DISCIPLESHIP: THE IMPORTANCE AND

THE COST

IN YOUR HOME CHURCH YOUR PASTOR COMES AND ASKS YOU TO DISCIPLE A

NEW BELIEVER WHO DECLARED THEIR FAITH IN

CHRIST AS PART OF A RECENT SERVICE.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? HOW LONG WOULD THE

PROCESS TAKE? ON AN A4 PIECE OF PAPER

OUTLINE WHAT YOU WOULD DO TO DISCIPLE THEM.

MEMORY VERSES

Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Matthew 28:18–20 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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 with you always, to the very end of the age.”

INTRODUCTION

What are the MOST POPULAR methods for seeing people added to churches?

INTRODUCTION

- Invitation services - Respond to preaching - Crusades - God TV - Crisis event in their lives

- Reading the Bible - Internet - Reading a tract - Friendship evangelism / witnessing

What ways did Jesus use toattract and keep followers?

What ways did Jesus use to attract and keep followers? Jesus chose making disciples to make mature followers—he then commissioned them (and us) to do the same.

Why didn't Jesus just organise Gospel crusades to see people become believers (which are the way most churches try to grow)?

KEY SCRIPTURES

As you read these verses think about and explain what they tell you about the importance and cost of discipleship.

KEY SCRIPTURES

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

Read Luke 14:26–35 in the notes. Matthew 10:37–39 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 28:18–20 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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 with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

WHY MAKE DISCIPLES?

The church of Jesus Christ has been called to win the world and make them into disciples. You have been appointed to choose the method by which this will be achieved, either by:

- 10,000 people per day (36.5lakh/year) being converted around theworld in church services, meetings orcrusades

or,- You take a person and for one

year disciple them—at the end of theyear you have 2 disciples

- At the start of the next year, youand the person you discipled thenchoose one new person each anddisciple them—so after 2 years youhave 4 disciples etc.

WHICH METHOD WOULD YOU CHOOSE

TO ACHIEVE THE BEST RESULTS?

Year Disciple-ship

Crusade

Assuming evangelistic crusades

win 10,000 people per

day

Assuming one disciple makes one

other disciple per

year

Year Disciple-ship

Crusade

Assuming evangelistic crusades

win 10,000 people per

day

Assuming one disciple makes one

other disciple per

year

Which would you choose?

Year Disciple-ship

Crusade

1 1 3,6500002 2 7,3000003 4 10,0950004 8 14,6000005 16 18,2500006 32 21,9000007 64 25,5500008 128 29,2000009 256 32,850000

Year Disciple-ship

Crusade

19 262,144 69,35000020 524,288 73,000000

21 1,048,576 76,65000022 2,097,152 80,30000023 4,194,304 83,95000024 8,388,608 87,600000

28 134,217728 102,200000

Year Disciple-ship

Crusade

29 268,435,456 105,850000

30 536,870,912 109,500000

25 16,777216 91,250000

26 33,554432 94,900000

27 67,108864 98,550000

32 2,147,483,648 116,800000

Year Disciple-ship

Crusade

33 4,294,967,296 120,450000

34 124,100000

31 1,073,741,824 113,150000

32 2,147,483,648 116,800000

Year Disciple-ship

Crusade

33 4,294,967,296 120,450000

34 8,589,934592 124,100000

31 1,073,741,824 113,150000

32 2,147,483,648 116,800000

Year Disciple-ship

Crusade

33 4,294,967,296 120,450000

34 8,589,934592 124,100000

31 1,073,741,824 113,150000

1%

99%

8,589,934592

124,100000

The first Protestant missionary setfoot on Chinese soil on September 7,1807. His name was Robert Morrison.He was a Scottish Presbyterian, andexcept for one furlough, he spent thenext 27 years in China.Persevering against the hostility ofofficial opposition and the resistanceof foreign merchants, Morrisonbaptized the first Chinese ProtestantChristian, Cai Gao, on July 16, 1814.

Investing time andenergy in making

disciples is alwaysworthwhile

The first Protestant missionary setfoot on Chinese soil on September 7,1807. His name was Robert Morrison.He was a Scottish Presbyterian, andexcept for one furlough, he spent thenext 27 years in China.Persevering against the hostility ofofficial opposition and the resistanceof foreign merchants, Morrisonbaptized the first Chinese ProtestantChristian, Cai Gao, on July 16, 1814.

After the baptism of Cai Gao,Morrison wrote prophetically in hisjournal,“May he be the first-fruits of a greatharvest, one of millions who shallcome and be saved on the day ofwrath to come.”

Morrison’s greatest achievement washis Chinese translation of the Bible,completed in 1819 and published in23 volumes in 1823 (Morrison wasresponsible for most of the NewTestament and 26 books of the OldTestament, whilst William Milne wasresponsible for the translation of thehistorical books of the OldTestament).

At the time of the Communisttakeover in 1949, there were roughly900,000 Protestants.Today there are 111,000,000Christians in China, roughly 90%Protestant and mostly Pentecostal.China is the 3rd largest ‘Christian’country on earth.

By 2050 estimates say there will be218,000,000 Christians in China16% of the population.10,000 conversions in China everyday.

By 2050 estimates say there will be218,000,000 Christians in China16% of the population.10,000 conversions in China everyday.

“OUR GREATEST FEAR SHOULD NOT BE OF FAILURE,

BUT OF SUCCEEDING AT SOMETHING THAT DOESN’T

REALLY MATTER.”

William Carey laboured for 7 yearsbefore his first convert in India.For six years, the Careys moved fromone place to another, seekingemployment and a place to getestablished. The list of obstacles theyencountered is staggering:

The lack of funds.The difficulty of the Bengali language.The defection of Ram Basu, a convertwho at first had been a great help tothem.Opposition of the East IndiaCompany, the dominant politicalforce.A flood.A drought.The death of their son, Peter.

Six years, without an Indian coming toJesus after faithful preaching.Criticism of people at home. “Whyaren’t you seeing more fruit?” “Whyare you wasting your time ineconomic employment?”Two new missionaries who came tohelp, died soon after they arrived.

Dorothy, William’s wife, struggled withlife in India.Culture shock gripped her.Her sister married an English planterand left their home.The death of her son, Peter, was thelast straw.She sank into mental illness, andnever recovered.

William Carey is considered the father of modern missions - much of what we do in church planting and teaching and training comes out of his obedience in following the great commission

WHY DISCIPLESHIP?

1. Example Jesus showed the importance of discipleship by making the training of the twelve disciples very important during His ministry on earth.

2. Obedience   Jesus told all His followers to make disciples because disciples produce fruit that lasts.

3. Effectiveness Discipleship is the best method to reach our world for God. The impact that Jesus’ twelve disciples and Paul had on the world shows us the value of discipleship. A small number of committed disciples, who have been well trained, will achieve far more for God than large numbers of converts who lack spiritual depth.

Discipleship is God’s chosen strategy to reach the world.

4. Maturity The end result is spiritually mature Christians. Maturity does not come with an increase in age, knowledge or experience, but is the result of gradual spiritual growth on the basis of obedience to Christ Jesus and His Word.

How would you know a Christian is mature? What do they say and do?

SEVEN SIGNS OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY

1. Fruitfulness in our service for God (Matt. 25:14 – 30). 2. A humble attitude and a willingness to serve others (John 13:12–17). 3. A standard of excellence in our lives in general (2 Corinthians 13:11).

4. A close relationship with Jesus (Galatians 2:20). 5. The fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Gal 5:22–23).

6. A stable, consistent and holy walk before God and man (Ephesians 4:11–16). 7. A solid knowledge of God’s Word and discernment as a result (Hebrews 5:13–6:2). N.B. This can be summed up as ‘Christ-likeness’ (1 John 2:6).

WHY DO WE NEED SPIRITUAL MATURITY ?

1. Maturity in Christ is expected for all Christians (Eph. 4:11–16). 2. Maturity produces leaders who help the Church to grow by shepherding God’s flock (1 Pet 5:1–3).

3. Only mature Christians can effectively stand against the devil and his powers of darkness and this is what God wants us to do, Matthew 12:29—“Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.”

1 Peter 5 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

4. Mature Christians have the most lasting impact for God on our world today. Consider all the hardships that Paul, Carey and Morrison faced, and the fruit they produced - without maturity they might easily have given up. 5. By their life mature disciples show the character of Jesus to the world.

REMEMBER: WINNING CONVERTS ADDS TO THE

NUMBERS OF BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS, BUT DISCIPLESHIP

MAKES DISCIPLES WHO ARE MATURE REPRODUCERS, WHO WILL IN TURN MULTIPLY THE NUMBERS OF BORN

AGAIN BELIEVERS/DISCIPLES.

IT IS COSTLY TO BE A TRUE DISCIPLE

f) The Cost of Being a TrueDiscipleJesus made it clear from thebeginning what was involved in beinga disciple— we need to carry our owncross and follow Him.

IT IS COSTLY TO BE A TRUE DISCIPLE

Luke 14:27—And whoever doesnot carry their cross and followme cannot be my disciple.). Weneed to give our whole lives andeverything we have to God, forHim to use as He wants.

Have You Settled For Less? Many Christians have settled for a form of discipleship that doesn't look like Jesus taught. We avoid personal cost and fail to be the witnesses God wants us to be. As a result the church is seen as weak, ineffective or irrelevant. God wants us to imitate His best people and ultimately to imitate Jesus Himself (1 Cor. 11:1).

Count the Cost God’s children must accept that personal discipleship calls them to be faithful and obedient to the Lord, regardless of the cost to themselves. Out of love for Jesus, they are willing to apply His standards to their lives. Discipleship without cost is not true discipleship.

Christians willingly take up their cross daily in order to follow Christ Jesus. God comes first in their lives, before consideration of self or others: His will comes first.

Because the cost of discipleship is high Jesus told everyone to first count the cost (Luke 9:57–62; John 6:60–66; Mark 10:17–31). And, because of this cost Jesus only ended up with a few deeply committed followers: BUT those few were enough to change the world.

A TRUE DISCIPLE…

1. Lives a committed Christian life,which Jesus expects from all Hisfollowers.

2. Accepts that Jesus deserves to bethe Lord of his whole life, John 13:13

A TRUE DISCIPLE…

3. Has believed the words of Christ and has committed his life to him.

4. Is not half-hearted or careless in anything they do, as they are to follow Jesus, and He lived and died for the principles of the Kingdom of God.

FOUNDATIONS FOR BIBLICAL DISCIPLESHIP

1. Faithfulness Only faithful or reliable people fully qualify for discipleship training. Other words to describe this in the Bible: faithful—being steadfast—persevering—persistence—self controlled

FOUNDATIONS FOR BIBLICAL DISCIPLESHIP

Mother Theresa, “God doesn’t require us to succeed, he only requires that you try.” Cf Colossians 3:23

FOUNDATIONS FOR BIBLICAL DISCIPLESHIP

Luke 16: 10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

2. Loving Jesus and putting Him first This means living lives according to His will, i.e. obedience. Mother Theresa: "I belong to Jesus, He must use me without consulting me"

Students: think of a verse that is appropriate to this idea

3. A willingness to give of ourselves, sacrificially Spiritual maturity demands sacrifices of time, strength and sometimes even relationships. What is your treasure? What do you spend most money on, talk about most, think of most often…?

God has a personal discipleship programme for each one of us. He wants us to give our lives to this programme so that we will be transformed into the likeness of His Son Jesus (Philippians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 9:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24).

4. Spiritual hunger Do you want to grow spiritually and to be used by God?

How do you recognise hunger for God in a persons life? What would you look for?

5. A teachable attitude Do you submit to the authority of God’s Word and to the spiritual leaders who have been placed over us by Him.

John Maxwell asks some questionsabout teachability:Am I open to other people’s ideas?Do I listen more than I talk?Am I open to changing my opinionbased on new information?Do I readily admit when I am wrong?Do I observe before acting on asituation?

Do I ask questions? Am I willing to ask a question that will expose my ignorance? Am I open to doing things in a way I haven’t done before? Am I willing to ask for directions? Do I act defensive when criticized, or do I listen openly for truth? http://johnmaxwellonleadership.com/2011/01/24/how-do-i-maintain-a-teachable-attitude/

K)  QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION POINTS

1. Did Jesus make an impact on the world through His disciples? Why? 2. Why must we aim at spiritual maturity? (Col. 1:28). 3. What is Christ-likeness? (Romans 8:29). 4. What does it mean to take up your cross? (Matthew 16:24 – 25).

5. Why is the church seen as weak, ineffective or irrelevant? Discuss. 6. Should we count the cost of being a disciple of Jesus? (Luke 14:25–35). 7. Does Jesus deserve to be made the Lord of your whole life? (Colossians 1:15–20). 8. What type of person is Jesus looking for to serve Him? (Luke 16:10 –12; Matthew 25:14 – 30).

9. What good is it if a man gains the whole world and yet forfeits his soul? (Matthew 16:26–27). Discuss. 10. How do we save our lives, according to Matthew 16:24–25 and 1 John 5:12? 11. Where will your heart be? (Luke 12:32–34). 12. What would you need to change in your life if you follow Jesus as a true disciple? Discuss.

SUMMARY AND APPLICATION

1. Jesus made discipleship a priority and so should we!

2. Discipleship is God’s chosen strategy to reach the world.

3. Spiritually mature Christians should be the end result of discipleship.

4. We need to make a firm decision to follow Jesus and not settle for less. Jesus said that following him would cost us everything.

5. God’s sons should be showing Jesus to the world. In fact, we should be transformed into His likeness.

6. As disciples we should be teachable, faithful, spiritually hungry, and sacrifice all because of our love for Jesus.

7. Human nature does not like obedience, neither does it enjoy facing cost. It is easy to settle for a level of discipleship acceptable to us and imagine it to be acceptable to God.

The End