Discipling – God’s Plan to Train and

Transform His People

Windhoek
Church of
Christ
Kalahari Sands

Sat 12 Apr 2008

Based on the book

“Discipling”
by Gordon Ferguson
 Teaching Plan 2008
Date Topic
Sat 02 Feb 2008 Making Disciples
Sat 01 Mar 2008 Discipling
Sat 15 Mar 2008 Parenting (All Ages)
Sat 05 Apr 2008 Who is My Brother
Sat 03 May 2008 Names of God
Sat 17 May 2008 Parenting (Teens)
Sat 07 Jun 2008 Spiritual World (Angels and Demons)
Sat 05 Jul 2008 Questions and Answers
Sat 19 Jul 2008 Marriage
Sat 02 Aug 2008 How We Got The Bible
Sat 06 Sep 2008 Singles
Sat 04 Oct 2008 ???
Sat 01 Nov 2008 ???
 Discipling – Topic Overview
 Biblical Foundations

Session 1
 Jesus the Master Discipler
 “One Another” Relationships
 Biblical Principles
 Theological Basis – In Advanced Course
 Being Discipled
 Jesus is the Focus
 Why is it so Important
 Keys to Success
 Practicals Session 2
 Overview
 Being a Discipler

Session 2 Advanced
 Be a Relationship Builder
 Be a Patient Trainer
 Be a Humble Advisor
 Be a Graceful Leader
 Issues, Challenges, Opportunities
 Who has Authority
 The Challenge of Change
 Group Discipling
 Family Discipling
 Introduction
 DISCIPLING

Spell Check
 Discipling Defined
 Matthew 28:19-20a
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, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you.
Greek: matheteuo ̄ ̄ (verb)
 “Discipling” is a useful and descriptive term for: “The
“to disciple, that is, enrol as
process of making and maturing disciples into the
image scholar
of Jesus” - be discipled, to
instruct,
 A Discipling to teach”
Relationship:
“One disciple helps another to grow in obedience to
Christ in attitude, character, life-style, …”
 Biblical Foundations:
Jesus the Master Discipler
 Most of what we learn in life comes through
On-the-Job-Training
 There can be no “loner” Christians – we play
an absolutely essential role in each other’s
lives – A lone tree in the desert eventually dies
 The Plan of the Master
 1st He called men to follow him - Mark 1:14-18
 2nd He kept men with himCome,
in order to me,
follow trainJesus
them and then send them outand I will make you
said,
He demonstrated what he taught through
fishers of men.his
own lifev2
example – Mark
he sent them out3:14
v10 they reported to Jesus
 3 He guided them throughHepractical
rd
appointed twelve
assignments – Report back, feedback,
-designating themteach
apostles
– Luk 9:1-6,10; Luk 10:1-16,18-24
-that they might be with him
The classroom is life! and that he might send them
out to preach
Jesus’ Levels of Relationships
The Apostles Followed the Pattern
 Philip – Went to preach in Samaria - Acts 8
 Barnabas – Sent to Antioch – Acts 11:22
 Paul and Silas – Acts 15:22
 Paul and Timothy – Acts 16:1-3
 Timothy and others - 2 Tim 2:2
 The apostles established a chain of discipling
 “One Another” Relationships
 How Many “One Another” passages in the NT?
 John 13:34-35 – Love One Another
 Heb 3:13 – Encourage One Another
 Honesty and vulnerability
 Regular contact
56
 Heb 10:24 – Spur One Another On
 Greek “paroxusmos” - incitement, provoke unto
 Being passionate about something
 Not a word used for conflict avoiders and people
pleasers
 “One Another” Relationships
 James 5:16 – Confess to One Another
 Not a forceful extraction, but a voluntary action
 Confession -> Prayer + Healing
 Greek grammar implies “continual, habitual”
 Be specific
 Ephesians 5:21 – Submit to One Another
 We cannot be discipled without a willingness to be
discipled
 Romans 15:14 – Instruct One Another
 Competency to instruct requires: Goodness and
Knowledge
 “One Another” Relationships
 Ephesians 4:32 – Forgive One Another
 Forgiveness is needed and should be exercised
the most in the relationships that are the closest to
us
 Philippians 4:2 – Agree with One Another
 Disagreements will happen when we have close
relationships, but disagreements which are
resolved in a Godly manner bonds us closer
together
 Biblical Principles of Discipling
 Rev 3:19
Gen
 Love 4:9to help each other to change to
enough
become more like Christ
Am
 Heb 3:12
I My
Brother’ Mat 22:39
 Love enough to confront sin in each other’s lives
 Heb 10:24s YES !
Keeperdemands that we put laziness behind
 Discipleship
us and ?serve one another.
 Discipleship demands that we put away our pride
and humbly submit to the discipling of one
another.
 Old Testament Principles
 Prov 12:1
 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is
stupid
 Prov 19:20
 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise
 Prov 27:5-6
 Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
 We do not need to Enjoy rebuke, but we do need to Appreciate it for its value
 Prov 27:17
 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
 When iron sharpens iron, SPARKS FLY!
 Ps 141:5
 Let a righteous man strike me--it is a kindness; let him rebuke me--it is oil on
my head. My head will not refuse it.
 Ecc 4:8-12
 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has
no one to help him up! … Though one may be overpowered, two can defend
themselves.
 We need close relationships!
 New Testament Principles
 Commission – Mat 28:20
 Leadership Provision – Eph 4:11-13
 To prepare people to work, not do the work for them
 The church grows when every part does its work
 Discipling Chain – 2 Tim 2:2;1 Cor 4:16-17
 Everyone needs to be discipled, but not everyone
can be discipled by a leader
 Ideally everyone should be discipled by someone
more mature than they are
 Commitment to Perfection – Col 1:28
Being Discipled – Jesus the Focus
 All about Jesus
 Becoming more like Him
 Helping others do the same
 He is our example to imitate
 He should be the focus of our discipling efforts
 Follow the Leader
 In this life
 Gal 2:20a – “Christ Lives in me”
 Luk 6:40 – “be like his teacher”
 Into eternal life
 John 14:3 – “that you also may be where I am”
 To Follow on His Terms
 skip
 To Follow for Training
 Mat 11:29 – “learn from me”
 Luk 11:1 – “Lord, teach us”
 Being discipled starts with a commitment to
being a disciple and to seek training, change
and growth
 Without this commitment, discipling becomes
a burden rather than a blessing
 Why Being Discipled is Important
 Discipling Keeps Us Focused
 1 John 2:6 – Focused on imitating Jesus; know
how Jesus walked
 Mat 28:19-20 – Focused on the mission
 Discipling Protects Us From Satan
 Heb 3:13 – Discipling’s potential to stop sin at the
Temptation level
 Discipling Builds Character
 Eph 4:22-24 – Called to make major changes in
our lives; Character changes are not easily made
 2 Cor 3:18 – Change with help of the Holy Spirit
Being Discipled – Keys to Success
 Openness
 Three levels of communication: Smalltalk / Cliché,
Opinion, Emotion
 The more vulnerable you are, the faster you will grow
 Seeking Advice
 Advice = A proposal for an appropriate course of action
 Prov 12:15 - a wise man listens to advice
 Prov 13:10 - wisdom is found in those who take advice
 Prov 15:22 - with many advisers they succeed
 Prov 19:20 – Listen to advice and accept instruction
 Prov 20:18 – Make plans by seeking advice
 Prov 27:9 – the pleasantness of one’s friend springs
from his earnest counsel
Being Discipled – Keys to Success
 Seeking Advice – Practicals
 Pray for those that you seek advice from that God will work
through them and give them wisdom
 Seek advice in all areas of life (especially for young
disciples) e.g. Priorities, time usage, friends, family,
evangelism, leisure time, finances, etc.
 Seek advice about areas of weakness and temptation
 The amount of advice and time to decide should be related
to the magnitude of the consequences of your decision
 Be careful of ear-tickling e.g. Keep on asking until you get
the answer you want; targeting weak/young disciples for
advice, ... (2 Tim 4:3)
 Don’t glibly accept advice if your heart is not there
 Accept that advice is given with good intention and heart, but
mistakes are made just like when we make our own decision
Being Discipled – Keys to Success
 A Submissive Spirit
 Jam 3:17 – the wisdom that comes from heaven is
... submissive ...
 1 Pet 5:5 – Young men, in the same way be
submissive to those who are older
 Principle applies to “older” both for chronological
and spiritual
Being Discipled – Keys to Success
 Imitation
 Luk 6:40 – A student is not above his teacher, but
everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher
 Not just Jesus, but also leaders and other disciples
 Jesus - Mark 1:17 “follow me”; John 14:12 “do what
I’ve been doing”
 Paul – 1 Cor 4:16 “imitate me”; 1 Cor 11:1 “follow
my example”; Phil 3:17 “live according to the
pattern”;
 Others - 1 Thes 1:6 “imitators of us”; 2 Thes 3:7
“follow our example”; Heb 13:7 “your leaders ...
imitate their faith ...”
Being Discipled – Keys to Success
 Reliable and Hard-working
 2 Tim 2:1-7
 v2 – If you are not reliable, then you are unreliable
 v3-4 – A disciple is to be like a Soldier
 Enduring hardship
 Not focused on civilian (non-kingdom) pursuits (entertainment,
possessions, leisure, etc)
 Objective is to follow orders and please his commanding officer
 v5 – Like an Athlete
 Deny self to do training
 Disciplined
 Submit to coaching
 v6 – Like a Farmer
 Hard-working, not lazy
 Long hours, not sleeping in
 Being Discipled – Practicals
 Appreciate Organisation
 Think Friendship
 Determined to develop best-friend spiritual relationships through
sharing lives
 Open our hearts to one another
 Serve together
 Pray together
 Play together
 Reasonable Expectations
 There is only one perfect discipler, Jesus
 Heb 5:11-14 “slow to learn ... live on milk” – If we are slow in
changing and growing our character it is our own fault. Take
charge of your life!
 Value Accountability
 To help us follow through with what we already committed to doing
 Should never be viewed as added pressure to make us do what
we don’t want to
 Being Discipled – Practicals
 Schedule for Success
 Times should be scheduled, consistent, planned,
spiritual
 Structured Time
 Sharing about our lives – Victories, struggles, sins,
dreams, plans, hearts
 Applying the scriptures
 Sharing about quiet times
 Pray together
 Ask and give advice for self and those you disciple
 Input and direction
 Asking and taking accountability
 Evangelise together
 Serve together
 Discipler – Relationship Builder
 Three kinds of Authority:
 Relational – Exerted by a trusted friend
 Knowledge – Experience, wisdom, qualification
 Positional – Not applicable in discipling
 Lessons from Paul’s discipling relationship with the
church in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians)
 Smiles and Compliments (1 Thes 1:2-9)
 Expressions of appreciation – For the relationship, for
hard work
 Made them feel special
 Explain Your Motives (1 Thes 2:1-6a)
 No hidden agendas
 Discipler – Relationship Builder
 Love Like a Mother (1 Thes 2:6b-9)
 Gentle – One of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:23)
 Speaking the truth in Love (Eph 4:15)
 Share not only the message, but your life
 Worked night and day, happily and gratefully (Mat 6:1-18)
 Love Like a Father (1 Thes 2:10-12)
 Like a father leading his family – personal example of
righteousness
 Qualities needed to be fatherly – Encouraging, comforting,
urging to live a life worthy of God
 Feel what they Feel (1 Thes 2:14, 3:2-5)
 Compassion – Being so carried away with another’s pain
that your heart feels like it is being drawn out of your body
toward him
 When someone is hurting they need to talk it out
 Discipler – Relationship Builder
 Insist on Righteousness (1 Thes 4:1-8)
 Paul demanded righteous living
 We need to ask those whom we disciple the tough questions about their
personal righteousness
 Paul did not regard any subject as off limits or taboo
 We must address issues frankly
 Teach them to Love Each Other (1 Thes 4:9-10)
 Teach how to love (1 Cor 13:4-8)
 Remember Eternity (1 Thes 4:13-5:11)
 Deal Constantly with the Heart (1 Thes 5:12-28)
 Discipling of behaviour must be done by discipling the Heart
 Can be a time-consuming and energy draining process
 Learn to find out what is in the heart
 Ask questions to help a person to look inside and face up to what is
really there
 Individual Needs (1 Thes 5:14)
 Warn those who are idle, Encourage the timid, Help the weak, be
Patient with everyone
 Discipler – Patient Trainer
 Train Disciples to Think
 2 Cor 4:4 “The god of this age has blinded the
minds of unbelievers”
 Realise that our thoughts and minds can be focused
on and controlled by Satan and the world, or by
Jesus and the Spirit
 2 Cor 10:5 “We take captive every thought to make
it obedient to Christ”
 Rom 8:5-6, 12:2 - Teach a person to think like
Jesus, to think Spiritually
 Discipler – Patient Trainer
 Train Righteously
 Prov 18:17 “The first to present his case seems right,
till another comes forward and questions him”
 Prov 11:13 – A “gossip” is defined as someone who
betrays a confidence
 Eph 4:29 – Unwholesome talk is forbidden
 1 Pet 2:1 – Every kind of slander is forbidden
 Questions to ask yourself before sharing about
someone else:
 Why am I thinking about sharing this?
 Will my sharing benefit the one about whom I am sharing?
 Will my sharing benefit the one to whom I am sharing?
 Discipler – Patient Trainer
 Leave Room for God
 2 Tim 2:23-26
 Quarrelling is forbidden, so refuse to be pulled into it
 Be kind and gentle
 Keep teaching Biblical principles in a calm spirit
 Do not become resentful; Avoid taking the words of
an opposer too personal
 God grants repentance – even he does not force
change
 Discipler – Humble Adviser
 The Nature of Biblical Advice
 The Bible gives us all the principles we need to live a life
pleasing to God (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:3-4)
 It does not always give us all the clear-cut details for every
situation
 Explicit teaching (Clear, Direct) e.g. drunkenness
 Implicit teaching (Range from compelling to opinion) e.g.
Dating non-Christian, gambling, alcohol, TV
 Specific advice on issues of implicit teaching may differ by culture,
church, individual especially the further it is from clear Biblical principle
 Calls for wisdom, experience, judgment, etc.
 Not always a matter of right & wrong, but good, better & best
 Seeking advice does not mean asking for permission
 A discipler offers counsel based on his knowledge of the
Scriptures, people involved, circumstances, experience,
wisdom
 Discipler – Humble Adviser
 Faith or Opinion
 Romans 14 is a key passage about the reality of grey
areas where the issues are matters of opinion and
viewed differently by individuals
 v1-8 – There is room in the kingdom for these kinds
of differences
 Be careful about binding our opinions as law
 Example matters of opinion – Alcohol, movies, TV, hunting
 Live by our own consciences and avoid dogmatism
 v9-12 – No room in the kingdom for judgmental
attitudes
 v13-23 – We should not exercise our liberty in a way
that causes a weaker disciple to stumble
 Discipler – Graceful Leader
 Acceptance
 Eph 2:8-9 – God accepts us because of Christ, not
because of our performance
 Eph 2:10 – We work because we are saved, not to
be saved
 We should also accept those we lead in the same
way
 Discipler – Graceful Leader
 Freedom
 Righteous relationships are characterized by the freedom
to be who we are while we become who we are meant to
be
 Authoritative leading, not authoritarian
 In charge but not a control freak
 Love enough to be involved and to set guidelines
 Purpose of developing a close relationship
 Leads but does not force
 Provides direction, advice and motivation while allowing freedom
to choose
 A “good disciple” is not one who simply does what he is
told, but one who learns the Biblical foundations for
thinking spiritually and making wise decisions
 In an atmosphere of freedom, honesty and openness can
flourish
 Discipler – Graceful Leader
 Expectations
 People respond to what others expect of them
 How do you view disciples?
 Tit 3:3 vs Rom 15:14
 Do not confuse the people of the world with the people of the kingdom
 Have Expectations
 Ask how they are doing in the four key areas of relationships – with God,
family, disciples, world
 Discuss what needs to be done or changed in each, write it down, discuss
accountability and follow up on progress
 Reasonable Expectations
 Individuals have different capabilities, capacities, needs
 Learn to work with different types of people
 If we expect too much too soon the faith of the person we are trying to help
can be damaged
 Encourage growth and progress before perfection
 Great Expectations
 Reaching the true potential God has placed in each of us
 Theological Basis
 For advanced course
 Authority
 For advanced course
 The Challenge of Change
 For advanced course
 Group Discipling
 For advanced course
 Family Discipling
 For advanced course
 Closing
 Questions
 Know and Go