A Portrait of Discipleship

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A Portrait of Discipleship

• The Most Excellent Most Holy Reverend Chris
  Jenkins

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I. Introduction to Discipleship

• 1. A General Definition
• Discipleship is the process whereby a genuine
  convert, enabled by the Holy Spirit, and led by a
  more mature disciple -maker, cultivates greater
  biblical knowledge, in addition to those
  spiritual disciplines heart attitudes that make
  him/her more and more like Jesus Christ. In
  other words, a disciple is a person who is moving
  closer toward greater likeness to Jesus in
  thought, word, and deed.

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Introduction to Discipleship

• Therefore, my spiritual maturity will ultimately
  be judged by how much I think, talk, and act like
  Jesus and not merely by the time that has
  passed since I said a prayer.

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Introduction to Discipleship

• Further, we should make a distinction between
  formal discipleship and those studies/events that
  may have elements of discipleship perhaps but
  which are not formal discipleship per se.

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Introduction to Discipleship

• In light of all of these considerations, a
  maturing disciple must eventually become a
  Disciple - Maker himself/herself.
• Follow my example, as I follow the example
  of Christ. (1 Cor 111, NIV)
• Even though you have ten thousand guardians
  in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in
  Christ Jesus I became your father through the
  gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. (1
  Cor 415-16, NIV)

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Introduction to Discipleship

• Why is this topic so important?
• Because the personal consequences for failing to
  be actively involved in discipleship are grave.

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Personal Consequences

• It may reveal an unconverted heart (cf. Matt
  717-20 1233).
• Either make the tree good and its fruit
  good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad for
  the tree is known by its fruit. (Matt 1233,
  NAS)

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Personal Consequences

• It means that I will miss the blessings of an
  intimate relationship with Christ that
  discipleship promotes (cf. 2 Pet 15-8).
• For if these qualities are yours and are
  increasing, they render you neither useless nor
  unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord
  Jesus Christ. (2 Pet 18, NAS)

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Personal Consequences

• It may indicate a prideful heart that refuses to
  acknowledge that I still need to learn (cf. Pss
  255 11912, 33).

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Personal Consequences

• It will leave me open to errors in thinking (cf.
  2 Tim 215).

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Introduction to Discipleship

• Why is this topic so important?
• b. Because the corporate consequences for
  failing to be actively involved in discipleship
  are grave.

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Corporate Consequences

• As a church we will be ineffective in our various
  ministries (cf. Matt 513-16).
• You are the salt of the earth but if the
  salt has become tasteless, how can it be made
  salty again? It is no longer good for anything,
  except to be thrown out and trampled under foot
  by men. "You are the light of the world. A city
  set on a hill cannot be hidden (Matt 513-14,
  NAS)

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Corporate Consequences

• We will lack qualified leadership (cf. 1 Tim
  31-13).

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Corporate Consequences

• Our people will have a superficial knowledge of
  Christ (cf. 1 Cor 31-3 Heb 511-14).
• And I, brethren, could not speak to you as
  to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to
  infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not
  solid food for you were not yet able to receive
  it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, (1
  Cor 31-2, NAS)

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Corporate Consequences

• We will have little or no substantive influence
  in the surrounding culture/community (cf. Rom
  121-2).
• And do not be conformed to this world, but
  be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so
  that you may prove what the will of God is, that
  which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom
  122, NAS)

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3. Why are so few Christians involved in
discipleship?

• A lack of understanding concerning the true
  nature of discipleship.
• A lack of appreciation for the opportunities and
  blessings of discipleship.
• A lack of spiritual maturity i.e., pride
  laziness.
• There is little personal evangelism happening in
  our lives.

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4. One final introductory note

• We must remember that discipleship is intimately
  tied to evangelism (Matt 2819).
• Discipleship is the natural outgrowth of
  evangelism.
• Discipleship is the responsibility of the
  spiritual parent.

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II. Spheres of Discipleship

• Personal discipleship
• Family Discipleship
• Church Discipleship
• These words, which I am commanding you
  today, shall be on your heart. "You shall teach
  them diligently to your sons and shall talk of
  them when you sit in your house and when you walk
  by the way and when you lie down and when you
  rise up. "You shall bind them as a sign on your
  hand and they shall be as frontals on your
  forehead. "You shall write them on the doorposts
  of your house and on your gates. (Deut 66-9,
  NAS)

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III. Elements of Discipleship

• Discipleship involves an impartation of knowledge
  (cf. Luke 246-47 Matt 728-29).
• When Jesus had finished these words, the
  crowds were amazed at His teaching for He was
  teaching them as one having authority, and not as
  their scribes. (Matt 728-29, NAS)

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III. Elements of Discipleship

• Discipleship involves an impartation of your life
  (cf. 1 Thess 27-8).
• But we proved to be gentle among you, as a
  nursing mother tenderly cares for her own
  children. Having so fond an affection for you, we
  were well-pleased to impart to you not only the
  gospel of God but also our own lives, because you
  had become very dear to us. (1 Thess 27-8, NAS)

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III. Elements of Discipleship

• 3. Discipleship involves an impartation of
  spiritual disciplines (1 Tim 47).
• But have nothing to do with worldly fables
  fit only for old women. On the other hand,
  discipline yourself for the purpose of
  godliness (1 Tim 47, NAS)

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Christian Disciplines

• Discipline of purity (cf. 1 Thess 43-8
  Leviticus 192).
• For this is the will of God, your
  sanctification that is, that you abstain from
  sexual immorality that each of you know how to
  possess his own vessel in sanctification and
  honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles
  who do not know God (1 Thess 43-5, NAS)

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Christian Disciplines

• b. Discipline of hospitality (cf. 1 Pet 49).
• Be hospitable to one another without
  complaint. (1 Pet 49, NAS)

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Christian Disciplines

• c. Discipline of daily Bible reading (Joshua
  18).
• This book of the law shall not depart from
  your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and
  night, so that you may be careful to do according
  to all that is written in it for then you will
  make your way prosperous, and then you will have
  success. (Joshua 18, NAS)

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Christian Disciplines

• d. Discipline of daily prayer (cf. Acts 114 1
  Thess 517).
• These all with one mind were continually
  devoting themselves to prayer, along with the
  women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His
  brothers. (Acts 114, NAS)

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Christian Disciplines

• e. Discipline of worship (cf. John 424).
• God is spirit, and those who worship Him
  must worship in spirit and truth. (John 424,
  NAS)

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Christian Disciplines

• f. Discipline of integrity (cf. Proverbs
  1222).
• Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
  But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
  (Proverbs 1222, NAS)

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Christian Disciplines

• g. Discipline of godly communication (cf. Eph
  54 415).
• and there must be no filthiness and silly
  talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting,
  but rather giving of thanks. (Ephesians 54, NAS)

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Christian Disciplines

• Discipline of commitment to the local church.
• i. Regular attendance (cf. Heb 1024-25)
• Membership (cf. Heb 1317)
• Giving (cf. Acts 2035)
• Participation/Service (cf. 1 Pet 410)
• Love Prayer (cf. Rom 1210 1 Thess 517)

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A New Year with New Opportunities!

• Make this a year where you grow spiritually.
• Get involved in formal discipleship.
• Let us facilitate getting you together with
  another man.