipleship. Here s an example. Description 1. Disciples love God with all of their heart. (Matthew 22:37) Demonstration A disciple loves God and: Practices a daily time with God. Regularly talks about his or her love for God

9 Description Demonstration Part Four: Discipleship and You Complete the following sentences: You are speaking to the Lord. Lord, I want to follow you with my whole life because. The Lord is speaking to you. My faithful disciple, I would like to commend you for how you. My faithful disciple, the one area I would like to see growth in is. 9

10 A Team Building Exercise to Create a Picture of a Disciple Step one. Meet as a team and compare all of your discipleship descriptions. 1. Have each person share his or her findings and list them on a pad or whiteboard. Identify the ones that everyone has in common. 2. As a group, identify the six to eight key qualities of a disciple. 3. On a large pad of paper, illustrate by drawing your picture of a disciple. 4. Another way to capture a picture of a disciple is through the use of an acronym. Here s an example of one church s picture of a disciple: A disciple L.O.V.E.S. L - loves God and others O - obeys the Scriptures V - volunteers for the Great Commission E - engages in evangelism S - is Spirit-empowered Brainstorm on creative ways to remember the key qualities of a disciple. Step two. As a team, think how you will communicate your picture of a disciple. 1. What if everyone in your church understood this picture of a disciple? What might God do? 2. What are some practical ways to ensure that every ministry in your church embraces this picture of a disciple? 10

11 3. Brainstorm and list three to four ways you could communicate your description of a disciple to every member of your congregation. 4. Prioritize and choose your top two to three ways. 5. How and when can you act upon these two to three ways? 6. Who will have the responsibility to communicate these key qualities? 7. How will you know if other leaders and the congregation are embracing your picture of a disciple? Step three. Take your picture of a disciple and invite another group of leaders to review and assess your description. 1. Ask them two questions: What do you like? What can be improved? 2. Review their comments and make the appropriate revisions to your picture of a disciple. Navigator Church Ministries. Navigatorchurchministries.org Version 2.0 All Scripture, unless otherwise noted, is from the English Standard Version of the Bible. 11

John the Baptist Introduces Jesus. John 1:29-34

John the Baptist Introduces Jesus John 1:29-34 Prologue (vv. 1-18) John Chapter 1 The Divine Word The True Light coming into the world The Word becomes human The identity of John the Baptist (vv. 19-28)