Define Discipleship

This message was preached on October 11, 2009

      How Do I Disciple?     

Intro.: This message is a continuation of a message that was started on October 11, 1009.

 

The first question that was asked when Deanna Kustas visited last month was “What is the gospel?” We dealt with that last week. The other question that was raised that Sunday was “What is Discipleship?”. I would like to suggest four principles that may help us to understand what discipleship is all about.

 

1. Discipleship is based on Jesus' authority
1. When we think about Jesus' authority, we often think of the spiritual warfare that we all face.
2. Ephesians 6:10-12 reminds us Jesus does have authority in the spiritual realm: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
3. But remember Jesus told His disciples that he had “been given complete authority in heaven and on earth.”

(Ill.)  A great example of authority occurs on the football field.  In a football game, the power of big, strong, muscular men is ruled by a man with a striped shirt and a whistle. The referee alone has ultimate authority in the game. He alone has the power to stop the game and even throw rebellious players off the field. That’s the type of authority Jesus claims for Himself. In spite of Satan’s attempts to control the universe and the affairs of men, Jesus wears the striped shirt and carries the whistle. He controls the field of play. If we are going to accomplish His mission, we must operate under His authority.

4. We may find it easier to think of Jesus having control of our spiritual lives. But it is important that Jesus is also in control of our relationships – the people we come in contact with day by day. There are no exceptions to “all authority”.
5. Discipleship is rooted in Jesus authority – and he has “all authority.”
2. Discipleship is a world wide endeavor – both for those of us to disciple others and for those we are called to disciple.
1. When Jesus tells His disciples to make disciples of all nations, we immediately understand that the church is to take the gospel to all the world. What might not be so easy to understand is that it will involve the entire church.
2. The command is obvious – take the gospel to the entire world. Yet that command is given to eleven men. Though several of the apostles would eventually travel to points around the known world, the church's first missionary, Paul, was not present at that meeting.
3. The command given that day to the apostles was not a command to only them – but a command for the entire church.
4. We each are responsible for taking the gospel around the world. You may not go, but we are to involved in the effort – we can offer prayer, financial or material support, or encouragement to those God does call to go.

(Ill.)  Not all of the apostles left the Holy Land, some did.  Though is the best known missionary of the early church, Thomas is thought to have gone to India. Mark (a dear friend of Luke and Paul) went to Egypt and began what is the largest church in Africa – the Coptic church. They went to make disciples.

5. All twelve did not go – all twelve were involved in supporting those who did.
3. The one command we find in the Great Commission is to “make disciples”.
1. The great commission is not to eradicate sin
   the great commission is not to indoctrinate
   the great commission is not to condemn those with whom we
        disagree
   the command that stands front and center in the great
        commission is to “go and make disciples”
2. The great commission starts with sharing the gospel with others – but if we stop there, we have missed the point. The Great commission is about making disciples.
3. But what is that – how do is a disciple made.
4. Let me suggest four attributes of discipleship.
1. Discipleship means commitment -
1. A commitment to God –

(Ill.) As Jesus comes the end of his ministry Jesus, on the night he is to be arrested, Jesus prays. The prayer begins by turning to God. (John 17:1-5)

2. A commitment to those we are walking along side.

(Ill.) The same prayer that we just read, turns almost immediately into a pray for the eleven and for all of us that choose to follow Jesus.

3. Jesus never left his commitment to God or His disciples – even as he prepared Himself to hang on the cross
2. Discipleship also take Time
1. For thirty years Jesus spent showing his world what God was like.
2. For the last three of those years, He spent time with 12 men who He called to change the world.
3. Disciples do not happen by accident – they are the result of time – time praying for them and time with them.
3. Discipleship occurs implicitly as we live out our lives by example. Jesus show His disciples what it meant to be faithful in two ways. He did it by example.
4. Discipleship also occurs explicitly as we live share what we have learned about our faith with those Christ puts across our path. Jesus lived by example, He also taught us how to live a Christ filled life.

(Appl.) In the same way that Jesus made disciples, we need to do the same:

1. We need to be committed to Jesus
2. We need to be committed to those lives he allows us to touch
3. We need to take time – to be discipled and disciple
4. We need to live lives that will set an example for those around us
5. We need to be willing to share what God is teaching us with those around us

Conclusion:

Pray

Joshua: Looking Toward The End Watch the Video

Joshua: Looking Toward The End

Intro.: I want you to imagine just for a moment that you are near the very end of your life.

1. You know that the end could come at any time. And you want to leave something – but what?

2. Maybe you will decide to write your closest love ones a letter. I mean, most of us have 40 to 50 years of experience which have taught us a great deal. Experience which we may want to pass on to the next generation.

3. As we come to the last two chapters of Joshua, we find him doing exactly this.

Read: Joshua 23:1-5

Pray

Trans:Joshua was 110 years of age when he died.

1. Let me suggest you read Joshua 23-24 – they are two of the most readable chapters in Joshua. Chapters full of truth and instructions – both from Joshua and for us.

2. You will find Joshua's epitaph in Joshua 24:29-30

   After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten. And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.

3. It says three thing – the first is the stuff of jokes. “Name two people in the Bible who are said to have no father.” Of course there was Jesus. But most people forget about Joshua who was the “son of Nun.” Now Joshua did have a father, but his father's name was Nun.

4. It also says that he was buried at home, the very land which he was given because he believed God.

5. But the most important thing that it says about Joshua is to call him “the servant of the Lord.” No greater tribute could be paid to Joshua.¹

6. Scripture makes it clear that we cannot serve two masters – and it says Joshua served the Lord. Everything else came second – money, family, possessions. Joshua did serve the Lord.

7. This title “the servant of the Lord” is reserved for only three men in the entire Bible. Moses was the first and then came Moses successor, Joshua, It would be 400 more years before the term would be used to describe David. And then nobody.

8. I don't think I will ever compare to these men, but I do hope that when that day comes and I die, that those who know me will feel comfortable putting those words on my tombstone.

9. That was the very end of Joshua's life – but as he approached that point, he had some things to say to his people. And that is what we wan to look at today.

T.S. Joshua's message can be divided into parts – a look at the past and a look at the future.

1. It pays to discuss the past

   1. Joshua begins by calling his people to remember what God has done. “So be strong! Be very careful to follow all the instructions written in the Book of the Law of Moses.”

(Ill.) I want to let you into a little secret. I never did like history. In fact I was probably one those students you have read about who make silly mistakes in history class. Rich Lederer gathered a bunch of those in his book Anguished English.

• The Bible is full of many interesting caricatures.

• Noah’s wife was called Joan of Ark.

• Lot’s wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night.

• Moses went up on Mt. Cyanide to get the ten commandments, but he died before he ever reached Canada.

• Solomon had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.

• An epistle is the wife of an apostle.²

History wasn't much fun for me – but Joshua under its importance in preparing God's people for the future.

2. Joshua reminds the Israelites of all that God had done – He helped clear the land so that it could be settled. God said He would do it – and he did.

3. If I was going to memorize a single verse from Joshua 23-24, it would be Joshua 23:14 - You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.

4. Joshua, even at the end of his life, still recognizes that God is in the business of being faithful to what He says and to those who belong to Him.

(Appl.) As we age, it sometimes becomes easy to fall into the trap of thinking that God no longer matters. Take time now, while you still believe, to strengthen your walk so that you are ready, as Joshua was, to be faithful even when it gets difficult.

2. It pays to discuss the future

   1. But Joshua also speaks about the future. In Chapter 24 he begins to call the people to make a decision for themselves.

   2. In the OT it is called a covenant – but in the OT a covenant is a legal term. A covenant is not unique between God and his people – but is found throughout middle east during the era represented by the OT.

(Ill.) Excellent examples are found in the treaties of these Mideastern countries. The Hittites were one such group of people – Their covenants consisted of five parts:

1. The names of the parties involved

2. An historical summary of past relations between the parties

3. The stipulations that each party would uphold

4. A list of witnesses

5. A list of sanctions – good and bad, depending on whether the provisions of the covenant were honored

3. Joshua calls the people to make a covenant – but it comes with a strange addition:

   v14 “honor the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly”

   v16 'The people replied, “We would never forsake the Lord”'

   v19 “You are not able to serve the Lord, for He is a holy and jealous God”

4. It is ironic – even as Joshua calls his people to follow the Lord, he also is convinced that they cannot do it. It almost echos one of those things that I am saying quite regularly – we are broken people. As broken people, we cannot do all that God expects of us. And that is why we need a Savior. And there is another irony – the same Savior whose death covers us because we cannot live up to God's expectations, is the same Savior that empowers us, once we place our lives in His hands.

(Ill.) Harry Emerson Fosdick once wrote Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable; most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life, while faith rejoices in its God.³

Conclusion: Today, I want call you, like Joshua did so many years ago, to follow God. If you have never made a decision to follow Jesus, today is a good day to say “yes” to Jesus.

1. God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

2. Each of us has made a choice to go our own way. When we are going our own way, we cannot know and experience God's love and forgiveness.

3. God's only provision for our sin is Jesus Christ. As we place our lives into His hands, we can know and experience God's love and forgiveness.

4. Will you receive Him today?⁴

Pray

1Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1:370). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

2Streiker, L. D. (2000). Nelson's big book of laughter : Thousands of smiles from A to Z (electronic ed.) (383). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

3H.E. Fosdick found in Water, M. (2000). The new encyclopedia of Christian quotations (347). Alresford, Hampshire: John Hunt Publishers Ltd.

4Bright, B. (1994). Have you heard of the four spiritual laws?. Orlando, FL: NewLife Publications.