1 Investing in Disciples Equipping Disciple Makers

Mirroring the Methods of the Master

2

Busters = 67% Boomers = 35% Gen “X” = 15% Millennium = 7% Non-Reached = 5%

Not up to me who my spiritual great grandchildren are, but up to me that there will be!!

There is a huge responsibility to knowing the truth!! Could you keep your job as an Ambassador for Christ?

DECLARED CHRISTIANITY(George Barna)

3

If you do not disciple a person who professes

Christ, he will almost always become:

Lukewarm in Faith

Worldly in Behavior

Hypocritical in Witness

by Patrick Morley

from The Man in the Mirror

WHY DISCIPLE ?

4

Most Christians want to -

Divorce Jesus’ Teachings

From His Methods

and Expect His Results

by Jim Putnam from Disciple Shift

JESUS’ MODEL OF DISCIPLESHIP

5

Less than one in 10 Christians live like Christians

Increased teenage youth group activity but no improvement in religious

practices

GEORGE BARNA RESEARCH

6

40% of polled people say they’ve had a “Born Again”

experience.

But 1% tithe 10%

10% of Christians are Disciples (defined as fully devoted followers):

1. Intimate Worship

2. Faith Based Life Decisions

3. Intentional Growth

4. Servanthood

5. 10% Tithe

6. Relational Influence

7. Family Faith Modeled

“Discipleship has historical significance but the contemporary church of today has diluted its meaning.”

Bob Shank

February 2010

BARNA STATS – “REVOLUTION”

100%

7

“Why the Church is Failing in its Calling to make Disciples”

1. Christian leaders have been diverted from their primary calling of equipping believers to do the work of ministry.

2. We have reduced the Christian life to the eternal benefits we get from Jesus, rather than living as students of Jesus.

3. We have tried to make disciples through programs.

4. We have been unwilling to call people to discipleship.

THE FACTS OF THE MATTERby R. Dwight Hill (page 1)

8

“Why the Church is Failing in its Calling to make Disciples”

5. We have an inadequate view of the church as a discipleship community.

6. We have developed no clear pathway to maturity.

7. A failure to understand and commit to God’s grand plan

8. Our lack of personal discipling

THE FACTS OF THE MATTERby R. Dwight Hill (page 2)

9

Results of the “Jesus Strategy”• Single-minded devotion to God• Commitment to His ways becomes deeper and more intense.• The peripherals of church don’t matter as much.• They endure worship services that do not meet their exact

expectations.• They attend activities that are not at their optimal convenience.• They sacrifice more of their hard earned money for the purpose of

ministry because of their awareness of being stewards.• They gladly share their faith with new believers because they

understand their responsibility.• They can’t contain their excitement about the privilege of relating to

God and become invitational to their church.

GROWING TRUE DISCIPLESby George Barna

10

Best Practices of:Highly Effective Discipleship Churches

• Senior Pastor is #1 advocate and makes sure discipleship permeates everything

• Covenant of Discipleship – For new members • Long Term Strategy• All Ministry Programs are tied to discipleship• Number of Programs is minimized• All teaching is substantially coordinated• Church Mission Statement and Discipleship Statement to drive

outcomes and evaluate outcomes

GROWING TRUE DISCIPLESby George Barna (page 1)

11

Best Practices of:Highly Effective Discipleship Churches

• Personal Evaluation Tools/Development Plan• Small Group oriented with a Covenant• Leadership Training and Evaluation• Mentoring – Coaching to accountabilities• Multiple Community Service Options• Building Blocks of Biblical World View• Doctrinal basics of Christian Faith• Family to have shared Spiritual Experience

* Big Point!! We must build the lifestyle of a disciple

to the youth in teenage years.

GROWING TRUE DISCIPLESby George Barna (page 2)

12

TRAINING OF THE TWELVE By A. B. Bruce & John Musselman

Missing Elements for True Disciples

• Forethought

• Clear Perception of The Truth

• Self-Knowledge

• The Discipline of Experience

13

Suggestion• An Association of Ideas• A Slight Inclination

- versus - Direction

• Guidance of Action or Conduct• A Word Indicating Appropriate Action

SPIRITUAL PATH

14

SPIRITUAL SUGGESTION

Identify theLost

Salvation Experience

Do Church

DEVOTIONAL

Giving

Fellowship Group

Service

Spiritual

Showerhead Sugg

estio

n

15

Does not begin by: Focusing on Behavior or Focusing on Attitudes

Always begin with: Focusing on Thinking • The battleground for your soul is the mind • Be transformed by the renewing of the mind – Romans 12:2

Accomplished by the Spirit of God, through the Word of God, in the context of Authentic Community for the purpose of glorifying God

from R12 – True Spirituality by Chip Ingram

SPIRITUAL GROWTH TO BECOME AN EQUIPPED AUTHENTIC DISCIPLE

16

APPRENTICE OF JESUS = SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

Identify theLost

Salvation Experience

F.A.T.Assessment

FaithfulAvailableTeachable+ Curious

CorporateDiscipleship

Relationship with Jesus as Lord of your life

HolisticStewardship

Small Group ofAccountability

KingdomServices

Spiritual

Showerhead

Direct

ion

Spiritual Maturity• High Impact Christian with a Biblical Worldview• Reproducing to the 4th Generation

17

Strong’s Dictionary (from Greek, first century)

A learner, pupil 

• Indicating thought accompanied by endeavor (Romans 12:2)

• Denotes one who follows one’s teachings

• Defined by Jesus in John 8:31

Of all who manifest that they are His disciples by abiding in His Word.

• A disciple was not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher.

DISCIPLE

18

“Jesus said to them, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

Follow Me – at the “head” level• Acceptance of Jesus’ authority and truth• To know Him and follow Him

And I will make you – our “hearts”• Process of Jesus transforming our hearts to be like His• Primarily a “spiritual” response to the Holy Spirit

Fishers of men – our “hands”

• A disciple of Jesus is saved for a purpose• Action of being committed to the mission of Christ

from Disciple Shift by Jim Putnam and Bobby Harrington

DISCIPLE DEFINED

19

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

GREAT COMMISSION

20

Christian Discipleship is a concentrated process that occurs when a more mature believer prayerfully enters into a committed relationship with a group of faithful and teachable believers for the purpose of building Godly character, imparting true knowledge, and developing ministry skills under the direction and power of the Holy Spirit, so that they will follow Christ without reservation and do what He tells them to do.

by John Musselman

Founder & President, The Jackson Institute

DISCIPLESHIP

21

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17

“Inspired” = God-breathed; God used the minds, vocabularies, and experiences of the writers to produce His infallible, inerrant Word (only to the original writers of Scripture)

WHAT’S AFTER “FOLLOW ME”

“Teaching” = Divine instruction or doctrinal content “Reproof” = Rebuke for wrong behavior or wrong belief “Correction” = Restoration to proper condition “Training in Righteousness” = Positive training in Godly behavior

All 4 must be present for total transformation!!

“Adequate” = Capable of doing all they’re intended to do “Equipped” = Enabled to meet all the demands of Godly ministry and

righteous living

22

SPIRITUAL MULTIPLICATION

At the 4th generation, you know that disciples are grown vs. individuals educated in discipleship!!

Only reason I am doing this, is so you will do the same.

Paul Maker of Disciple Makers

Timothy Disciple Maker

Faithful Men Discipler

Others Disciple

II Timothy 2:2

23

Model of Training

Teaching

+ Disciplined Obedience

+ Application of Scripture

+ Jesus Methods

= Lasting Transformation

John 15: 5-8, 16

JESUS’ MODEL OF DISCIPLING

24

Savior Personal Relationship with Jesus as &

Lord Challenged to count the lost

Help them become like JesusAbiding in His WordThrough loving one anotherThrough bearing fruit

Following Jesus’ path / way

from Following the Master

by Michael Wilkins

MARKS OF A DISCIPLE

GUIDE

Multiplication 70

A P P R E N T I C E O F J E S U SImparting Knowledge, Skill and Character

MENTORDISCIPLE MAKERDISCIPLE IN

COVENANT

OUTCOME: Follow and Abide in Jesus

28 A.D.27 A.D.

T. Truth

E. EquippingA. AccountabilityM. Missional

S. Supplication

10%

75%

15%

Time Spent

25

26

CLASSIC DISCIPLESHIP

27

CLASSIC DISCIPLESHIP A Vision for Discipleship (page 1)

28

CLASSIC DISCIPLESHIP A Vision for Discipleship (page 2)

29

How did Jesus disciple?

How did Paul disciple?

Organic vs. Engineered

WHAT IS IT ABOUT LIFE-TO-LIFE DISCIPLESHIP ? (page 1)

30

How did Jesus disciple? Servant Leader

• Ask Questions • Fellowship

• Stories • One on one

• Teacher • Spent time

• Counselor • Intentional

• Direct • Sent out

• Focused • Used circumstances

WHAT IS IT ABOUT LIFE-TO-LIFE DISCIPLESHIP ? (page 2)

31

How did Paul disciple? (1 Thessalonians 2:7-12)

• Role model • Gentle

• Selfless • Encourager

• Passion • Letters

• Transparent • Apologist

• Sacrificial • Always had his team as #1

• Perseverance

WHAT IS IT ABOUT LIFE-TO-LIFE DISCIPLESHIP ? (page 3)

32

Organic versus Engineered

“life to life” structured

(Follow Me) (Plug & Play)

Which one do we use in Discipleship?

Both: With structure comes freedom

Example – Get homework done

To hear the Holy Spirit clearly!!

WHAT IS IT ABOUT LIFE-TO-LIFE DISCIPLESHIP ? (page 4)

33

“Leadership training cannot be done on a mass scale. It requires patient, careful instruction and prayerful, personal guidance over a considerable time. Disciples are not manufactured wholesale. They are produced one by one, because someone has taken the pains to discipline, to instruct and enlighten, to nurture and train one that is younger.”

from Spiritual Leadership

by J. Oswald Sanders

SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

34

Myth: “Some people are born leaders.”

Truth: “All leaders are born.”

“The truth is that leadership is an observable set of skills and abilities that is useful whether one is in the executive suite or on the front line… Of course, some people are better at it than others. Again, so what? The more we abdicate our own responsibility to become the best we can… It’s not the absence of leadership potential that inhibits the development of more leaders, it’s the presence of the myth that leadership can’t be learned. This haunting myth is a far more powerful deterrent to leadership development than it is the nature of the person or the basics of the leadership process.

from A Leader’s Legacy

by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner

A LEADER’S LEGACY

35

KEY PRINCIPLES FOR “GROWTH AND LEADERSHIP” DEVELOPMENT

36

KEY PRINCIPLES FOR “GROWTH AND LEADERSHIP” DEVELOPMENT

Coaching

EvaluatedExperience

Teachable

Spiritual Maturityto

Match the Role

“How

You

Gro

w”

“Who

You

Are

”

Jesus withdrew with them alone

Sober outside assessment

Paul – Humility and driven to grow

3 years before sending out

Note: Look at each with Scripture

37

Spiritual Maturity

Jesus’ Practice Scriptural Support

Titus 1:9 – “…holding fast the faithfulword which is in accordance with theteaching, so that he will be able both toexhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”

PRINCIPLE 1

38

Teachability

Jesus’ Practice

Scriptural Support

Proverbs 2:2-6 “Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice forunderstanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hiddentreasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledgeof God.”

Proverbs 15:31-33 “He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. He who neglects discipline despises himself. But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom. And before honor comes humility.”

Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for theLord rather than men.”

PRINCIPLE 2

39

Evaluated Experience

Jesus’ Practice

Scriptural Support

Proverbs 23:12: “Apply your heart to discipline and

your ears to words of knowledge.”

James 1:2-4 “Consider it all joy, my brethren,when you encounter various trails, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you maybe perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

PRINCIPLE 3

40

Discipler, Mentor, Coach

Jesus’ Practice

Scriptural Support

Proverbs 13:20 “He who walks with wise men will be wise.”

Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one mansharpens another.”

Proverbs 1:5-6 “A wise man will hear and increase inlearning, and a man of understanding will acquire wisecounsel, to understand a proverb and a figure, the wordsof the wise and their riddles.”

PRINCIPLE 4

41

Is a waste of time!

TRAINING WITHOUT COACHING

“Performance dip”

from The Coaching Controversyby Neil Rackham

42

43

Creates incredible growth!

TRAINING WITH COACHING

“Sophomore slu

mp”

Year 2 – alw

ays!!

from The Coaching Controversyby Neil Rackham

44

45

46

47

48

“This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit,

showing yourselves to be My disciples.”

John 15:8

YOUR “SELFIE” HERE

49

LASTING TRANSFORMATION

50

COVENANT GROUP LEADERS’ BEST PRACTICES

51

WHAT IS AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY ? (page 1)

The Real You

Meeting Real Needs

For the Right Reasons

In the Right Way

52

WHAT IS AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY ? (page 2)

The Real You• Authenticity = Sincere love• Purity = Hate what is evil and cling to good

Meets Real Needs• Devotion in brotherly love• Humility is giving preference to one another

For the Right Reasons• Motive = Fervent in spirit• Method = Diligence and enthusiasm

In the Right Way• Upward Focus = Hope and persevering• Outward Focus = Pursuing needs

53

Relational Connectedness Requires:

Take off our masks and be pure

Be devoted to one another and honor one another above ourselves

Serve God with passion and excellence

Carry one another’s burdens in the midst of difficulty

WHAT IS AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY ? (page 3)

54

ANSWER JESUS’ 3 QUESTIONS TO PETER

Who do you say I am? Identity

Do you love me? Security

Will you stay with me? Significance

Barriers

Fear rooted in shame (measuring up)

Hiding rooted in insecurity (image management)

Blame rooted in denial (rationalism)

55

3 BARRIERS TO SPIRITUAL TRUTH

First - Emotional Barrier

• Usually have been wounded by a religious person

• Typically are emotionally argumentative

* They must be loved into the Kingdom

56

3 BARRIERS TO SPIRITUAL TRUTH

Second – Intellectual Barrier

• Typically a serious seeker and wants enough information to make an intelligent decision

• Introduce to: Lee Strobel – The Case for Christ C. S. Lewis – Mere Christianity Francis Schaffer – The God Who Is There

57

3 BARRIERS TO SPIRITUAL TRUTH

Third – Lifestyle Barrier

• Typically are living in a way that they know would have to change for them to get serious

• Graciously share it with them and pray

• Won’t show much interest until reaching a point of despair

“People don’t care how much you know –

until they know how much you care.”

58

4 FILTERS TO GUIDE A SPIRIT FILLED CONVERSATION (page 1)

1. Main thing God is doing in the world is that He is Sovereignly Orchestrating all human events for the purpose of bringing us into Right Relationship with Him and Others.

2. Life is Fiercely contested by Satan, therefore men listen to these lies:

• Money will solve my problems and success will make me happy

• I can have materialism and Christianity both in my life• I need to earn God’s Grace

The God we want and the God who is are not the same!

59

4 FILTERS TO GUIDE A SPIRIT FILLED CONVERSATION (page 2)

3. If you do not Disciple a man who professes Christ, he will almost always become lukewarm in faith, worldly in behavior, and hypocritical in witness.

4. Happiness is the result of a Holy Life.

Called to Live in Christ

Equipped to Live Like Christ

Sent to Live For Christ

from The Man in the Mirrorby Patrick Morley

60

SPIRITUAL TRUTH

Dangers

Collective focus turns inward vs. outward

(e.g. “Us 4 and no more”)• Theology tends to waiver

Need to practice hospitality and pursue strangers

When the world sees God’s people step up and love those who are unlike them, and especially those who are unlovely, it takes notice.

61

62

63

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES OF DISCIPLESHIP

64

65

66

67

GUIDE

Multiplication 120-500

A P P R E N T I C E O F J E S U S

MENTOR DISCIPLE MAKER

DISCIPLE IN COVENANT

OUTCOME: Share in Jesus’ Mission

Selection

• Willing to learn• Concentrate on a few

Imparting Knowledge, Skill and Character

Jesus’ Methods*

30 A.D.

Association

• To know is to be with• Foundation of follow-up

Consecration

• Required obedience• Absolute submission

Impartation

• Life of giving• Love is the only way

* Master Plan of Evangelism by Dr. Robert E. Coleman

68

GUIDE

Multiplication 120-500

A P P R E N T I C E O F J E S U S

MENTOR DISCIPLE MAKER

DISCIPLE IN COVENANT

OUTCOME: Share in Jesus’ Mission

Demonstration

• Versus explanation• Transparent & authentic

Imparting Knowledge, Skill and Character

Jesus’ Methods*

30 A.D.

Delegation

• Briefing instructions• Reaffirming follow-up

Supervision

• Continuous review & application• Growth in knowledge & grace

Reproduction

• The acid test of ministry• God’s method

* Master Plan of Evangelism by Dr. Robert E. Coleman