Disciple Making Church Part 1
Matthew 28:18-20; Phil 1:3-7; John 1:38-39 NASB
Intro:
Romans 5:8 NIV
Why do we mistakenly think that we or anyone else should “clean up their act” before coming to church? Yet, Jesus did not expect it. The Bible says he met us right where we were in our sin. He cleans us up as we follow him in community with each other. This is the foundation for which we can build a transformational community at our Church.
Expect worldly people to act worldly
I. Make sure you have a right view of the church
Many think the church is a place where we learn more about Christ and pool our resources for missions. With that view we will never fulfill God’s purpose.
The Bible says the church is much more.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB) 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
I made a mistake referring to this passage last week in Priority when I wanted to stress the thrust of this text, I said it was “go” but it is MAKE DISCIPLES. Our Primary function is to make disciples. That begins with Evangelism—tell them the good news. It continues with a public profession through baptism and it goes on to obeying the Word to the point that new Christians are discipled to a place where they in turn can go and preach the gospel to someone else—making disciples. If a new Christian is discipled who are they discipled by? Other Christians.
A. Make Disciples—that is the clear initiative Jesus gave the church. If it is so clear and simple how have we lost sight of it? I’ll tell you, the Enemy does not want us to keep it clear and simple because he knows if we do, we will reproduce rapidly and powerfully.
There is no other more neglected area of the church today than our failure to develop disciples.
The mistake many Christians make is to think that they are an audience to be entertained instead of an army receiving marching orders.
In the 1st Century the fledgling church brought the mighty Roman Empire to its knees.
Acts 17:6 (NLT)
6 …”Paul and Silas have turned the rest of the world upside down, and now they are here disturbing our city,” they shouted.
But today we are impotent because we have let the culture influence us into being quiet, polite, and accommodating to them. Listen, the early church did not turn the world upside down by being quiet, polite, and accommodating!
B. Discipleship must function as the heart of our church.
This means every program we have should be examined to answer the question, is this helping move people through our process to become mature disciples who make disciples? If its not, then we need to fix it or eliminate it. And we need to not cry about not getting our way.
People are dying and going into a Christ-less eternity in Hell so I am floored that people would want to complain and throw a fit over petty issues like what room your group meets in. Even now some of you are more offended that I said that than you are that people are going to hell without Christ.
Making disciples is the priority of our church and the priority of our lives as Christ’s followers.
C. We need to get after people
You don’t have to be a super Christian or Bible answer man or have years of experience. God wants to use every believer to grow and to lead others to know Christ and to make him known. Disciples span age groups, interests, spiritual gifts, and any other category you can put people in.
Dawson Trotman wrote,
Pray, “God give me a girl or guy whom I can win to Christ, or let me take one who is already won, an infant in Christ, and try to train that one so that he or she will reproduce!”
We are thrilled to see numbers of people fill our seats. But, where is your man? or where is your woman? Someone said, “I would rather have one Isaac alive than a hundred dead, or sterile, or immature.”
Why must we get after people?
D. Programs do not make disciples
It is clear in Scripture that people are God’s method.
Our church programs are the places we get together and know each other to recognized those who need to be discipled. When someone comes forward to receive Christ or is baptized, another Christian should come right along side to teach them about assurance of salvation, baptism and how to walk with God.
Philippians 1:3-7 (NASB) 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.
II. You are a disciplemaker 24/7 1:4-5
A. Every believer is to be about preaching the gospel 1:5
B. God is perfecting us
You are faithful to invest in someone
God produces the fruit
Your task is to be faithful in investing in others for spiritual maturity then entrust them to God
C. Begin making disciples at home
1 Timothy 5:8 (NASB) 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
III. Come and Behold Jesus
John 1:38-39 (NASB) 38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said* to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” 39 He said* to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
In awkward bewilderment these men were really asking, “can we tag along with you?” They were filled with questions and needed answers. They had no plan; they were on the threshold of hope.
And Jesus gave the greatest invitation: “Come and see! Come with me and you can see how I live.”
Watch the video at www.fsbctucson.net
