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There is a video of the same sermon on another occasion here. The sermon starts at 30:40.
1. Title slide
We are in the middle of looking at disciple-making.
2. 10 things
Can you please tell me 10 things about Jesus: Who He is, What He is like, and what He did/does?
3. The church’s mission is…?
4. …making disciples
But what is a disciple?
5. Matt 28
The Great Commission tells us what our mission is and how to go about it. But it also tells us what a disciple is. Jesus’ words give us a profile of a disciple.
6. Baptised
If disciple-makers are to baptise, that means disciples are baptised. And that means that disciples have faith in Jesus as their Saviour.
7. Learning to obey
Disciples are people who are learning to obey everything Jesus commanded. In other words, they are people who are committed to following Jesus as Lord and who are growing. They are learning.
One of Jesus’ commands is this one: go and make disciples, so…
8. Go and make disciples
Disciples engage in the mission of Jesus.
9. Matthew 4:19
Or, we could look at Jesus’ call to Peter and Andrew, James and John and we will see something very similar. Jesus’ words give a profile of a disciple.
10. What disciples do
· Come – disciples leave their old life and turn to Jesus
· Follow me – disciples follow Jesus
· And I will make you – disciples are being transformed by Jesus i.e. disciples are growing and changing
· Fisher of people – the objective is that disciples engage in the mission of Jesus
11. Latin sentence
When I started high school, the first two sentences in my Latin textbook read, “Discipuli picturam spectate. Britannia insula est.”
Does anyone know what that means? (pause)
12. Translation
“Pupils, look at the picture. Britain is an island.”
That has no relevance to us at all – except for that first word. Our word “disciple” comes from the Latin “discipulus” (or, plural, “discipuli”). A disciple is a pupil or a student.
13. Disciple = student of a person
But a disciple is not a student of a topic, like Latin or maths or geography. A disciple is a student of a person.
In the Bible
· Moses had disciples
· John the Baptist had disciples
· The Pharisees had disciples
· The rabbis had disciples
They all had a school of students who were learning from them. They would learn from their teaching but they would also learn from their example.
14. Becoming like that person
A disciple is someone who learns from a person with the objective of becoming like that person.
15. Luke 6:40
Jesus said, “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”
The desire of the disciple was to become like the rabbi or teacher. The disciple would not only listen but watch and imitate.
A disciple of Jesus wants to become like whom?
16. Suggested definition
Here’s my suggested definition: A disciple is a student of Jesus, learning from Him how to be like Him in thought, character and actions.
Does that describe you?
One thing to note is that disciples are learners, not fully mature. But the goal is to become like Jesus.
17. Role of the disciple-maker
The role of the disciple-maker is primarily to point to Jesus. Jesus is our example. We always look to Him.
But Paul said a number of times, “Imitate me.” For example, 1 Corinthians 11;1: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
If I follow Christ then you will be able to see in me what Christ-likeness looks like. The role of the disciple-maker is to follow Christ and therefore be an example of Christ-likeness.
18. The role of the disciple
To observe and learn and grow.
19. Objective = Christ-likeness
The objective is Christ-likeness.
20. Not just character
We often think that Christ-likeness is just about character – just about the heart – but it means thinking like Jesus and acting like Jesus – doing the things Jesus did.
21. Really?
Just a couple of questions…
Do churches see their mission as growing people to think and be and act like Jesus?
Do churches have strategies for doing that?
We are now going to race through a number of Bible passages. As we do, look for 2 things:
· There is a theme here: God intends us to grow to become like Jesus.
· How does that growth happen?
22. Luke 6:40
We have already mentioned.
But how does it happen? Through the input and example of a teacher.
23. Colossians 1:28-29
He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Paul says that all his energy is focused on one thing: being able to present everyone fully mature in Christ.
How? Proclaiming Jesus, admonishing, teaching and focused effort.
24. Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
God’s purpose is that we be conformed to the image of His Son.
Do you know what comes before Romans 8:29?
Romans 8:28 says “All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…”
The good that God wants for us is that we grow towards Christ-likeness. And God uses all things – all circumstances – as opportunities to grow us.
25. 2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Our transformation is a work of the Holy Spirit.
26. Ephesians 4:11-13, 15
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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…
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
How? Through the ministry of those called to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers and as we minister to one another, speaking the truth in love.
27. 1 John 2:5-6
There re two passages in 1 John that I find particularly challenging: 1 John 2:5-6…
5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
How can we know we are Christians? A Christian, by definition, follows and imitates Jesus.
28. 1 John 4:17
And another verse from 1 John, equally as challenging, I think.
This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: in this world we are like Jesus.
29. The list
Earlier, we listed some things about Jesus. The things we see in Jesus, should we also expect to see in followers of Jesus?
Jesus is unique.
But, in many other ways, we are to be like Him
· Sometimes on a different level
· But there is still a likeness.
30. Really?
Those questions again.
31. Summary
1. Our mission is to make disciples.
2. That means bringing people to faith in Jesus AND bringing people to maturity in Jesus.
3. The Bible defines maturity as Christ-likeness.
4. Disciples are learners. We might not have arrived but Christ-likeness remains our objective.
o Phil 3:12-14 – I do not consider that I have arrived but I press on towards the goal.
5. God has given us one another. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Pr 27:17)
6. Growing Christ-like people is a far bigger vision than most churches have.
7. A biblical vision like this requires intentionality, focus and commitment.
32. Our response
a. Wow! Jesus is my Lord and Saviour. I want to be like Him.
b. Wow! God wants me to be like Jesus.
c. Wow! Transformed by the Holy Spirit, I can be more like Jesus.
d. I will be a student of Jesus.
e. Wow! Enabled by the Holy Spirit, I can have a role in helping others know Jesus and be like Him.
f. I want to do that.
33. Next week
Evangelism: An invitation to be extraordinarily nice.
1615
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