Discipleship: Our Identity and Ongoing Journey in Christ

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound and essential journey of discipleship, a journey that is not merely an activity but a core identity for every believer. Discipleship is about becoming followers of Jesus, being sanctified into His image, and making disciples of others. This is not just a task but a calling that defines who we are as Christians. Jesus' command in Matthew 28 to make disciples is a mission that requires us to see ourselves as depraved, recognize our sin, and turn to Jesus as our Lord and Savior. This transformation involves letting go of everything and entrusting our lives to Him.

Discipleship is not about religious activities or rituals; it's about a relationship with Jesus that compels us to engage in practices like Bible study, prayer, and evangelism because we desire to know Him more deeply. It's an ongoing process of growth in truth, righteousness, and love. As we grow in truth, we are equipped to handle the Word of God and mature in our faith. This growth in truth leads to a growth in righteousness, where our lives are increasingly aligned with God's will, and our actions are motivated by a desire to please Him rather than people.

Moreover, discipleship fosters a deep love for others, mirroring the love Jesus has for us. This love compels us to share not only the gospel but our very lives with others, building authentic relationships that reflect the family of God. Discipleship is a spiritual discipline that requires intentionality, sacrifice, and a commitment to invest in others, just as Paul did with the Thessalonians. It is through this process that we fulfill our purpose and advance the kingdom of God.

Key Takeaways:

- Discipleship as Identity: Discipleship is not just an activity but an identity. It involves recognizing our sin, turning to Jesus as Lord, and entrusting our lives to Him. This transformation requires letting go of everything and following Jesus wholeheartedly. [51:50]

- Growth in Truth: Discipleship begins and continues with truth. We must be rooted in the Word of God, growing in our knowledge of Him. This growth equips us to handle the Word and mature in our faith, moving beyond the basics to a deeper understanding of God's will. [01:03:23]

- Righteousness and Motivation: As we grow in truth, we also grow in righteousness. Our actions become motivated by a desire to please God rather than people. This shift in motivation is crucial for living a life that glorifies God and aligns with His purposes. [01:15:51]

- Love and Relationship: Discipleship fosters a deep love for others, mirroring the love Jesus has for us. This love compels us to share not only the gospel but our lives with others, building authentic relationships that reflect the family of God. [01:23:23]

- The Ongoing Journey: Discipleship is an ongoing journey that requires intentionality and sacrifice. It involves being poured into by others and pouring into others, fostering growth in truth, righteousness, and love. This process is essential for fulfilling our purpose and advancing the kingdom of God. [01:26:09]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Announcements
- [02:00] - Opening Prayer and Scripture
- [05:00] - Introduction to Discipleship
- [10:00] - The Call to Make Disciples
- [15:00] - Discipleship as Identity
- [20:00] - Growth in Truth
- [25:00] - Righteousness and Motivation
- [30:00] - Love and Relationship
- [35:00] - The Ongoing Journey
- [40:00] - Paul's Example of Discipleship
- [45:00] - The Role of Truth in Transformation
- [50:00] - The Importance of Community
- [55:00] - Call to Action and Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Journey of Discipleship

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 28:19-20
2. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
3. Ephesians 3:14-21

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Observation Questions:

1. According to 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, how did Paul describe his approach to sharing the gospel with the Thessalonians? What does this reveal about his relationship with them? [57:54]

2. In Matthew 28:19-20, what specific instructions does Jesus give to His disciples? How does this passage define the mission of discipleship?

3. How does Ephesians 3:14-21 describe the role of love and knowledge in the life of a believer? What is Paul's prayer for the Ephesians in this passage?

4. What are some of the key characteristics of discipleship mentioned in the sermon, and how do they align with the passages read? [51:50]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of discipleship as an identity, rather than just an activity, challenge common perceptions of what it means to be a Christian? [51:50]

2. In what ways does growing in truth lead to a deeper understanding of God's will, and how does this understanding impact a believer's life? [01:03:23]

3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between righteousness and motivation? Why is it important for a believer's actions to be motivated by a desire to please God rather than people? [01:15:51]

4. How does the love described in Ephesians 3:14-21 and 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 reflect the love Jesus has for us? How does this love compel believers to engage in authentic relationships with others? [01:23:23]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current understanding of discipleship. How does viewing it as an identity rather than an activity change your approach to following Jesus? [51:50]

2. Identify one area in your life where you can grow in truth. What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your knowledge of God's Word? [01:03:23]

3. Consider your motivations for the actions you take in your faith journey. Are there areas where you are more focused on pleasing people than God? How can you shift your focus to align more with God's will? [01:15:51]

4. Think of a relationship in your life where you can demonstrate the love of Christ more fully. What practical steps can you take to share not only the gospel but also your life with this person? [01:23:23]

5. Discipleship requires intentionality and sacrifice. What is one specific sacrifice you can make this week to invest in someone else's spiritual growth? [01:26:09]

6. Reflect on a time when you felt like a "babe in Christ." What steps can you take to mature in your faith and move beyond the basics of the gospel? [01:10:00]

7. How can you actively participate in the ongoing journey of discipleship within your church community? Identify one person you can reach out to for mutual encouragement and growth. [01:27:59]

Devotional

Day 1: Discipleship as Core Identity
Discipleship is not merely an activity but a core identity for every believer. It involves recognizing our sinfulness, turning to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and entrusting our lives to Him. This transformation requires letting go of everything and following Jesus wholeheartedly. It is a calling that defines who we are as Christians, not just a task to be completed. By embracing this identity, we align ourselves with Jesus' command in Matthew 28 to make disciples, seeing ourselves as depraved and in need of His grace. This journey of discipleship is about becoming followers of Jesus, being sanctified into His image, and making disciples of others. [51:50]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?


Day 2: Rooted in Truth
Discipleship begins and continues with truth. Being rooted in the Word of God is essential for growing in our knowledge of Him. This growth equips us to handle the Word and mature in our faith, moving beyond the basics to a deeper understanding of God's will. As we grow in truth, we are better prepared to navigate life's challenges and remain steadfast in our faith. This ongoing process of growth in truth is crucial for our spiritual development and for fulfilling our purpose as disciples of Christ. [01:03:23]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally incorporate more time in God's Word this week to deepen your understanding and application of His truth in your life?


Day 3: Righteousness Motivated by God
As we grow in truth, we also grow in righteousness. Our actions become motivated by a desire to please God rather than people. This shift in motivation is crucial for living a life that glorifies God and aligns with His purposes. When our lives are increasingly aligned with God's will, our actions reflect His righteousness, and we become more effective witnesses for Christ. This growth in righteousness is a natural outcome of our deepening relationship with Jesus and our commitment to living according to His Word. [01:15:51]

"Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." (1 John 2:6, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you shift your motivations from seeking approval from others to seeking to please God in your daily actions?


Day 4: Love that Mirrors Christ
Discipleship fosters a deep love for others, mirroring the love Jesus has for us. This love compels us to share not only the gospel but our lives with others, building authentic relationships that reflect the family of God. By investing in others and sharing our lives, we demonstrate the love of Christ and create opportunities for meaningful connections. This love is not just an emotion but a commitment to serve and support others, just as Jesus did. [01:23:23]

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who needs to experience the love of Christ. How can you intentionally show them love and build a deeper relationship with them this week?


Day 5: The Journey of Intentional Discipleship
Discipleship is an ongoing journey that requires intentionality and sacrifice. It involves being poured into by others and pouring into others, fostering growth in truth, righteousness, and love. This process is essential for fulfilling our purpose and advancing the kingdom of God. By committing to this journey, we embrace the call to make disciples and invest in the spiritual growth of ourselves and others. This intentionality in discipleship reflects the example set by Paul and other early Christians who dedicated their lives to spreading the gospel and nurturing the faith of others. [01:26:09]

"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: Who is someone you can intentionally invest in this week to encourage their spiritual growth? What specific steps can you take to support them in their journey of discipleship?

Quotes


We're called to follow as disciples, and listen, we're called to be sanctified into the image of Jesus through a process called discipleship, which is the process of him making us into fishers of men. So being a disciple, it means we see ourselves as depraved, we see our sin, we see the separation it creates, and then, listen, we see Jesus as Lord. We see him, our sacrifice as sufficient for our sins, and for those reasons, we repent, we turn to him, we place our trust and faith in him as we live our lives, we follow him, we let everything go, we sacrifice all of it, and we entrust ourselves to him. That's a disciple. [00:51:08] (42 seconds)


Being a disciple, it's not just about coming to church. It's not just about the work you do. It's not about you serving. It's not what you choose to give your money to or your time to. It's not necessarily about you reading your Bible every day. If that's what your Christian walk is about, those things are more about religion. Those things would define religion. We are called as disciples of Christ into a relationship, and we choose to do those other things, not because we gain something, but because it's what we desire. It's what we want to do, because those things help us to know Jesus in a greater way. [00:51:58] (37 seconds)


Discipleship, it's intertwined in every aspect of the purpose that Jesus has given us. Again, Matthew 28, 19 and 20. If you remember, that was our memory verse two years ago. Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you. That's our marching orders, right? As followers, of Jesus, that's what we're called to do. Our purpose in life, it's to make disciples. [00:53:31] (30 seconds)


But if you pay attention to this verse, the main extent of that mission, it's discipleship. Of course, you can't disciple or enter into discipleship without practices like evangelism. And so I don't want you to take away from what we talked about last week. It starts with evangelism, and you need evangelism. You need to be active in the practice and discipline of evangelism. But the main extent of the mission that he gave us, it's discipleship. [00:54:48] (27 seconds)


Look at the catalyst to all of this when it came to making disciples, and then when it came to the process of discipleship. He lays it out here. It's this foundation of truth, which we know comes from God's Word alone. Paul says, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. We declared to you truth, even though we were being persecuted. And we did that because we know that truth is what the Holy Spirit uses to make disciples. [01:02:01] (32 seconds)


People can't come into a reconciled relationship with the Lord without truth. I've heard all kinds of evangelism stories or tactics where they say, all you got to do is like learn how to communicate your testimony. That's not enough. The Word of God is the only thing that can save a person. Your testimony should get them to the Word of God where you declare truth to them. And then the Spirit of God change their life. But you have to get them to the Word of God. The Word of God has to be declared. [01:02:57] (30 seconds)


Discipleship, it starts with truth, and it continues in truth until the day we die. You should always be a student of the Word because you love Jesus, because you want to grow in your knowledge of him. And listen, the reason truth is so important in our walk as disciples, it's because truth, it causes us to grow in righteousness, which is our second point. Look at verses 4 through 6 with me again. It says this, and back in 1 Thessalonians, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. [01:12:19] (33 seconds)


Paul wanted these Thessalonians to understand that the source of his conviction, right, the source of his honesty with, and boldness with the gospel, it came from that motivation to please God. We don't speak to please men. We seek to please God who examines our hearts, he says. You don't examine our hearts. God does. He wasn't interested in glory from people because God was his witness. Paul lived his life for an audience of one. And listen, that thought, when you really sit back and just let that sink in, we live our lives for an audience of one. [01:14:18] (40 seconds)


Discipleship, the primary element of discipleship we just said is truth. It's digging into the Word of God with other believers because we want to grow in righteousness. Paul did the things he did. He went through the lengths that he went through because he knew exactly what truth would do. He knew how powerful it was. He continued to push those he led to Christ. He continued to pour into them the truth of God's Word because he knew truth would grow them in righteousness. [01:17:01] (24 seconds)


Listen, maybe that's the reason you don't want to spend time with God's people, or it's the reason why you hear the things I'm saying about discipleship, and accountability, and just tune me out. You think I'm crazy. I can never see myself doing that. But guys, that's exactly what discipleship is. It's exactly what it takes. It's us giving ourselves to other people because we love them. It's a marriage relationship that we're a part of. [01:21:10] (26 seconds)


Guys, there can be no walk with Christ without discipleship. Ongoing discipleship. And listen, you'll never desire this discipline without loving the people that God has called you to, which, of course, takes you growing in truth and growing in righteousness. The more you know about God, the more you want to please God. And the more you please God, the more you love His people. And that's the process of discipleship. That's what it takes. It's ongoing. It's never ending. We continue to grow in these things. In truth and righteousness, we continue to grow in love because that is what you signed up for. That is what you were called to. [01:25:33] (36 seconds)


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Transcript
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