Posted December 10, 2001

FELLOWSHIP --Love: Through Discipling Relationships

Opening Thoughts:

S/ It was abundantly clear from our last class about our love for "one another" and our love for "each other", passages from the New Testament, and how it is our responsibility to apply them to everyone in God's Kingdom, and just to "EVERYONE".

Accountability:

Q/ Who remember from our last class the two practical challenges I suggested that would help us in our love for one another/ each other?

1. Hebrew 3: 12 This Sunday to apply one of what we discuss in the fellowship

2. James 5:14 Pray about your heart as you go after having great fellowship.

Focus

  • One the specific responsibilities within certain relationships which are deeply needed and necessary if we are going to keep growing spiritually accomplishing the mission of Christ with our lives. AMEN

Objective

  • To convince you, no to persuade you to understand the biblical basis for discipling partner relationships, and the practicals needed in order to make them effective.

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

S/ How many of us believe honestly with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength that this is true?

Q: What is He looking for?

Q: What is He looking at?

?? Who are you accountable to?

  • That is right, God, and let us not forget this Amen. God is all around us and He is watching us. Yes! He is! ...so you better watch out, better not pout, better not shout, better not hate, better not be critical, and better not be selfish.... Cause I telling you why God is watching us and we are accountable to Him.

Matthew 12:36 "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken."

S/ Accountability, how would you define it?

Accountability: Is looking for the Good in others by loving them in asking the tough questions.

Also, it is always designed to help us follow through on our good intentions for Jesus.

S/ Ask Who is aspiring to be fruitful? Be an evangelist; plant a church or be on a church planting; begin dating; getting engaged; having your first child; becoming a leader in the kingdom of God; to lead powerfully.

  • ?? Can we achieve any of these desires of ours, these dreams we have, these awesome deeds "ALL BY MYSELF." NO! No and no way.

a. We all need, I need some help, guidance, encouragement, a great heart, and a few steps to get us/me going in the needed direction to attain any of these great feats.

TITLE: Love: Through Discipling Relationships

I. Powerful Purpose of Discipling Partner Relationships

II. Right Heart in Discipling Partner Relationships

III. Realities of Discipling Partner Relationships

Matthew 28: 16 - 20

S/ Jesus' last words therefore discipleship is a basic component of Christianity.

    1. Why? Denominational Churches around the world not changing and growing spiritual.
    • The deadness and ineffectiveness of modern denominational churches today can be traced directly to a lack of discipleship. And the unwillingness to change even when pointed out that this is the problem. They are suffering from L. C. D.
    1. There are those of us today, even though we are baptized disciples, who are suffering from

L.C.D (LACK of CONSISTENT DISCIPLING) in your life.

c. We are not simply to teach everything Jesus commands, but to teach to obey.

--Now this directive of Jesus can be carried out when someone is directly responsible for the training every disciples' life.
    • A specific person to train another specific person the specific commands of Jesus.
    1. As disciple of Jesus no one person in the kingdom is to have more commitment to Him and His mission then any other disciple of Jesus.
    2. We are ALL called to obey everything! Amen!

--Here is a great little Bible Study for you to investigate Commitment and Faith: are they directly proportional or indirectly proportional to one another. What do you think?

Powerful Purpose of Discipleship Partner Relationships

Galatians 4: 19 Form Christ in us.

How is this accomplished?

Colossians 1:28 - 29
    • Once we have discipled someone to Jesus (conversion) than we must disciple them into the image of Jesus (mature in Christ)

Nehemiah 13: 23 - 27 Old Testament Example
  1. Take into consideration the needs of the whole person. The spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of that individual who is loved so much by God and Christ Jesus.
    • The point is: a disciples' life is to seek and save the lost, but those who are growing spiritually, are happy, are encouraged, are faithful, are healthy hearted disciples that can effectively follow through with this incredible purpose.

Right Heart in Discipling Partner Relationships
  1. In order for discipling relationships to work, our hearts must be open to change and eager to change.
  2. What are the needed heart qualities:

1. A Teachable heart shown by initiation Acts 2:46 they were together daily

2. A Teachable heart is by imitation I Corinthians 4: 14 - 1

Hebrews 11: 1

3 A Trusting heart

S/ A trusting heart begins with a complete trust in God, which makes possible the trusting of those people He puts into your life.
    • Now if disciples are known by their love (John 13: 34-35) and if love always trust (I Corinthians 13:7) then we cannot be disciples without trusting others in the family of God.

4. A Transparent heart James 5:16

Proverbs 28: 13

5. A Tough heart Psalms 14 : 1 - 5

 

 

 

Realities of Discipling Partner Relationships

  1. Keep the focus relational in nature.
  1. Discipling relationships are friendship focused and not authority focused.
  2. Discipling relationships should provide examples of spiritual best friends, who love unconditionally and unselfishly, seeking only the best interests of the other person.
  1. We must also be realistic in our view of changes of discipleship partners.
  1. The worldly view of love is that we can only love a few in a really special way. The godly view is that the more deeply we love the more and more people, the more we become like God.
  2. Therefore, let's deal with our selfishness, our lack of kingdom focus, and our immaturity. Accept change as from God, and keep giving your heart away to every new discipling partner relationship you may have. It is the plan of God!
  1. Keep the focus consistent in schedule.
  1. It takes time and scheduling to develop great discipling partner relationships.

2. It takes a schedule format for impactful weekly discipling times.

Such times should include: (Now here is the packet of information that I passed out for those who were the discipler in the discipling partner relationship.)
    • Spiritual Assessment

How is seeking and saving the lost going? Share victories, struggles, sins, dreams, plans and anything else on our hearts about our lives as disciples.
    • Target one or Two areas to work on

Open the Bible for examples, insight and answers to above needs.
    • Agree upon focus
    • Specific directions towards changing
    • Model the character, action they need to change.
    • Monitor and give direction often
    • Give encouragement and praise for efforts to change
    • Admonish the know infractions
    • Affirm their faith in God and in themselves
    • Review what they are learning and have learned.

Finally, here are Three Keys for the Discipler and the Disciple, in having a great realistic relationship.

Discipler: Ephesians 1: 15 - 19

  1. Always be teaching/training about the commands of God and the spiritual principles of God.
  2. Always give specific instruction.
  3. Set a personal example.

Disciple:

  1. Be teachable
  2. Be obedient
  3. Imitate