Your Spiritual Legacy: Characteristics of Discipleship Colossians 1:1-14, 24, 28-29 Dr. Clarence Shuler Slide 1 Characteristic #1: Disciples produce spiritual grandbabies. I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. Colossians 2:1 How did the church at Colossae get started? v. 7-8 and 12-13 Epaphras Acts 19:8-10 Epaphras possible salvation experience Slide 2 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20 Slide 3 Whom do you choose to disciple and what do you teach them? You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. 2 Timothy 2:2
Discipleship is telling a believer who knows less than you what you have learned about God and the Bible. You haven t made a disciple until your disciple makes a disciple. Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages New York Times Best Selling Author Bob Cook I m sharing these truths with you so you share them with others. Slide 4 Discipleship is the biblical and best way to impact the world. Look at the numbers. Leading a person to Christ daily versus Discipleship (Spiritual Reproduction) Year People People Addition Multiplication 1 365 2 2 730 4 3 1,095 8 4 1,460 16 5 1,825 32 6 2,190 64 7 2,555 128 8 2,920 256 9 3,285 512 10 3,650 1,024 11 4,015 2,048 12 4,380 4,096 13 4,745 8,192 33 12,045 8,589,934,592 This is 8+ billion people, more than the current world population, which is 7.3 billion. Discipleship catches up with daily evangelism and passes it in 13 years! This is why discipleship makes sense.
Slide #5 Yet, as impressive numbers as these numbers are, discipleship isn t about the numbers. Discipleship is about a personal and spiritual transformation that can t be kept from overflowing into the lives of people who cross your path. Jesus came to radically transform our lives to reconcile us with God. This transformational process cannot be achieved through Bible study alone, or by attending church weekly to hear a preacher teach and explain what is in the Bible. Jesus knew it could only be achieved through personal interaction through relationship life-on-life experiences. So biblical discipleship is biblical knowledge plus relationship, not either or, but both and! Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of people. Matthew 4:18-20 Slide #6 Characteristic #2: Prayer v. 3 Consistently, often daily praying for their disciples v. 4 Prayer of thanksgiving to God v. 9-12 Praying specifically for disciples: (War Room praying) Philosophical conflict with Gnosticism a cult based on man-made knowledge, with which an individual could earn salvation without Christ. So phrases like complete knowledge, spiritual wisdom and understanding, etc., and God being the Source and only way to heaven is the battle (Acts 4:12). v.12 Prayer of thanksgiving for salvation v.13-14
If you are going to pray like this, you are going to need a WAR ROOM! Slide #7 Characteristic #3: Biblical Love I m not talking about loving cars or apple pie. v. 4-5 The Hope of the Gospel (1 Peter 1:3-5) *Explain: Hearing and biblical understanding (different from understanding and not agreeing) Definition of Biblical love: 3:1-17 & Mark 14:1-6 (Galatians 5:22-23 one of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control.) Breaking my tennis racket in seminary Slide #8 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through the Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17 Characteristic #4: Bearing fruit and Increasing v.6 - The Power of the Gospel *Picture of a tree with fruit & a picture of a withered tree with no fruit would be nice if you can find them. If not, no problem. Slide #9 Characteristic #5: Sacrifice and suffering I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church.
Colossians 1:24 Helping a friend of one of my disciples (Darryl) Slide #10 Characteristic #6: Discipleship s Mission So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect (mature) in their relationship to Christ. That s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ s mighty power that works within me. Colossians 1:28-29 Slide #11 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples (prove to be NASB). This brings great glory to my Father. I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! John 15:8-11