Decisions That Shape Discipleship in the New Year

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Reproduction and Fruitfulness

Discipleship is not just about being active in church activities; it is about spiritual reproduction and fruitfulness. Like a mule, which cannot reproduce despite its strength and hard work, our efforts in the church must lead to the making of new disciples. This requires intentionality and focus on spiritual growth and multiplication. We are called to be fruitful in our spiritual lives, ensuring that our actions and decisions contribute to the growth of God's kingdom. This involves mentoring others, sharing our faith, and being examples of Christ's love and teachings. [47:20]

"By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." (John 15:8, ESV)

Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can intentionally mentor or disciple this week? How can you take a step towards spiritual reproduction today?

Day 2: The Great Commission as a Call to Action

The Great Commission is not merely a suggestion but a commandment from Jesus, emphasizing the importance of discipleship in fulfilling God's purpose. It calls all believers to go beyond mere church attendance and actively engage in the mission of making disciples. This involves sharing the gospel, teaching others about Christ, and living out our faith in a way that draws others to Him. As followers of Christ, we are entrusted with the responsibility to spread His message and make disciples of all nations, reflecting His love and truth in our daily lives. [50:12]

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to share the gospel with someone in your community or workplace?

Day 3: Following, Learning, and Imitating Christ

Being a disciple means being a follower, learner, and imitator of Christ. It requires humility, recognizing our need for continual growth and transformation. This journey demands leaving behind old ways and fully committing to Christ, just as His first disciples did. We are called to learn from Jesus, seek His wisdom, and strive to live like Him in every aspect of our lives. This involves daily surrender, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us and guide us in our walk with God. [55:17]

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to more closely imitate Christ? How can you take a step towards this today?

Day 4: The Church's Role in Nurturing Disciples

The church plays a vital role in discipleship by nurturing and guiding believers to grow in their faith. It is not about saving souls but about helping them become more like Christ. This involves a commitment to love and unity within the body of Christ, working together to support and encourage one another in our spiritual journeys. The church provides a community where believers can learn, grow, and be held accountable, fostering an environment of spiritual growth and transformation. [01:07:13]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to the spiritual growth of your church community this week? What is one way you can encourage or support a fellow believer?

Day 5: The Cost and Reward of True Discipleship

True discipleship comes with a cost, requiring us to forsake all for the sake of Christ. It involves surrendering our desires and ambitions to follow Him wholeheartedly. Despite the challenges, the journey is worth it because of the price Jesus paid for us. We are called to lay down our lives, take up our cross, and follow Him, trusting that the eternal rewards far outweigh any temporary sacrifices. This commitment to Christ requires daily surrender and a willingness to endure hardships for the sake of the gospel. [01:13:15]

"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are hesitant to surrender to Christ? What would it look like to fully trust Him with this area today?

Sermon Summary

As we embark on a new year, we are reminded of the importance of discipleship in our Christian journey. The theme for this year, "Decisions Make Disciples," calls us to reflect on the choices we make as followers of Christ. Discipleship is not merely about being busy with church activities; it is about spiritual reproduction and fruitfulness. Just as a mule, despite its strength and hard work, cannot reproduce, we must ensure that our efforts in the church lead to the making of new disciples.

Jesus' Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 is a call to action for all believers. He has given us all authority to go and make disciples of all nations. This is not a suggestion but a commandment, a testament to His last will for us. Discipleship involves being a follower, a learner, and an imitator of Christ. It requires us to leave behind our old ways and fully commit to following Jesus, just as His first disciples did.

Being a disciple means being a student of Jesus, constantly learning and growing in our faith. It requires humility, recognizing that we do not know everything and that we must continually seek His wisdom and guidance. Moreover, discipleship is about imitation, striving to live like Christ in every aspect of our lives. This is why Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit, to empower us to become more like Him each day.

The church plays a crucial role in discipleship, not by saving souls, but by nurturing and guiding believers to grow in their faith. This involves a commitment to love one another, as Jesus commanded, and to work together in unity for the kingdom of God. Discipleship is a journey of surrender, where we lay down our desires and ambitions to follow Christ wholeheartedly.

As we move forward this year, let us embrace the call to discipleship with renewed vigor and dedication. Let us make decisions that align with God's will and purpose for our lives, knowing that true discipleship comes with a cost but is ultimately worth it because of the price Jesus paid for us.

Key Takeaways

1. Discipleship as Reproduction: Discipleship is about spiritual reproduction and fruitfulness, not just hard work. Like mules, which cannot reproduce, we must ensure our efforts lead to making new disciples. This requires intentionality and focus on spiritual growth and multiplication. [47:20]
2. The Great Commission: Jesus' command to make disciples is a testament to His last will for us. It is a call to action for all believers, emphasizing the importance of discipleship in fulfilling God's purpose. This involves going beyond mere church attendance to actively engaging in the mission of making disciples. [50:12]
3. Being a Follower, Learner, and Imitator: Discipleship involves following Jesus, learning from Him, and imitating His life. It requires humility, recognizing our need for continual growth and transformation. This journey demands leaving behind old ways and fully committing to Christ. [55:17]
4. The Role of the Church: The church plays a vital role in discipleship by nurturing and guiding believers. It is not about saving souls but about helping them grow in faith and become more like Christ. This involves a commitment to love and unity within the body of Christ. [67:13]
5. The Cost of Discipleship: True discipleship comes with a cost, requiring us to forsake all for the sake of Christ. It involves surrendering our desires and ambitions to follow Him wholeheartedly. Despite the challenges, the journey is worth it because of the price Jesus paid for us. [01:13:15]
** [73:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:45] - Announcements and Upcoming Events
[40:32] - Testimonies and Building Updates
[44:46] - Prayer for Comfort and Strength
[46:02] - Introduction to Discipleship
[47:20] - The Importance of Reproduction
[50:12] - The Great Commission
[50:59] - Authority and Purpose
[51:28] - Misconceptions of Church Growth
[53:28] - What is a Disciple?
[55:17] - Following Jesus
[57:36] - Personal Sacrifices
[59:00] - Continuous Learning
[62:20] - The Role of Humility
[67:13] - The Church's Role in Discipleship
[73:15] - The Cost of Discipleship

Sermon Clips

We are beginning a new year with a theme called Decisions Make Disciples. We started our new Sunday school just this morning at 945 and each week we're going to be studying a decision that is demanded from those who choose to follow Jesus. And throughout this next year, it will be a series of decisions that we want to encourage you that the Bible calls us to. [00:45:02] (32 seconds)

Jesus could have used his authority and his power to do many wonderful things, to go build houses and send doctors and win favor and people be open to the gospel. And these are strategies that parachurch organizations have used over time, and none of these things are evil. But these are not the purpose, the point of the church of Jesus Christ. [00:52:32] (23 seconds)

The strategy is this. Make disciples. This is the plan. This is the goal. This is what the church should be doing every day. Our focus is winning souls and making disciples. We can't save anybody. Is that true? Evangelism is us planting seeds. We should be involved in that. [00:52:52] (21 seconds)

So what can we conclude? A true disciple, number one, is a follower. This is the first definition of what it means to be a disciple. When Jesus came to his first followers, isn't it amazing? We call them followers, right? What was the first words he said? He said, follow me. [00:55:04] (24 seconds)

A disciple is a follower, a learner, and an imitator. It is said that if you want to have success in any field, you should find someone who is already successful, and then make yourself like them. If you get hired at a new job, what you should do is look for the best employee who's doing your job, figure out how they do it, and then make yourself like them. [01:03:39] (28 seconds)

The church cannot save people. The church cannot reform the heart, the inner man. But what are we called to do? When the Bible said, when Jesus says to us, you go and make disciples, what does that mean? It means that we, as the church, we have a part to play in the discipleship of others. [01:06:37] (24 seconds)

John 13, 34, a new commandment I give you, love one another. Love one another that as I have loved you, you should also love one another. And by this, you will know that you are my disciples. If you have love for one another. Amen. Amen. Amen. Love discipleship is a love between brothers and sisters. [01:08:41] (22 seconds)

Whichever of you does not forsake all that he has, how much? All that he has cannot be my disciple. This is what it means. Listen, can we be real for just a moment? A lot of people have an idea of what it means to be a Christian. I think it means singing Christian songs and putting Caleb on the radio and a fish bumper sticker and being nice to people. [01:11:31] (30 seconds)

There's been a price to follow Jesus. But I want to say to you this, it's worth it. He is worth it. Why? Because He's the one who paid the price for me. He shed His blood and He gave His body. In a moment, we're going to be receiving the communion. And you ought to remember what Jesus did for you. [01:14:57] (30 seconds)

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