Training... Dedication... Vision... Do you have whta it takes to FOLLOW?

The trained, the learned, the DISCIPLER!

THE DISCIPLER

INTRODUCTION: “Make disciples” is a commandment of the Master. We may ignore it, but we cannot escape it. Our risen Lord left this legacy, and great charter to His church. He provided both the model and the method. He demonstrated that we have not done anything until we have changed the lives of men.

I.     The statement “Disciples Are Made, Not Born” is not merely a cliche, but an imminent, practical and provocative working order of the Bible.

A.   When Jesus Christ voluntarily gave His life on the cross some 2,000 years ago, He did
        not primarily die for a cause; He died for people, Luke 19:10.

B.   During Christ’s earthly ministry, He ordained 12, that they should be with Him, and that
        He might send them forth to preach, Mark 3:14.

1.     Just before His death on Calvary, Jesus prayed for His Church, John 17.

2.     Over 40 times in that prayer, He made reference to His disciples (His Church).

C.   During His brief earthly ministry Jesus had the world on His heart, and just prior to His

ascension He gave His Church the “Great Commission” to evangelize the world, Mat-

thew 28:18-20.

II.     Christ’s vision of reaching the world through the use of multiplying disciples is the theme that pulsates from verse to verse.

A.   Jesus had world vision.

B.   He commands His Church to have world vision, Acts 1:8.

Discipleship is SHARING THE GOSPEL TO ALL! CONNECT!

III. Discipleship was obviously the thing that was on the Apostle Paul’s heart as he wrote his
         “Last Will and Testament” to his son in the faith, II Timothy 2:2.

A.   Notice the following points revealed in verse 2:

1.     “Thou” indicates the importance of the individual.

2.     “Thou” and “me” indicates the importance of personal relationship, mutual confi-

dence, and trust built up through laboring together.

3.     “Commit” suggests transmitting something from one person to another. It indicates the deposit of a sacred trust.

a.  Paul is saying to Timothy, “You are my disciple. This is the relationship that
      exists between you and me.”

b.  Now, transmit this as a disciple-maker to other disciples.

c.  You have become a disciple; now disciple others that they may also become
      disciplers.

B.   Later Paul wrote to Timothy, II Timothy 3:10,11.

1.     You have known my doctrine.

2.     You have known my manner of life.

3.     You have known my patience.

4.     You have known my persecutions.

5.     This was what Paul committed to Timothy and, in turn, what Timothy was to commit unto faithful men.

a.  Faithful men; Discipling stands or falls with these two little words.

b.  Faithful men and women have always been in short supply, but God still seeks
      them out, II Chronicles 16:9.

 c.  Teach others also. This is where the discipling process begins to pick up greater
      effectiveness.

d.  We begin the process with Paul, then Timothy, then faithful men, and finally
      others also.

C.   Teaching others cannot be done solely from the classroom.

1.     It entails the imparting of life in an in-depth transmission as occurred between

Paul and Timothy.

2.     This is a multiplication process.

3.     While the faithful men are teaching others, the Timothys are in the process of rais-

ing up more faithful men, who shall be able to teach others.

IV.    The key to disciple-making ministry is faithful men and women.

A.    The following are the qualifications for a faithful person (disciple).

1.     He has adopted, as his objective in life, the same objective that God sets forth in

the Scriptures, Matthew 6:33.

a.  Seeking the kingdom of God

b.  Seeking the righteousness of God

2.     He is willing to pay any price to have the will of God fulfilled in his life, II Timothy

2:3,4; Philippians 3:18,19.

a.  He is a good soldier.

b.  He has an orderly walk.

3.     He has a love for the Word of God, Jeremiah 15:16.

a.  What is your Scripture intake?

b.  Do you have a regular Bible reading program?

c.  Are you systematically studying the Bible?

d.  Is your craving for the Bible so great that it is impossible to exhaust?

 4. He has a servant’s heart, Matthew 20:26-28.

a.  The motto of the British Royal Military Academy is “Serve to Lead.”

b.  Notice the principle illustrated when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, John 13.

c.  The disciple-maker seeks to invest his life in another to help that person realize
      God’s will for his life.

5.     He puts no confidence in the flesh, Romans 7:18.

a.  He knows that nothing good dwells in the flesh, Romans 7:18.

b.  He knows that the flesh will not produce for God.

c.  He has no confidence in the wisdom of the flesh. His confidence is in the Word of
      God and in the Spirit of God, John 6:63.

6.     He does not have an independent spirit, Philippians 2:4.

a.  He does not live by the principle “do your own thing.”

b.  He desires to cooperate in the church to advance the cause of Christ.

7.     He has love for people, John 13:34.

a.  We are commanded to love one another.

b.  Love for people is the reason Jesus entered human history.

c.  Faithful people are involved in the lives of others because they have love for
      people, John 13:35.

8.     He does not allow himself to become trapped in bitterness, Hebrews 12:15.

a.  The root of bitterness will create problems for us and for others.

b.  Bitterness grieves the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 4:30.

c.  We cannot be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving as God has commanded if we
      have bitterness, Ephesians 4:32.

9.     He has learned to discipline his life.

a.  So that he might not be a castaway, I Corinthians 9:24-27

b.  That he might determine God’s priorities for his life

c.  That by the grace of God he can claim the victory through Jesus Christ,
      Philippians 4:13.

B.   The reward of discipleship is immeasurable and goes to the one who has learned to
        say no to the alluring things of the world and has been consistent in saying yes to
        God’s will in his life, Colossians 3:1,2.