Jesus modeled for us that if we want to make a difference, we must learn to make disciples.
So what does it mean to make disciples?
How can we do this in a way that validates you and the gifts God has given you rather than a “one size fits all” “program” of discipleship?
This looks very different in every person’s life when it’s done well and done right. Learning to be yourself is one of the first steps in truly making disciples.
When people get around you, are they inspired to be better person?
We all want our lives to count. What does it even mean for your life to count? Recently I stumbled on to a website the calculates your day of death, deathclock.com, in an effort to help you make the most of the days you expect to have. After plugging in a few pieces of information it cranked out the conclusion to my life. Looking at this date, I reflected on the reality that life on this earth will conclude. Something deep within me was touched as I thought about the difference I truly wanted to make before I die.
For something to count it means it matters. Life matters the most when its meaning is discovered beyond itself. As a family, the Neisents have our issues, but I’ve been stricken recently about how deeply I long for others to know the flourishing lives we have known. All of us have people around us who need what we have!
A mother and her young son stepped onto a train in Manhattan. It was rush hour and the train was packed. Not having a seat the 7 year old child began to wiggle and bump into people. The mother, embarrassed, grabbed the child and tried to pull him in. Eyes lifted from their phones. In a desperate attempt to avoid further attention, the mother yanked the boy and pulled him toward her.
The child slapped his mother’s hand away, looked up at her and defiantly cursed her using the F word. Stunned silence filled the car while the train barreled down the track. The weight of those words on the tongue of a child required some response – but it never came. The mother just bowed her head in shame. The boy leaned toward her in silence.
People were straining not to say something. Slowly headphones were placed back in ears and eyes returned to their screens. Everybody knew that day, they had witnessed something deeply broken.
What does this boy’s future look like? Where will he be in 5, 10, 20 years? What kind of marriage will he have? How will he parent his children? What will he do for a living? How will it go for him?
Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children…Honor your father and mother…that it may go well with you.” NIV
The lack of honor shown that day suggests it may not go very well.
When we become Christians something of God’s life comes alive within us. People around us desperately need what we are carrying inside, but we must be willing to be involved personally, relationally and compassionately.
2 Corinthians 1:4 He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. MSG
Your deepest sense of purpose born from learning to be part of other people's need. Have you ever tried to be part of helping somebody else and became frustrated by two steps forward one step back.
I thought about this when I recently read about how Emmitt Smith holds the NFL record for all-time rushing yards = 18,355. This equates to 10.4 miles. Smith ran a football over 10 miles with huge defensive linemen giving him a flat tire every 4.2 yards! Anybody feel this way about your own progress? Aren’t you glad God never gives up on us? Don’t you think we should work to never give up on each other?
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am w you always, to the very end of the age.” NIV
Don’t devote yourself to accomplishing such grand objectives that you lose sight of your greatest priorities! Who is within your reach?
Mother Teresa, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
Once I was speaking at the Dream Center in Springfield. During worship they began singing these words from one of their songs, “I’m going to change the world.” Immediately I took the stage asking if all these people from incredibly broken places truly believed this. I explained that we would have to travel 25,000 miles to go all the way around the world. I could tell it stunned this room that was full of energy and enthusiasm. Then I explained that I believe it is God’s plan for us to see the world from a different perspective. Rather than a 25,000 mile circle, my responsibility is the five foot circle impacting those who are within my reach every single day for the rest of my life. They went back into this song and the atmosphere was electric! Suddenly it wasn’t a song by inspired people, but it was a song by empowered people.
John 15:8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. NIV
When we come to church our lives are enriched. When we BECOME the church our world is enriched.
We are moving into a new season of the church where the mission, message and ministry of Jesus will more than ever characterize our lives. This is a highly relational movement that is deeply devoted to pursuing Jesus with others as a true expression of discipleship. Jesus modeled for us that if we want to make a difference, we must learn to make disciples.
Making disciples is simply about inviting people in on a regular basis as a way of life. Think about the things you do to pursue the heart of God and simply invite those in your five-foot circle to consider joining you.
· Do you pray? Have you ever developed a prayer strategy?
· Do you read your Bible?
· Do you come to church?
· Do you attend a Community Group?
· Do you have a struggle?
Inviting others on this journey is taking it one step at a time. Letting somebody know that you have been praying for them and sharing an encouraging Scripture is a great way to initiate conversation about the Lord and helps define the spiritual nature of the conversation you’re able to have.
Your struggle can become a great strength in discipleship. If you know somebody else is a believer it can be so liberating to initiate a conversation by admitting the struggle you may have had with being consistent in devotions. This opens the doorway for an honest conversation and continued conversations to help both of you be strengthen in this area together.
John 15:8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. NIV
Jesus clearly tells us that we are all supposed to bear much fruit. This is not merely existing and barely getting by.
True Disciples Make Disciples! This is why we, as a church family, want to be OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING people who PASSIONATELY PURSUE the Lord with IRRATIONALLY GIVING lifestyles as we CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT to God’s desires and EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE others to do the same.
GP2RL: Purpose to make a meaningful impact in somebody’s life within your reach every day this week.
John 6:45 “…They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. NIV
Isaiah 54:13 All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace. NIV
John 16:13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. NAS
40 DAYS: EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLING
Discussion Guide for Community Leaders
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
2021 is a year of faith and action. This is a year where we learn that we are the move of God in the earth. We must stop waiting for a move of God and become the move of God everywhere we go.
We bring God’s presence to real life in every realm of society and on every level of community. We are the gates through which Jesus breaks into the earth!
Psalm 24:9 Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift {them} up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! (NAS)
You were born to be a gateway for the King!
As a church family we want to be OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING people who PASSIONATELY PURSUE the Lord with IRRATIONALLY GIVING lifestyles as we CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT to God’s desires and EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE others to do the same.
This requires that we put into practice a personal pursuit of God. This year in our Community Groups we want to start each group with the first and primary question of “Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?” This will help us as a church family to explore with expectation how conversations are becoming confirmations that God is speaking to us all.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
We all want our lives to count.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
2. When you think of a person living a life that counts what kind of life is that person living?
For something to count it means it matters. Life matters the most when its meaning is discovered beyond itself. Our lives multiply in value when we invest them into the lives of others.
2 Corinthians 1:4 He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. MSG
Mother Teresa, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
3. What does personal ministry look like in your life at home, in church and at work? Give descriptions of what you believe effective ministry is in these settings.
Your deepest sense of purpose is born from learning to be part of other people’s need. All too often we dismiss making a difference because we minimize the difference we can make.
John 15:8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. NIV
Your greatest ministry happens on the smallest level. God’s impact when he became man changed the world. Humble yourself following his example and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others!
When we come to church our lives are enriched. When we BECOME the church, our world is enriched.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Purpose to make a meaningful impact in somebody’s life within your reach every day this week.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
4. What people can you purpose to pray for and reach out to this week to be available to be used by God to encourage them in some specific way. (Be specific about who and how you plan to do something to encourage them considering the mentoring explanation provided on Sunday.)