The PurposeDriven Church

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• The Purpose-Driven Church

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Discipleship?

• 12 confused guys wearing sandals following
  Jesus around all the time?
• A boring list of dos donts as far as being a
  Christian is concerned?
• Yet another lame plea to attend Bible study?

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Discipleship?

• Once we get beyond 12 guys walking around with
  beards notion of discipleship, we usually think
  in terms of a lot of learning, a lot of teaching
  a lot of stuff that weve got to know!
• Discipleship is equated with Bible study
• and thats not a bad thing!

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Discipleship?

• After all Jesus TAUGHT His disciples!
• They were His students His learners!
• And now we are supposed to learn from Jesus
  through them
• Through their teaching as contained in Gods Word!

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After all, doesnt Acts 242 remind us
They (the early Christians) devoted themselves
to the apostles teaching
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Discipleship?

• So discipleship IS about learning and studying
  and growing in the teachings of Jesus as
  contained in the writings of the apostles which
  is the New Testament part of the Bible Gods
  Word!
• So 12 confused guys notwithstanding, being a
  disciple means to be a student of Jesus!

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Discipleship?

• But does that give us the complete picture?
• Is Discipleship simply a matter of
  reading/studying the Bible - either on our own or
  in a group setting?

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Not just a learner
Jesus is our Model
Maybe this video clip will help
A person who follows the disciplines that Jesus
shares
Talmid (Hebrew word for Disciple) Plural
Talmidim
A Lifestyle of making Jesus Lord!
A person who also WALKS with Jesus (Yshua)
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As such, Discipleship takes on a more radical,
deeper-reaching life change within the believer!
We are not Sunday-only, occasional Christians!
We are people challenged to accept Jesus call to
follow Him throughout our lives and in everything
that this means!
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Beginning with our Baptism, we embark on a
remarkable journey of following Jesus! We are
welcomed into the Family of Believers and
challenged to see that this so much more than
membership! This is EVERYTHING!!!!
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Throughout the early years of this relationship /
discipleship we are taught trained - by
parents, in Sunday School and in Confirmation
Classes
But Confirmation is not Graduation!
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From our teenage years through the late stages of
adulthood, the Talmidim of Yshua continue to
study and grow in Gods Word!
The Disciples life is an endless quest for more!
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The Disciples life is also marked by constant,
regular and fervent conversations with God known
as Prayer.
We speak with God. We listen to God!
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The Disciple is nurtured by regularly receiving
the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Sacrament of
the Lords Supper!
We are blessed by this intimate encounter with
our Rabbi
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And theres more!
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There is the matter of FOLLOWING Jesus!
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Listen to Jesus voice
Take up carry your cross
Consider this video clip
Note the radical nature of following Jesus!
Serve Jesus
FOLLOW HIM!
Deny yourself
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And remember also these words of Jesus If you
hold to my teachings, you are really my
disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the
truth will set you free. John 831-32
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What began at your Baptism started you off on an
adventure of being a Disciple of Jesus that can
and will take you to places that are beyond
belief and might be downright scary!
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There is no room here for easy-believism or
Sunday-only Christianity. Discipleship is a
radical, no-holds-bar way living in which we not
only learn from Jesus and imitate Jesus. We
FOLLOW Jesus wherever and whenever He says,
Follow Me!
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We accept the challenges and opportunities that
Jesus lays before us. We rely upon the teachings
of Gods Word (of which we cannot get enough) for
the training we need. We are nurtured in the
Sacrament of Holy Communion. And then, we
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Just do it!
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Purpose-Driven Church

• To be a Purpose-driven congregation
• We need to insist on challenging and being
  challenged to deeper, more radical forms of
  Discipleship!

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Purpose-Driven Church

• There is no room for members anymore at St.
  Paul.
• Members need not apply they have NO rights or
  privileges here at St. Paul!

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Purpose-Driven Church

• There is only room for Disciples!
• There is only room for men and women committed to
  growth in the Word, prayer and receiving the
  Sacrament

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Purpose-Driven Church

• There is only room for Disciples!
• There is only room for men and women committed to
  following Jesus, taking up their cross, listening
  to His voice

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Purpose-Driven Church

• There is only room for Disciples!
• There is only room for people who are willing to
  follow Jesus - Yshua - no matter where He leads!

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Purpose-Driven Church

• Our Lord Jesus demonstrated true Discipleship
  Himself when He took up His cross for our
  salvation.
• He followed His Fathers will to the cross!

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Purpose-Driven Church

• We can do no less as we follow Him in true
• DISCIPLESHIP!

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Be the Centre
Jesus, be the centre Be my source Be my light,
Jesus
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Be the Centre
Jesus be the centre Be my hope Be my song, Jesus
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Be the Centre
Be the fire in my heart Be the wind in these
sails Be the reason that I live Jesus, Jesus
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Be the Centre
Jesus be my vision Be my path Be my guide, Jesus
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Be the Centre
Be the fire in my heart Be the wind in these
sails Be the reason that I live Jesus, Jesus
(repeat)
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Be the Centre
Be the fire Be the wind. Jesus!
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• The Purpose-Driven Church