Transformation thru discipling Pt2 13th jan 2013

Our VISION TRANSFORMING LIVES

EXPANDING HIS KINGDOM

Theme for 2013 TRANSFORMATION thru’ DISCIPLING

Verse for 2013 1 Cor 11:1

“Imitate me just as I also

imitate Christ”

Definition: A Disciple

“A DISCIPLE is a CHRISTIAN who is

a FOLLOWER of Jesus,

LEARNING to be more like Him

and

TEACHING others to do likewise.”

CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP is

a RELATIONAL process

of INTENTIONALLY bringing people

into a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD and

developing them to FULL MATURITY IN CHRIST,

that they in turn might MULTIPLY OTHERS.

Transformation Thru Discipling “Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ” 1 Cor 11:1

: To Be A Christian Is

To Be A Disciple

: Christian

Discipleship is not optional but must be

Intentional

: Christian Discipleship

is about Imitating Christ

Transformation Thru Discipling

“Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ” 1 Cor 11:1

Natural reaction...

Can I say : “Imitate me...”

Dare I say : “Imitate me...”

Who am I to say ....

Transformation Thru Discipling “Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ” 1 Cor 11:1

Question :

Why are we afraid / fearful to ask people to “Imitate me” ?

Fear Factor

Pride Factor

‘Modesty’ Factor

The Power of Example 1 Cor 11:1

“Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ”

Paul’s call to “imitate” him

Continues with ...

“... Just as I also imitate Christ”

asking to be imitated

only to the extent that Paul is imitating Christ.

The Power of Example Will it not be better for all of us just to ...

IMITATE CHRIST ?

Agreed that it will be better

Because :

Jesus - God’s Son is PERFECT

If we follow Him, we cannot go wrong ...

The Power of Example But How ??

Jesus is now in heaven and

we are on earth !!

How can we imitate Him, His will & purpose, His Life ?

1. Thru’ our inward conscience

Ref 2 Cor 1:12

The Power of Example

2. Thru His Revealed Word

The Marks of a Disciple!

Abiding in His Word Jn 8:31

Bearing Fruits Jn 15:8

Counting the Cost Lk 14:26-27

Defining Character – Love Jn 13:35

The ABC & D’s of Christian Life

The Power of Example and God’s Promise in John 14:18

“I will not leave you as orphans;...”

3. Thru the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS and

WILL REMIND YOU OF EVERYTHING I have said to you.”

The Power of Example and also thru God’s People In Matt 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Where did Jesus teach this ? Jesus was referring to ..... We are to be His Light ... We are to be His Salt ...

The Power of Example So all followers of Jesus Christ ... all who call Him Savior and Lord Our lives, our faith, our believes ... Must be seen Will be seen Should be seen By people out-there, by the “world”... So that they can Praise God in heaven BUT ONLY if what they see is ‘good’ !


Paul then was just continuing what Jesus

had taught ...

Our Faith must be seen ...

Our Faith must be VISIBLE ...

‘IMITATE’ is not about physical looks

It is all about our Faith, Behaviour, Lifestyle, Purpose, Values, Priorities ....


Message Bible Matt 5:14-16 14 "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be

light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. GOD IS NOT A SECRET TO BE KEPT. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.

15 If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand.

16 Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand — shine! KEEP OPEN HOUSE; BE GENEROUS WITH YOUR LIVES. BY OPENING UP TO OTHERS, YOU'LL PROMPT PEOPLE TO OPEN UP WITH GOD, THIS GENEROUS FATHER IN HEAVEN.

The Power of Example 3 ‘V’s’ to “IMITATE ME”:

1. VISIBLE Our Faith MUST BE SEEN 1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the

pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Peter 3:1-2 – Marriage relationship 1 Tim 5:25 – “obvious...cannot be hidden”


1. VISIBLE • KNOWINGLY • our Faith must be seen • never an option - it is a necessity

• UNKNOWINGLY Your spouse sees Your children sees Your neighbor sees Your colleagues sees The ‘world’ sees

The Power of Example 1. VISIBLE

Quote : “OUR TRUE CHARACTER is what we do when no one is looking” Question :

How many of us struggled to accept Christ because of the behavior of Christians we knew ?


2. VULNERABLE If we are willing to ask people to ‘imitate us’ – we are making ourselves VULNERABLE This can be our greatest fear That we will not live up to our own

standards That we will somehow / sometime

compromise our faith Because of this we hold back ...

The Power of Example VULNERABLE

Whether we like it or not ...

We are all sinners saved by grace ...

We are all still ‘work in progress’...

We all have our weakness ...

Vulnerability is a two-edged sword

The Power of Example VULNERABLE :Yes it can do a lot of harm BUT... If we are willing to be vulnerable We no longer need to ‘pretend’ We no longer need to wear ‘masks’ We can truly be ourselves Only when we acknowledge who we truly are Then we can really grow Then others can help us to grow Then we can all grow together

The Power of Example If we truly want to grow In our FAITH as DISCIPLES of Christ We need to STOP PLAYING CHURCH... Being a Christian in todays world is not easy The temptations are many The temptations are real We all need help We all need to help one another

TODAY ... Do we Know ? Do we Care ?


3. VICTORIOUS Our Faith is not only Living & Active Our Faith is a VICTORIOUS FAITH John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so

that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

The Power of Example 3. VICTORIOUS Rom 8:37 “No, in all these things we are

more than conquerors THROUGH HIM who loved us. ...”

1 Cor 15:57 “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.”

1 John 4:4 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because THE ONE WHO IS IN YOU is greater than the one who is in the world.”

The Power of Example VICTORIOUS : 1 John 5:4-5 “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” The Victory is already ours The enemy is already defeated This is what we must declare This is how we should live

"If we have no idea where we are going,

any road will lead us there."

Merv Thompson


Application : How then do we apply Paul’s Call to “Imitate” ? Practically what does it mean to be : Visibility ? Vulnerability ? and Victorious ?

Definition: A Disciple

“A DISCIPLE is a CHRISTIAN who is

a FOLLOWER of Jesus,

LEARNING to be more like Him

and

TEACHING others to do likewise.”

CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP is

a RELATIONAL process

of INTENTIONALLY bringing people

into a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD and

developing them to FULL MATURITY IN CHRIST,

that they in turn might MULTIPLY OTHERS.

Growing in Discipleship

4 Important Keys :

1.RELATIONSHIP

2.INTENTIONAL

3.COMMITMENT

4.STRUCTURE

The Power of Example in the Family

Position as Father

Ref 1 Cor 4:14-16

“I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me.”

It was the cry from a father’s heart


In a Family, parents – fathers and mothers are ‘suppose to be’ the best example for the children

Our lives need to be VISIBLE to our children...

Our character

Our values in life

Our beliefs


We also need to be VULNERABLE before our children...

If we made a mistake – do we own up ?

If we jump to the wrong conclusion – do we apologize ?

If we are having difficulties in our relationships – what do we tell our children ?

Quotes: “There are only three ways to teach a child.

The 1st is by example,

the 2nd is by example,

& the 3rd is by example.”

“Example is not the main thing in life—

it is the only thing.” albert schweitzer


Our VICTORIOUS Faith our children must be able to see & know that it’s real

no pretending

no excuses

Just being transparent, honest & vulnerable...

Just to share a Secret :

children most times can see through us ...

they know if it is real or not ...


That our Faith need to be VISIBLE, VULNERABLE and VICTORIOUS.

this applies in any family relationship ...

dealing between Siblings, Uncles & Aunties, Nieces & Nephews, Grand-children etc

Our family members must be able to sense the authenticity of our faith

Esp so if you are the only “LIGHT” in their midst

The Power of Example in the FAMILY

4-Generations Blessing Ref 2 Timothy 2:2: “…and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” FOUR “generations” of Christians in this verse: Paul, Timothy, “faithful men,” & “others also.”

The Power of Example THE CHURCH Heb 13:7 referring to church Leaders “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” In the Pastoral Epistles Timothy & Titus Choosing of Elders & Deacons Character / Reputation is very important Not only themselves, also their wife &

children Inside & Outside the church

The Power of Example in the CHURCH

THE CHURCH In 1 Cor 5

Addressing the sin of sexual immorality within the Corinthian Church Paul was angry : –not so much with the brother who sinned –BUT with the Church for tolerating the sin

Even within the Church we need to be Visible, Vulnerable & Victorious


We are the SSMC Church Family On Sundays we gather for Celebration The actual life of our church is in our small groups called Discipleship Groups We have 37 DGs Numbers varies from about 8+ to 20+ Meet weekly in different homes & also the

church If there is any ‘discipling’ to be done – it

must be done at the DG level


Discipling at DG level At DG meetings with 10 to 15 people We can share and most do share We may know about one another But very hard to truly know one

another in such a big group Introducing “Disciplet” groupings within DGs ...

DG

DG

DG DG

DG

DG

DG

DG DG

Growing in Discipleship DG

DG

The Power of Example in the Church

Why “Disciplet” groupings within DGs Smaller numbers : min 2- max 4 only Other Guidelines given Share only what you are comfortable with Peer-Discipling We are to be our Brothers / Sisters keeper Praying that over time – Visibility,

Vulnerability and being Victorious in sharing our faith will take root & grow

The Power of Example in the Church

4 CRITICAL Rules for “Disciplet” groupings

CONFIDENTIALITY is most impt

no COMPETITION

no COMPARISON

no CONDEMNATION

Growing in Discipleship


The WORLD :

In Jn 17, Jesus prayed that we be “IN THE

WORLD and yet not OF THE WORLD”

We are called to be Light & Salt

We are called to make a difference

The Power of Example in the WORLD

Paul had much to share on this topic : Phil 4:9 “Whatever you have learned or

received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice.”

1 Tim 4:12 “ Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

The Power of Example in the WORLD

Paul also wrote : Titus 2:7-8 “In everything set them an example

by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”

Transformation Thru’ Discipling Our Faith as Christians or as Disciples ...

Must always be VISIBLE

At times be VULNERABLE but

At all times live a VICTORIOUS Christian life.

IDENTICAL - To be a Christian is to be a Disciple

Discipleship must be INTENTIONAL

Discipleship is about IMITATING Christ

Transformation Thru’ Discipling

A journey of becoming less like

ourselves & more like Christ

DISCIPLESHIP

Is A Journey ...

Transformation thru discipling Pt2 13th jan 2013

Spiritual

Transcript of Transformation thru discipling Pt2 13th jan 2013