Post by disciple on Jun 1, 2010 14:18:34 GMT -5
CHAPTER 3:
THE CONCEPT THAT DETERMINES OUR METHOD
THE CONCEPT THAT DETERMINES OUR METHOD
PURPOSE: DEFINING THE CONCEPTS OF DISCIPLE MAKING-“DISCIPLE,” “DISCIPLER,” “DISCIPLING,” AND “DISCIPLINES”
ASK: AFTER HEARING LESSONS ONE AND TWO, WHAT IS THE KEY QUESTION WE MUST ASK? (YOU WILL GET ALL KINDS OF ANSWERS)
· 3 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
o WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?
o WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TURN PEOPLE INTO DISCIPLES?
o HOW DO WE DO IT?
THESE QUESTIONS MUST BE ASKED AND ANSWERED IN THIS ORDER. TO FOCUS ON HOW TO DO SOMETHING WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT IS IS FUTILE AND WILL REDUCE THIS TO A PROGRAM
I. DISCIPLE
· 1ST ASK: WHAT ARE TYPICAL CHURCH DEFINITIONS OF “DISCIPLE” AND “DISCIPLE MAKING?” (“CONVERT,” “EVANGELIST,” “CLEAN CHRISTIAN,” “BIBLE STUDY PERSON,” “FAITHFUL CHURCH MEMBER”)
· ASK: WHAT IF SOMEONE REDUCED THE STANDARD FOR SALVATION? WE WOULD BE OUTRAGED. WE HAVE REDUCED THE STANDARD OF DISCIPLESHIP TREMENDOUSLY, YET FEW ARE BOTHERED. WE ARE CALLED “DISCIPLES” 270 TIMES IN THE NT; WE ARE CALLED “CHRISTIANS” 3 TIMES.
· NT FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST:
i. CASUAL LISTENER (CROWD)
ii. CONVINCED LISTENER (INFLUENCED PEOPLE)
iii. COMMITTED LIFELONG LEARNER AND FOLLOWER (“DISCIPLES INDEED”)
· DEFINITION: A DISCIPLE IS A COMMITTED LIFELONG LEARNER AND FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST; A PERSON IN TRAINING
· DEFINITION: A DISCIPLE IS SOMEONE COMPLETELY CONSUMED FOR GOD’S BENEFIT (BOND-SERVANT, BURNT OFFERING)
II. DISCIPLER
· A SPIRITUAL PARENT
· A MATURING DISCIPLE
· SOMEONE WHO IS PERSONALLY AND STRATEGICALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NEXT AVAILABLE PERSON
III. DISCIPLING (DISCIPLE MAKING)
· DONE BY SOMEONE, NOT SOMETHING
· BY PERSONS, NOT PROGRAMS
· BY INDIVIDUALS, NOT INSTITUTIONS
· ALWAYS INVOLVES LIFE TRANSFERENCE
ILLUSTRATIONS:
TOSSING WATER INTO A BOTTLE V. POURING IT
EYEDROPPER OF MEDICINE (FAR ABOVE V. CLOSE APPLICATION)
COUNTING PEOPLE V. PEOPLE COUNTING
· DISCIPLE MAKING: BRINGING PEOPLE INTO A FULLY RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST
IV. DISCIPLINES
· AREAS OF LIFE THAT REVEAL THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
A MINISTRY OF MULTIPLICATION--RESULT OF MAKING DISCIPLES
· WHY DO PEOPLE FAIL TO BIOLOGICALLY MULTIPLY?
I. NO “MARRIAGE”
II. DISEASE OR IMPAIRMENT
III. IMMATURITY
IT IS THE SAME IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.
· JESUS SAW THE MASSES THROUGH THE MAN, AND BUILT THE MAN TO IMPACT THE MASSES
THE COMMAND TO “TURN PEOPLE INTO DISCIPLES” CAN ONLY BE OBEYED IF UNDERSTOOD, AND ONLY UNDERSTOOD WHEN WE DEFINE THESE IDEAS AS GOD DOES. THE STANDARD OF DISCIPLESHIP CANNOT BE REDUCED, OR IT WILL NOT WORK.