THE CHURCH: THE BREEDING GROUND OF TRUE DISCIPLES
I. THE PRIORITY OF THE CHURCH FOR MAKING DISCIPLES
A. Christ’s Great Commission is that the church must make disciples. (Matt. 28:19-20)
· “Make disciples” is the one and only command in the Great Commission.
· It is surrounded by three participles: Going, baptizing, and teaching.
· As we go, as we baptize, as we teach, we are commanded to make disciples.
· Converts are not the main goal of the Great Commission, disciples are.
· “We are not commissioned to save souls, but to disciple them.” – Oswald Chambers
B. The early church made disciples. (Acts 14:20b-21)
· There were disciples in the church at Jerusalem. (Acts 6:7; 9:26)
· There were disciples in the church at Antioch. (Acts 11:26)
· There were disciples in the churches in Galatia. (Acts 18:23)
· There were disciples in the church at Ephesus. (Acts 20:1)
C. The chief objective of discipleship is that we become like Jesus Christ. (Luke 6:40; Rom. 8:29; Eph. 4:13)
II. THE PROGRAM OF THE CHURCH FOR MAKING DISCIPLES
A. True discipleship involves personal relationships with other believers. (Mark 3:13-14)
· One will not become a true disciple if one does not attend church. (Heb. 10:24-25)
· True discipleship requires interaction with other believers. (Rom. 15:14; 1 Thes. 5:11)
· It is our loving relationships with other believers that confirm that we are true disciples. (John 13:34-35)
B. True discipleship involves following God’s will for our lives. (John 10:27)
· We will not be conformed to this world. (Rom. 12:2)
· We will do God’s will from our heart. (Eph. 6:6)
· We will live sanctified lives. (1 Thes. 4:3)
· We will be thankful. (1 Thes. 5:18)
· We will have faith. (Heb. 11:6)
· We will do good. (1 Pet. 2:15; Heb. 13:16)
· We will no longer live in the flesh for the lust of men. (1 Pet. 4:2-3; Rom. 8:8)
C. True discipleship involves coming together to learn sound doctrine. (Acts 2:42)
· Church leadership should focus on teaching sound doctrine. (1 Tim. 4:6, 13, 16; 5:17)
· Knowledge of sound doctrine is required to exhort and convict others. (Tit. 1:9)
D. True discipleship involves receiving direction from spiritually mature believers. (Gal. 6:1)
· Direction helps disciples set goals for their lives. (Mark 1:17)
· Direction helps disciples maintain a balance between activity and rest. (Mark 6:31-32)
· Direction helps disciples reach their full potential. (Luke 22:31-32)
E. True discipleship involves correction through objective, loving, biblical exhortation. (2 Tim. 2:25; 3:16)
· Correction may come by sharing insights. (Mark 9:38-40)
· Correction may come by giving direct rebukes. (Luke 9:51-56)
· Correction may come by identifying blind spots. (Luke 10:17-20)
F. True discipleship involves demonstration by example. (Phil. 3:17; 4:9)
· Those who are spiritually mature will set an example for other disciples. (1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; 2 Thes. 3:7a, 9; 1 Tim. 4:12)
G. True discipleship involves intercession with and for other disciples. (John 17:9)
· True disciples will pray for spiritual understanding. (Eph. 1:16-19)
· True disciples will pray for spiritual strength. (Eph. 3:16-19)
· True disciples will pray for spiritual fruit. (Phil. 1:9-11)
· True disciples will pray for a spiritual walk. (Col. 1:9-11)
· True disciples will pray for spiritual holiness. (1 Thes. 3:12-13)
· True disciples will pray for spiritual power. (2 Thes. 1:11-12)
· True disciples will pray for spiritual boldness. (Acts 4:29; Eph. 6:18-20)
H. True discipleship involves reproduction to the next generation. (2 Tim. 2:2)
· The church is only one generation away from extinction.
· That is why Christ’s Great Commission was “Make disciples”. (Matt. 28:19-20)