DISCIPLESHIP IN DISCIPLESHIP IN THE CHURCH OF THE CHURCH OF

ACTSACTS

Penge Baptist ChurchPenge Baptist Church

1313thth June 2010 June 2010

The New Testament The New Testament purposespurposes

►EvangelismEvangelism►WorshipWorship►DiscipleshipDiscipleship►MinistryMinistry►CommunityCommunity

What’s discipleship?What’s discipleship?

► Jesus said “Therefore go and make Jesus said “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything teaching them to obey everything I have commanded youI have commanded you. And surely I . And surely I am with you always, to the very end of am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (The Great Commission, the age.” (The Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20)Matthew 28:19-20)

How did the early church How did the early church “do” discipleship“do” discipleship

►Mainly relational approach, speaking, Mainly relational approach, speaking, listening and debating with Apostleslistening and debating with Apostles

►Bible study and preachingBible study and preaching►Acting as Jesus’ hands and feetActing as Jesus’ hands and feet►Experience of the power of the Holy Experience of the power of the Holy

SpiritSpirit►Personal approach, prayer and Personal approach, prayer and

reflection on Scripturesreflection on Scriptures

Consequences of discipleshipConsequences of discipleship

►Knowledge is important but not enoughKnowledge is important but not enough► James 1:23; “Anyone who listens to the James 1:23; “Anyone who listens to the

word but does not do what it says is like a word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”immediately forgets what he looks like.”

►Discipleship is not just a matter of Discipleship is not just a matter of knowledge. It is a choice. knowledge. It is a choice.

Fruits of discipleshipFruits of discipleship► Sharing in fellowship….[community]Sharing in fellowship….[community]► Humility in service….[ministry]Humility in service….[ministry]► Attraction of others….[evangelism]Attraction of others….[evangelism]► ……and willingness to bear the costs of and willingness to bear the costs of

discipleship “If anyone would come after discipleship “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 26:24-26)yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 26:24-26)

Stephen bears the full costs Stephen bears the full costs of discipleshipof discipleship

► ““yelling at the top of their yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he against them.” When he had said this, he fell had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:57-60)asleep.” (Acts 7:57-60)

Discipleship in the church Discipleship in the church todaytoday

►Dallas Willard “discipleship is the great Dallas Willard “discipleship is the great omission of the Great Commission on omission of the Great Commission on the part of churches”the part of churches”

►Further means of discipleship in PengeFurther means of discipleship in Penge How to develop discipleship through How to develop discipleship through

relations in community – discipleship groupsrelations in community – discipleship groups Becoming Jesus’ hands and feet for the Becoming Jesus’ hands and feet for the

needyneedy►Consequences of discipleship in PengeConsequences of discipleship in Penge

Rejecting non-Christian beliefsRejecting non-Christian beliefs Bearing the costs of discipleshipBearing the costs of discipleship

Detecting counterfeitsDetecting counterfeits

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)

Bonhoeffer, discipleship, Bonhoeffer, discipleship, gracegrace

Bonhoeffer, discipleship, Bonhoeffer, discipleship, gracegrace

► ““Suffering then is the badge of true Suffering then is the badge of true discipleship. The disciple is not above his discipleship. The disciple is not above his master…If we refuse to take up our cross and master…If we refuse to take up our cross and submit to suffering and rejection at the hands submit to suffering and rejection at the hands of men, we forfeit our fellowship with Christ of men, we forfeit our fellowship with Christ and have ceased to follow Him. But if we lose and have ceased to follow Him. But if we lose our lives in His service and carry our cross, we our lives in His service and carry our cross, we shall find our lives again in the fellowship of shall find our lives again in the fellowship of the cross with Christ. The opposite of the cross with Christ. The opposite of discipleship is to be ashamed of Christ and His discipleship is to be ashamed of Christ and His cross and all the offence which the cross cross and all the offence which the cross brings in its train…..” brings in its train…..”

Bonhoeffer, discipleship, Bonhoeffer, discipleship, gracegrace

►““Cheap grace is the preaching of Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”….Christ, living and incarnate.”….

Bearing costs in today’s Bearing costs in today’s worldworld

Today’s “me” culture ofself

ConsumerControlKeep

Protect yourselfFamily as a “possession”Work for status, incomeRisk of not knowingJesus or making him

known

Jesus’ “him” culture of discipleship

GiverFollow

Give awayBecome vulnerable“Give away” familyWork for “only duty”

Knowing Jesusand making him

known

The bridge: Developing as a disciple of Jesusin the power of the Holy Spirit

Costs of crossing

Subordinate needsLose independence

Less time/moneyMay suffer ridiculeFamily may reject

Efforts unrewarded