What will be the impact of your time on this planet?

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1 Disciple A disciple of Christ is one who understands there is truth - the Bible. Knowing truth reveals to the disciple the human problem of sin and the complete and total solution of Jesus Christ. A disciple receives with joy their new identity as a forgiven child of God. As they grasp the life-changing implications of this new identity, a disciple desires to more fully live out God s plan. On his or her own power they will fail, but disciples don t live on their own power. They live with a source of power within them. The Holy Spirit teaches, guides and directs their steps by helping them know the truth of God s Word and renewing their minds (Romans 12:2). Renewal leads to transformation as the disciple follows the Spirit and battles the weaknesses of the flesh (Romans 8:1-13). Are you a disciple of Jesus? Jesus makes a claim on our lives in our baptism, but sadly many people live their entire lives without engaging this relationship of love. Growing as a disciple is a life-long process. God starts by making sure we know who we are so he gives us our identity. As we grow he wants to influence every aspect of our lives as we experience a head over heels love him. Disciples never stop learning what God s Word says and never stop trying to put it into practice. However, it s not doing things that defines who we are. We are loved unconditionally regardless of what we know or do. The power of God s love is our power to love others as we walk in the good works God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). To call ourselves a disciple and fail to experience the transformation that God wants to produce in our lives would be a tragedy. Our engaged, intentional, strategic focus on what God wants to do in our lives will result in the most meaningful life possible (John 10:10). He offers this life to all who believe, but only believers who submit their lives to him receive the gift. Are we willing to take him up on his offer of living extraordinary lives of love so that his mission of reconciling the world to himself will be accomplished? A disciple of Christ is one who answers, yes and fully engages their life in the mission. When we let God s love flow in and through us in such a way that it makes an eternal difference in the lives of others, we are aligning our lives with the very heart of God. Living this way is a guarantee that we will have a positive impact on others now and forever and experience God s best! What will be the impact of your time on this planet? We are disciples (noun) who are called to disciple (verb). Our investment in both becoming a disciple and helping others to become disciples has the potential to leave a legacy unmatched by any other of life s endeavors. Imagine celebrating in heaven with those you have discipled and with people from successive generations who are in heaven because of your obedience. Our work of discipling others will last forever! Hear Jesus priority in his own words: 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 28:19-20 Disciples are to make disciples. Each of the words in bold are actions that disciples choose to take. We don t have to be a missionary overseas to carry out what is commonly called the Great Commission. In the original Greek language, the first word in this verse, go, means as you go. Our role is to live our lives under the direction of the Holy Spirit, so that our lives have a positive impact on those in our family, in our neighborhoods, at work and in the world. As we go, wherever we are, we are to make the most of every opportunity to make disciples of those around us by engaging in the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-21) as we are guided and empowered by God s Spirit

2 (Acts 1:18). The key for us in our all of our relationships is to be tuned in and ready to have important spiritual conversations as they arise naturally from the circumstances of life. Every relationship and conversation has redemptive potential. Our lives are a witness to something. The question is whether we provide a helpful or harmful witness to the reconciliation Christ wants with all people. If we are a good example of Christ, those around us will learn correctly what it means to live as a Christian. If we say we are Christian and don t act any different the rest of the world, we are providing a negative witness and we risk repelling people from the faith. Living out a Biblical faith in front of others will create questions for those who are watching us. Ultimately there will be spiritual conversations and the opportunity to tell others about the basics of our faith. The 7 Truths provide a simple outline to explain Christianity in these moments of opportunity when people are open to what we have to say. Knowing the verses that go along with each foundational truth helps you share the Biblical basis for that truth using God s Word not your own. Showing others these truths in the Bible can pique their interest in studying the Bible. We need to learn how to communicate the basics well so we are ready to answer everyone about the hope we have (1 Peter 3:15). As people engage in faith discussions, we will have the opportunity to discuss another of the actions in the Great Commission, baptism, from two different perspectives. Many adults today were baptized as babies, but sadly have rejected the promises of baptism. In discipling adults who have been baptized, our primary role is to teach them to receive again the gift of love and grace that God has already provided in their baptism. When we encounter an adult who has not received this gift, we have a wonderful opportunity to help them process the foundational truths of Christianity so they may receive this gift for the first time. Again our primary role is to teach! Disciples need to learn to teach because knowledge is a key component of transformation. The teacher always learns the most, and nowhere is this more true than when it comes to our faith. Ultimately our task is to introduce those we disciple to the answers they need for their lives. The goal is to teach the fullness of truth about Jesus and his message and to demonstrate how that can impact every area of life. As we learn more about Christ, we can discuss his solutions to the toughest problems with others. Teaching obedience to all that Jesus taught is a life-long process that addresses the most challenging issues faced by human beings. Here are a few of the more common questions and issues raised as we attempt to teach obedience to all that Jesus taught: My life lacks purpose even though I have material things, what s wrong? I m going to die, but don t want to face that reality. Since I have to die, I would like to go to heaven, if there really is such a place. What do other religions and denominations believe and how does that compare to what the Bible says? Why do good people get sick, hurt and/or die? I want to feel good about myself, but I can t get over my past mistakes. Why do I struggle so much with finances? I want my life to count for something, but I have no idea how to make that happen. I want a great marriage, and I don t want to divorce, but I worry mine won t turn out that way.

3 I want my kids to be healthy, happy, and successful. What do I do when kids don t turn out that way? My past experiences with religion have not helped, in fact they have been... (boring, irrelevant, abusive, meaningless, etc.) I m still hurting from past failed relationships. Why does it take so long to heal? How do I understand the issues of homosexuality and abortion when the law of the land is different than the teaching of the Bible? Why is there so much pain and suffering in my life or in the world if God is real and he loves us? Hasn t science really proven that the Bible can t be true? Can I believe evolution is true and still believe in the Bible? I want to be connected with others, to be known and accepted. I want to be loved for who I am, not just for what I can do for people. Where can I find relationships like that? We can prepare in advance for these conversations by making sure we understand how the solution of Christ and the teaching of the Bible address these tough problems and questions of life. Remember, one of the most important concepts of the faith is that until we teach, we don t fully learn. Jesus plan for making disciples recognized that part of the process of our own discipleship is the learning that takes place when we disciple others. The expectation that we teach one another however is clear (Romans 15:14, Colossians 3:16). A disciple is a life-long learner, but also a life-long teacher. If we are prepared to engage the big issues of life with others, we will have many opportunities to disciple them. We don t have to be experts, but we do want to be life-long learners. Even if we have only a basic knowledge, we can begin to share it with others. As questions arise that we can t answer, we can seek the answers, and grow in the process. Rest assured that there are answers in the Bible, but it does take time to learn the answers and to learn how to teach others. The key is to engage people in conversations, learning to listen first. If we can seek to understand what people believe and why they believe it, it is more likely that the person we are talking to will ask us what we believe. Responding to a question is the best way to enter into a spiritual conversation. Our first attempts won t be perfect, but trust the Holy Spirit work in the person s life in spite of our imperfections. Understanding stages of spiritual growth will help guide your conversations. Every stage of growth has its own unique characteristics and needs. In order for us to provide the right information and experiences to learn, we can attempt to understand the maturity of level of the person with whom we are talking. The Apostle Paul compared spiritual growth to human development: beginning as a baby, then growing into a child, adolescent, and finally, a parent. God loves all us unconditionally no matter what stage of growth we are experiencing - but he loves us so much that he doesn t want to leave us where we are! Our love for people should be like God s, no matter what stage they are in or how long they have been there. However, our goal is that everyone grows up into their salvation (1 Peter 2:2). How do we know a person has reached maturity? The simple answer to that question is by whether or not they are spiritually parenting others. Spiritual parents are not perfect, but they have undertaken the all-important task of helping others grow in the faith by becoming disciple-makers. To live fully as a disciple of Christ means that we aspire to have spiritual children of our own.(1 Corinthians 4:15).

4 Please study the attached chart which explains the stages of spiritual growth. You will gain insight into your own spiritual growth and that of others. Living as a disciple who invests in the spiritual growth of others is the most amazing way to live life on this planet. May God richly bless you as you undertake his mission to look, live, and love like Jesus and teach others to do the same! Ice Breaker: Share with one another the absolutely craziest thing you have ever done as a result of being in love with a member of the opposite sex. What s the craziest thing you have ever done because of your love for God and his mission of disciple-making? Review these passages from the Bible and discuss them as a group. Here are some questions to get your discussion started: Which of these ideas grabs your attention? What question comes to your mind when you hear or read these verses? How does this passage speak to you right now? 1. Matthew 7: John 15: Romans 10: Luke 9: Matthew 4: Corinthians 4:14-16 Discussion Questions 1. What aspect of living as a disciple would bring you the most joy? What aspect of a disciple s life causes concern or seems challenging? 2. Review the chart attached to this document. Where do you see yourself in terms of spiritual growth? 3. Who is helping you in your spiritual growth? How often do you meet and how are plans made for spiritual growth? 4. What spiritual growth steps are you working on now? How satisfied are you with your spiritual growth? 5. Make a list of people should be discipling. What are your biggest obstacles in making an investment in the lives of others that would lead them into a love God? 6. How can we help you take your next spiritual growth step? Please forward any comments, questions or requests to dan.grissom@tlc4u.org Memorize Matthew 28:19-20 this week and be prepared to recite it to someone next week. What strategies could you use during the week to challenge and help each other to scripture memorization?

5 Characteristics of a Disciple Scripture for each stage Who they are What they need Heart Issue Common phrases and questions Pre-Christian Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3 Infant Christians But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 1 Cor. 3:1 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:2-3 On the fringe Possibly undecided about the claims of Christianity Struggles most with belief in Christ, but not necessarily God Church attender but not involved Possibly a longtenured churchgoer Could be a church attender without a Christ Exhibits a slow pace of growth The longer they attend without a next step, the less likely that next step will ever happen Agreement with core doctrines is less Ignorance, confusion and dependence are common An explanation of the gospel An invitation to receive Christ Help developing a Christ Compelling worship services Belonging Spiritual models to demonstrate the new truths of the faith Answers to questions about the Bible, God and Christianity Personal attention of a disciplemaker Care and protection Help developing new habits to live by Freedom to watch and observe Inspired by what they see and their participation when asked to be involved Curiosity separates them from the crowd Willingness to tell their stories - a desire to be heard and to be known Evaluating authenticity - does their story match the church s story? Motives checked - is there a good fit Willingness to accept the challenge - come live in Christ with us! I don t believe there is a God. The Bible is a bunch of myths. Christians are just too hypocritical. God is a crutch. Religion causes wars. There are many ways to get to God. There is no hell, God is a God of love. I ve been a good person. There is no absolute right and wrong. I ll take my chances with the man upstairs. Why do I need to go to church regularly? I ve been hurt by people, so it s just me and God. I don t need others. If I pray and read my Bible will I be good enough? I provide for my family. I don t have time for church. What should I do about my old friends who don t believe? I didn t know the Bible said that. I know that Jesus is Lord and Savior, but is karma real? Does God let dead people visit us to give us messages from Him?

6 Scripture for each stage Children Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 1 Cor. 14:20 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. Hebrews 5:12-13 Who they are What they need Heart Issue Common phrases and questions On board with core Help in deepening Rediscover heart beliefs a personal for people and Growing more relationships comfortable with Christ instead of doing spiritual practices Teaching about church Hesitant to take their identity in Active life posture their faith beyond Christ that connects with the walls of the Help real needs of church understanding the others, displaying Poised for great Bible in greater the heart of God spiritual advances depth Beginning of and impact Church leaders spiritual formation Self-centered who model and practices of Idealistic consistently Scripture Over confident or reinforce how to meditation, under confident grow spiritually thoughtful Compelling reflection and worship services Challenge to grow and take next steps A relational connection to a healthy small group Help for how to start feeding themselves Teaching about how to have relationships with other believers Teaching about the appropriate expectations of other believers A place to learn how to serve prayer, exploring missional habits Desire for public acknowledgement of commitment to Christ by the church Blessing by laying on of hands I believe in Jesus and my church is in the woods, just him and me. Don t branch my group into two groups. It s comfortable for me right now. Who are all those people coming to our church? The church is getting too big. I love my small group the way it is. Don t add any more people to it. My small group members are not taking care of my needs like they should. I don t have anyone who is spending enough time with me. No one is discipling me. I didn t like the music today. If they only did it like... I m not being fed in my church, so I am going to a church that meets my needs. Pastor looked right at me and didn t say hello.

7 Scripture for each stage Adolescence Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. Ephesians 4:15 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. Hebrews 5:14-6:1 Who they are What they need Heart Issue Common phrases and questions Making their Desire to try and I love my group, but do the things of there are others who Jesus part of God need a group like this. everyday life Development of I think I could lead a Confident in God s intuitive group with a little help. I presence, power, incarnational have three friends I have and their identity lifestyle been witnessing to, and Connecting daily Freely giving of this group would be too with God through time, resources, big for them. personal spiritual relationships, Look at how many are at practices dinners, inviting church today-it s Beginning to show sojourning people awesome! I had to walk signs of spiritual into family time, two blocks from the transformation recreation, closest parking spot. including tough sin hobbies, and Randy and Rachael issues small groups missed group and I called The backbone of Desire for church them to see if they are serving in the membership and okay. Their kids have the church commissioning for flu, so maybe our group Serves others with ministry can make meals for them. joy I ll start. Other-centered In my devotions, I came with humility across something I have Sacrifices for a question about. others I noticed we don t have an old folks visitation team. Do you think I could be involved? Help in understanding the Bible in greater depth Help in deepening a personal Christ Help shaping their teaching of others Church leaders who model and consistently reinforce how to grow spiritually Continued challenge to grow and take next steps Ongoing mentoring relationships with encouragement and accountability A spiritual parent to debrief them about ministry experience Encouragement to take personal responsibility for spiritual growth Help establishing boundaries Guidance regarding appropriate expectations of people they will serve Ministry skill training Help identifying their spiritual gifts

8 Scripture for each stage Spiritual Parents But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. Mark 4:20 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 1 Cor. 4:15-16 Who they are What they need Heart Issue Common phrases and questions Christ s great workforce Head over heels in love with God Tithing, serving, and evangelizing more than anyone else Under challenged by the church Intentional about building relationships so that discipleship can happen Able to reproduce the process they have learned as a disciple Able to feed themselves spiritually on God s Word Works with a team of disciples, acknowledging they do not possess all that a disciple needs to be well roundeddisciple Help in understanding the Bible in greater depth Help in deepening a personal Christ Church leaders who model and consistently reinforce how to grow spiritually Challenge to grow and take even bigger next steps Encouragement to take personal responsibility for spiritual growth Ongoing relationships with other disciplemakers A church family, discipling people as a part of team Peer accountability and encouragement Opportunities to lead and disciple others Take ownership of their spiritual growth and the spiritual growth of others Positioned with time, resources, and energy to disciple people Commitment to live as a missionary in all areas of life This guy at work asked me to explain the Bible to him. Pray for me. We get to baptize someone from our small group tonight. When is the next discipleship class? I want to get her plugged into ministry somewhere. Our small group is going on a mission trip and I have given each person a different responsibility. I realized discipleship happens at home too. Will you hold me accountable to spend time discipling my kids? I have a person in my small group who is passionate about children. Can you have the children s ministry people call me? Disciple CS.pages Tuesday, July 30, 2013