Discipleship #4 Engage and Establish, Part III & Equip and Empower HOW: ESTABLISH SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS CONTINUED 1. Foundation #5: Worship and Prayer Romans 12:1-2 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Worship: true worship involves the continual laying down of one s entire life to live according to God s will and ways, as well as the continuous proclamation of His greatness. (Romans 12:1-2; Psalm 96; Psalm 150) o Cultivating a lifestyle of worship is critical for believers; for it is when we worship that we connect with God on a heart level and realign our affections to be set on Him. o We are to worship and come into God s presence with praise and thanksgiving. (Psalm 100:4-5) Discipleship #4 Rev. Aug. 23, 2017 Page 1 of 14
There are several different expressions of praise throughout Scripture. A few examples are: singing, shouting, dancing, playing instruments, etc. (Psalm 100:2; Psalm 150; Psalm 47:1; II Samuel 6:14-16) Praise is one of the greatest weapons and battle strategies that God has given us to use against Satan. (II Chronicles 20:21-24; Psalm 149:6-9) Praise enables us to overcome trials and endure through suffering. (Acts 16:25-26; James 1:2) o We are to worship God in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23) o We are to worship God with clean hands and pure heart. (Psalm 24:3-6) o We worship God when we love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5; Luke 10:27) o We worship God when we agree with and believe His Word. o We worship God when we live according to His Word and ways. This involves the choices we make, the words we speak, how we love and relate to others, and how we steward our time, talent, and finances. Prayer: a two-way conversation with God, just as you would talk with a friend. Prayer is also the process by which we establish God s rule and Kingdom on the earth. Matthew 6:9-15 Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our Discipleship #4 Rev. Aug. 23, 2017 Page 2 of 14
debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. o We pray to the Father, not to the mother, saints, or angels. (Matthew 6:6, 9) We pray to the Father, in Jesus s name, with the help of the Holy Spirit. We also approach God the Father through the Son by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 6:6, 9; Hebrews 4:16) o We pray for God s will to be done. (Matthew 6:10) o We pray for provision. (Matthew 6:11) o We pray for forgiveness when we sin, as well as the grace to forgive those who have offended us. (Matthew 6:12; Matthew 5:23-24; Mark 11:25) o We pray for victory over temptation and protection from the devil s schemes. (Matthew 6:13) o We pray in the Spirit to build up our faith. (Jude 1:20) Help new believers to establish a daily time in prayer. Attending prayer meetings with other believers is a great way to help cultivate one s prayer life. In all kinds of prayer, pray with confidence. (Hebrews 4:14-16; I John 5:14-15) 2. Foundation #6: The Church and Fellowship 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another None of the original disciples followed Jesus alone. Discipleship #4 Rev. Aug. 23, 2017 Page 3 of 14
Following Him meant following along with other disciples. (I John 1:7) Fellowship is the Greek word koinonia which means, Christ-centered relationships and friendships that enhance spiritual growth. Biblical fellowship is more than greeting a few church members in the lobby before or after a worship service. True fellowship is doing life together. (Acts 2:42) God designed discipleship to occur through fellowship in the context of a spiritual family, which is found in the local church. (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25) The community of believers helps to solidify us in God s family. (Acts 2:42-47) THE BENEFITS OF FELLOWSHIPPING WITH OTHERS There are a variety of amazing benefits that come from fellowshipping with other believers on a regular basis. 1. We mature in fellowship. (Hebrews 12:8) 2. We are fed in fellowship. (Ephesians 4:14-16) 3. We are defined in fellowship. (I Corinthians 12:14, 18) 4. We are protected in fellowship. (Acts 20:28-29) 5. We bear fruit in fellowship. (John 15:5) PUTTING DOWN ROOTS It is not enough to simply fellowship with other believers. God calls each of us to individually plant ourselves by putting down roots in a local church. 1. We must put down roots if we want to grow. (Psalm 92:13-14) Discipleship #4 Rev. Aug. 23, 2017 Page 4 of 14
2. God provides a wonderful home and prosperous future for people who will humble themselves and fellowship with others within a spiritual family. (Psalm 68:6) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Which of the Six Foundations discussed last week and today would you like to grow in more personally? How can you strengthen that foundation in your own life? 2. How has being rooted in a spiritual family affected your life for the better? Is there anyone you know right now that you can help get planted in the local church? What practical step will you take to help them? Equip and Empower HEART: THE MYTH OF MATURITY 1. Which comes first, maturity or ministry? Spiritual progress, not perfection, qualifies a person to minister. Ephesians 4:11-13 It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 2. The job of the five-fold ministry is to prepare others to minister, not to do all the ministry (vs. 11). They are the MENTORS. 3. The job of the people is to do the work of service (vs. 12). They are the MINISTERS. 4. The result of this process is attaining the fullness of Christ (vs. 13). This is MATURITY. 5. Discipleship helps get ministry out of the hands of the experts and into the hands of every believer. Discipleship #4 Rev. Aug. 23, 2017 Page 5 of 14
HOW: EQUIP ALL BELIEVERS TO MINISTER 1. Because God called every member to be a minister, all believers must be equipped in basic ministry skills. 2. God s word is the ultimate equipping tool. II Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 3. Leaders equip God s people to make disciples. Do you spend more time and energy ministering to people or preparing people to minister? 4. Mentoring is a primary component of leadership. Ananias mentored Paul when he was a new believer. Elijah mentored Elisha. Moses mentored Joshua. Paul mentored Timothy. BEING A GOOD LISTENER James 1:19-20 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 1. Listening requires that we give thoughtful attention to the one speaking for the purpose of truly hearing them. God is a good listener and we are to reflect His character and ways. (Psalm 34:15-17; II Chronicles 7:15) Listening is not about you; rather, listening is about the person speaking to you. (Proverbs 20:5) Discipleship #4 Rev. Aug. 23, 2017 Page 6 of 14
The person you are listening to is important because they too are a child of God. (John 4:4-26) 2. Practically, we can develop our listening ability by following the law of LOVE: Listen Observe Validate Empathize HEART: THE MIRACLE OF MULTIPLICATION 1. Every disciple should make disciples. (Matthew 28:18-20) II Timothy 2:2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 2. When pastors empower others to minister there is a multiplication of ministers and an unlimited number of people who can receive ministry. HOW: EMPOWER ALL DISCIPLES TO MAKE DISCIPLES 1. If we equip people to minister but fail to empower them to make disciples, we will frustrate them. 2. Equipping without empowering produces disciples with head knowledge. Empowering without equipping produces disciples who never mature. We must do both simultaneously. 3. Multiplication requires that you implement the following principles in the people you empower. Invest Instruct Impart. Include. Involve. Discipleship #4 Rev. Aug. 23, 2017 Page 7 of 14
THE PURPOSE OF CHOOSING THE TWELVE Mark 3:13-15 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve designating them apostles that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. We know that there were other disciples besides these, but Jesus s main ministry was to the Twelve. (Luke 10:1) 1. That they might be with Him. The disciples ate, laughed, prayed, and spent almost all of their time with Jesus. He explained parables to them, taught them, and did miracles in front of them. They traveled from town to town together. Jesus modeled the life He wanted them to lead. 2. They did ministry with Jesus. (John 4:2) 3. They were sent out to do ministry. (Luke 9:1-2) 4. Jesus prepared them for their future. He told them how He would be killed and rise again, how they would betray Him, how He would send the Holy Spirit to comfort and to be with them. (John 13:3-5, 14-15) 5. Jesus gave them the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) 6. Great Commission Summary: Make disciples. Baptize them. Teach them to obey. Discipleship #4 Rev. Aug. 23, 2017 Page 8 of 14
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A PATTERN FOR DISCIPLESHIP 1. I minister and you watch. 2. We do ministry together. 3. You minister and I watch. 4. You minister and reproduce yourself. DISCUSSION QUESTION 1. Are you spending more time and energy ministering to people or preparing people to minister? Why? What action step can you take immediately to increase the quantity and quality of your equipping people for ministry? 2. Would you consider yourself a good listener? Why or why not? If not, what action step will you take to improve your listening skills this week? HOMEWORK 1. Who is one person God has placed in your life that He is calling you to begin empowering to minister? What is their next step? Where can you make time for them in your schedule? What tools do they need that could help develop them in their calling? (ESF, Purple Book, Spiritual Gifts test, starting a life group etc.) Call them and set up a time to meet in the next week or two. If you don t have someone you are discipling and empowering, pray for God to bring someone into your life. 2. Write out the following Scripture: II Timothy 2:2 Discipleship #4 Rev. Aug. 23, 2017 Page 9 of 14
Addendum - BSD YEAR ONE DISCIPLESHIP GUIDELINES REPENTANCE AND FAITH Does the person you re discipling understand... Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10-11) Asking and receiving forgiveness for all past sins? A turn of heart to do God s will? The Lordship of Jesus Christ in all areas of their life? A willingness to obey Jesus in everything? BAPTISM IN WATER Does the person understand Baptism as an act of obedience? Baptism is full immersion after their conversion, not a symbolic gesture as an infant? God is doing a supernatural work of circumcision of the sin loving nature as they are baptized? BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT Do you see evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit by the person... Receiving his/her prayer language? Being empowered to be a witness? God working in his/her life, cleansing and purifying their heart and doing His work of sanctification? KNOWING GOD Does the person you re discipling understand that eternal life is knowing God? (John 17:3) Does he/she... Have a hunger for God s word? Have a desire to spend time with God and know who He is? BIBLE READING Does the person you re discipling... Have a disciplined habit of reading God s Word? Have a daily study time? Have a good Bible? Good translation? Study Guides? Share with you what they are learning from the Bible? Do you share with them what God is teaching you? Have a good plan on reading through the Bible? Know how to meditate on God s Word and receive revelation for their personal life? Understand principles of Bible Interpretation? Discipleship #4 Rev. Aug. 23, 2017 Page 10 of 14
Know how to do a word study, character study, topical study? Understand the importance of the Bible? o God revealing His will to man o It equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16) o It washes us (Ephesians 5:26) o It helps us discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14) o It helps us to have a framework of discernment for subjective supernatural experiences. PRAISE, WORSHIP AND PRAYER Does the person you re discipling... Have a quiet time every day where they sing and pray to the Lord and read His Word? Have an understanding of the importance of praise and worship how it ministers to the Lord and to their own heart and soul, and also does warfare in the spiritual realm? (Psalm 149) Understand that we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise? (Psalm 100:4) Pray in tongues regularly and understand the importance of doing this? (Jude 24, 1 Corinthians 14) Understand the different dimensions of prayer? o Intercession o Thanksgiving o Petition o Confession o Talking to God as a friend o Waiting silently before the Lord: listening COMMITMENT TO THE LOCAL CHURCH Has the person you re discipling Completed the Purple Book? Been through the Membership Classes (Spiritual Foundations, Spiritual Family, Membership interview)? Been through the Make1Start1 classes? Shown an understanding of submission to godly authority? Been faithful to attend Sunday church and a midweek meeting? Made relationships with other church members? Found a way to serve practically in the church? Shown an understanding of the core values of the church and EN and are they able to clearly communicate them. Discipleship #4 Rev. Aug. 23, 2017 Page 11 of 14
VISION Does the person you re discipling have... An understanding of God s unique plan for his/her life? (Ephesians 2:10) Long-term and short-term goals to achieve this plan? An understanding of their spiritual gifts and ministry gifts? An understanding of their unique personality and how that plays into God s plan for their life? A practical way that they are serving or preparing now for their future ministry? Self-motivation to achieve plans or goals and skills in time management? CHARACTER Is the person you re discipling displaying... Godly character and a longing to do what is right? Faithfulness in the little things? Loyalty and freedom from bitterness or resentment? Servanthood? Submission to Godly authority? A good attitude in work, school, family? Self-motivation and ability to use his/her time wisely? WITNESSING Does the person you re discipling understand the importance of reaching out to his/her unsaved friends and family, as being the most effective form of evangelism? Do they understand how to share their faith? Can they share the plan of salvation and help someone to make a decision to follow Christ? Can they share their testimony? Do they pray and ask God for opportunities to witness? Do they understand the leading of the Holy Spirit? Do they understand the importance of planting seeds? (1 Corinthians 3:6) VICTORY OVER SIN Does the person you re discipling have an area of sin they are struggling with? Do they have consistent accountability? Are they open and transparent? Do they understand grace as being divine enablement for overcoming sin? (Titus 2:11) Discipleship #4 Rev. Aug. 23, 2017 Page 12 of 14
Are they free from condemnation? Do they understand righteousness? Have they studied the Bible in this area of sin to bring truth and freedom to their soul? HEALING AND DELIVERANCE Have you prayed with the person to break any curses over their life? Have you prayed for healing and deliverance from past hurts and areas of bondage in their life? Has the person been through Experiencing Spiritual Freedom (ESF)? LEARNING TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT Does the person you re discipling... Know how to recognize and discern God speaking to them? Know how to receive God s Word from his/her pastor or brother or sister? Recognize God leading them through the desires of their heart as they fully submit to God s will? Recognize when the Holy Spirit is leading them and when the Holy Spirit is giving them a check in their spirit as discernment? GIVING Does the person you re discipling... Understand and obey God s commands of tithes and offerings? Know how to budget and handle their money wisely? Have any debt or problems with borrowing money? Have any financial needs that you can pray with them about and perhaps help in any way? VARIOUS ROLES Does the person you re discipling understand... If they are unmarried, God s plan for his/her life while being single and enjoying this time of undistracted devotion to the Lord? Biblical courtship and engagement? If a married woman, God s role for her? (Ephesians 5:22, Titus 2:3-5) If a married man, God s role for him? (Ephesians 5:25-29) If a parent, disciplining and training their children to be godly (Ephesians 6:4, Deuteronomy 6:4-8) Discipleship #4 Rev. Aug. 23, 2017 Page 13 of 14
BEING COURTEOUS TO OTHERS Does the person you re discipling understand the importance of acknowledging the church member s special occasions, such as... Birthdays Birth of babies Engagements Weddings Funerals Bridal or baby showers The death of a close relative Graduations Anniversaries This could be in the form of a card, a phone call, a hug, a meal, a gift, or attending these events. Discipleship #4 Rev. Aug. 23, 2017 Page 14 of 14