Church Resources                                                  Back to Contents Page

Refocus Church

Series 2

9. Churches grow deeper through DISCIPLESHIP
   

Underlying Theme:    How these things contribute to church growth

   

Focal Idea No.2:   Discipleship brings a depth to spiritual life which in turn creates a stability that enables the believer to stand in the face of opposition. This stability means continued availability to God and His purposes, and results in a more fruitful life. This stability is attractive to outsiders.

 

 

A. Considered Previously : Why Make Disciples

 

Mt 28:19,20 “ go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

  

A disciple is simply a follower who is a learner.

 

When we came to Christ we had probably given little thought to:

  a) what we had been like before and were largely clueless about

  b) what God has in store for us for the rest of our lives.

 

So:

•  God wants to teach me who I am and help me to become this person,
•  The end result is that I am fulfilled and blessed ‘being me'.

 

 

B. Introduction – comparing 2 elderly Christians

 

•  Both are in their 90s. Both frail. Both have been Christians for decades; both definitely going to heaven.
•  One: bad tempered, self-obsessed, who makes life difficult for those around.
•  The other: a pleasure to be with, grateful for everything that is done for them, prays for everyone they knows, still exercising a ministry in the church
•  Which one you prefer to be like when you are old?
•  The second one changed as Jesus discipled them. Will we?

 

 

C. How we Grow Deeper through Discipleship

 

i) The concept of ‘depth'

•  Roots of a tree go down to provide strength & sustenance
•  Foundations of a tall building go down to provide stability
•  Matt 7:24-27 Parable of Two House Builders
•  Basic Teaching: Learning to DO what Jesus says creates stability

 

ii) Health Warning No.1 – avoid striving

•  We are not earning our way to heaven;
•  We work to grow deeper because we are:
  •  Doing it for God - because we love Him and want to please Him,
  •  Doing it for the church - to be part of the solution not part of the problem,
  •  Doing it for outsiders - to be a help, not hindrance, in drawing them into benefits of Christian life.
  •  Doing it for ourselves - to be happier

     

iii) Why we need stability

• We can be brought down when we don't have deep roots or deep foundations when
  • crises occur (things go wrong in life)
  • Satan comes and attacks us with doubts, fears etc.

                    and we react badly, unChristlike, and give up on our faith

    

iv) The signs of depth & stability

•  We stand unmoved in the face of life's crises and Satan's attacks,
•  We hold to our spiritual disciples – prayer, Bible reading, worship, witness etc.

 

v) So how do we grow deeper in our faith?

(Remember this is learning to DO what Jesus says)

•   Work on our relationship with God – prayer, Bible reading, obedience, etc.
•   Work on our relationships with others – ensure bad attitudes don't creep in, think well of others, bless others, work with others
•   Work on yourself – realise who you are, declare it and believe it, declare you will not give up in the face of adversity etc.

     

vi) Health Warning No.2 – get balance

Phil 2:12   continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

•  This scripture shows a balance between my work & God's work.
•  Balance?
•  God's part: to give me the will, courage, patience, skill to do what He wants.
•  My part: to cooperate with Him; when I fail, I know forgiveness
•  It's a full time job!

 

Results? I am strengthened; I can stand in adversity, be fruitful in the kingdom.

 

 

D. The Outcomes of Discipleship

 

i) Us as individuals

•  I will feel good about who I am in Christ, as I change and grow in Christ
•  I will feel secure in my understanding of God's purposes for me
•  I will feel a sense of purpose as I work towards being the person God wants me to be

 

ii) The rest of the church

•  We collectively will realise how good it is that we are all working to bring change and growth.
•  We will rejoice together as God's purposes for us as individuals and as a church are made clearer and clearer.
•  We will find a new security in the awareness that we are all on a path and growth is a slow, gradual change.
•  When we fail we will know the love and security of the church that helps us back on the path with loving understanding.

 

iii) Outsiders 

•  When outsiders see this working and hear testimonies of it, they will realise that indeed God does have a purpose for each of our lives – a design that becomes obvious as we walk with him and with each other. 
•  That awareness will create in some a hunger to know Him and enter into this life of growth and blessing. 

A Final Comment  

We did start thinking about 'discipleship' in Series 1. Here in this second series we have widened our thinking to consider again how necessary it is if we are to grow and develop into the people the Lord wants us to be (has designed us to be).

This time we have also considered the idea that as we change it creates a stability in us as we have grown deeper in Christ and thus become more able to stand against the attacks of our enemy. We have also considered the ideas of not striving and of realising that it is all about a partnership with the Lord. On the negative side, perhaps we also need reminding that if we don't change, we don't grow and if we don't grow we remain vulnerable to the enemy.  The goal is to reach onwards and upwards and to develop into maturity. That is what discipleship is all about.