Discipleship: Our Mission Begins at Home

Summary

In our new series, "We Are The Church," we embark on a journey to understand our identity and mission as the church, not as a building, but as a spiritual family. This family is entrusted with the mission to bless and deliver all families of the earth, making the name of Jesus known. Our mission begins with our own families, recognizing that our faith is not just a personal journey but a communal one. God’s plan is not just for individual salvation but for us to bring as many people as possible with us to heaven, starting with those closest to us.

Reflecting on the story of Paul and Silas in prison, we see the power of God at work, not just in miraculous deliverance but in the transformation of lives. The jailer’s question, "What must I do to be saved?" echoes the silent cries of those around us who are seeking hope and salvation. Our task is to live out our faith authentically, showing the hope of Jesus Christ through our actions and words. We are called to be fishers of men, not by arguing or pointing out faults, but by living as true disciples of Christ.

Discipleship is at the heart of our mission. It’s about growing in our faith and helping others do the same. We must move beyond being mere church members to becoming disciples who make disciples. This involves intentionality, strategy, and a heart for those around us, especially our families. Jesus’ command to the demon-possessed man to return home and share his testimony reminds us that our primary mission field is our own household. Before we reach out to distant lands, we must ensure that our own families know the love and mercy of God.

Our method is discipleship, a lifelong journey of learning and growing in Christ. It requires us to be intentional about our spiritual growth and to help others in their journey. The Great Commission calls us to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey Christ’s commands. This mission is not just for pastors or church leaders but for every believer. We are all called to be disciples who make disciples, ensuring that our families and communities are transformed by the love of Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The church is not a building but a spiritual family with a mission to bless and deliver all families of the earth, starting with our own. Our faith journey is communal, not just personal. [01:38]

- The silent cries of those around us, like the jailer’s question, "What must I do to be saved?" remind us of the importance of living out our faith authentically and sharing the hope of Jesus Christ. [03:07]

- Discipleship is at the heart of our mission. It involves intentional growth in our faith and helping others do the same, moving beyond being mere church members to becoming disciples who make disciples. [09:19]

- Our primary mission field is our own household. Before reaching out to distant lands, we must ensure that our families know the love and mercy of God, as Jesus instructed the demon-possessed man. [14:00]

- The Great Commission calls us to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey Christ’s commands. This mission is for every believer, not just church leaders, and requires intentionality and a heart for those around us. [20:17]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:38] - The Church as a Spiritual Family
- [02:28] - The Mission Begins at Home
- [03:07] - The Fundamental Question of Salvation
- [04:36] - Sharing the Hope of Christ
- [05:19] - God's Strategy for Family Salvation
- [06:46] - The Art of Fishing for Souls
- [08:36] - From Church Members to Disciples
- [10:38] - Our Primary Mission Field
- [12:44] - The Call to Share Our Testimony
- [14:46] - Jesus' Instruction to Go Home
- [16:19] - The Real Mission is Outside the Church
- [17:16] - The Method of Discipleship
- [19:02] - The Test of True Discipleship
- [20:17] - The Great Commission
- [21:52] - Who Will Be in Heaven Because of You?
- [23:48] - Praying for Our Families

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide: "We Are The Church"

#### Bible Reading
1. Acts 16:30-31 - "Then he brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.'"
2. Mark 5:15, 19 - "When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid... Jesus did not let him, but said, 'Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.'"
3. Matthew 28:19-20 - "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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

#### Observation Questions
1. What was the jailer's fundamental question to Paul and Silas, and how did they respond? [03:07]
2. How did Jesus instruct the demon-possessed man after he was healed, and what was the significance of this instruction? [14:00]
3. According to the sermon, what is the primary mission field for believers, and why is it important? [11:14]
4. What does the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 call believers to do, and what promise accompanies this command? [21:00]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of Paul and Silas in prison illustrate the communal aspect of salvation, particularly concerning one's household? [05:19]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that living out one's faith authentically can impact those around us who are silently seeking hope and salvation? [04:00]
3. What does the sermon imply about the role of discipleship in transforming church members into active disciples who make other disciples? [09:19]
4. How does the Great Commission challenge the notion that evangelism and discipleship are solely the responsibilities of church leaders? [20:17]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own family. Are there members who do not know the love and mercy of God? What steps can you take to share your faith with them this week? [11:14]
2. Consider the people in your life who might be silently asking, "What must I do to be saved?" How can you live out your faith in a way that offers them hope and points them to Jesus? [04:00]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being a disciple who makes disciples. What practical steps can you take to grow in your faith and help others do the same? [09:19]
4. Jesus instructed the healed man to return home and share his testimony. How can you share your own story of faith with those closest to you? [14:00]
5. The Great Commission calls every believer to make disciples. Identify one person in your life who you can intentionally disciple. What is your plan to begin this process? [20:17]
6. Reflect on the sermon’s challenge to be intentional about your spiritual growth. What specific area of your faith do you feel called to develop further, and how will you pursue this growth? [19:02]
7. How can you ensure that your actions and words at home reflect the love and mercy of God, making your faith attractive to your family members? [24:51]

Devotional

Day 1: The Church as a Spiritual Family
The church is not merely a physical structure but a spiritual family with a divine mission. This family is called to bless and deliver all families of the earth, beginning with our own. Our faith journey is not just a personal endeavor but a communal one, where we support and uplift each other. The church's mission is to make the name of Jesus known, starting with those closest to us. This means that our faith should be evident in our homes, where we model the love and grace of Christ to our family members. By doing so, we fulfill God's plan for communal salvation, bringing as many people as possible with us to heaven. [01:38]

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18:20, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally demonstrate the love and grace of Christ within your family this week?

Day 2: The Silent Cries for Salvation
The story of Paul and Silas in prison highlights the power of God not only in miraculous deliverance but in the transformation of lives. The jailer's question, "What must I do to be saved?" reflects the silent cries of those around us who are seeking hope and salvation. Our task is to live out our faith authentically, showing the hope of Jesus Christ through our actions and words. We are called to be fishers of men, not by arguing or pointing out faults, but by living as true disciples of Christ. This means being attentive to the needs and questions of those around us, offering them the hope and salvation found in Jesus. [03:07]

"And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness." (2 Timothy 2:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life is silently seeking hope and salvation? How can you be a source of encouragement and truth to them today?

Day 3: Discipleship as Our Core Mission
Discipleship is at the heart of our mission as believers. It involves intentional growth in our faith and helping others do the same, moving beyond being mere church members to becoming disciples who make disciples. This requires a strategic and intentional approach, focusing on those around us, especially our families. Jesus' command to the demon-possessed man to return home and share his testimony reminds us that our primary mission field is our own household. Before we reach out to distant lands, we must ensure that our families know the love and mercy of God. [09:19]

"And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to intentionally disciple someone in your family or community this week?

Day 4: The Household as Our Primary Mission Field
Our primary mission field is our own household. Before reaching out to distant lands, we must ensure that our families know the love and mercy of God. Jesus instructed the demon-possessed man to return home and share his testimony, emphasizing the importance of starting our mission at home. This means being intentional about sharing our faith with our family members, modeling Christ-like behavior, and creating an environment where the love of God is evident. By doing so, we lay the foundation for a strong spiritual family that can impact the world. [14:00]

"But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Timothy 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you create an environment in your home that reflects the love and mercy of God?

Day 5: The Great Commission for Every Believer
The Great Commission calls us to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey Christ's commands. This mission is not just for pastors or church leaders but for every believer. It requires intentionality and a heart for those around us, ensuring that our families and communities are transformed by the love of Christ. As disciples who make disciples, we are called to live out our faith in a way that draws others to Jesus, fulfilling the Great Commission in our everyday lives. [20:17]

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to fulfill the Great Commission in your community?

Quotes

1) "And so as we're going to see over the next several weeks, God has a plan, not for us just to get saved and go to heaven on our own, but he wants us to take as many people with us as possible. And one of the things we don't want is to get to heaven and then realize how many of our loved ones, I'm not talking about strangers, I'm talking about loved ones who grew up with us, who used to play on the playground with us, who used to come to family reunions with us and see those people go to hell because we didn't say anything to them about who God is, amen." [01:38] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "I'm not talking about material things. I'm talking about the hope of Jesus Christ that enables us, that enables us to smile when we feel like crying, that power that resides in us, that enables us to stand when we feel like collapsing. There was a world around you. There are people around you who want what you have. They are just not skilled in how to ask for what they need. And so you see them as an enemy. You see them as an adversary, not realizing that really their actions are only trying to be them crying out, saying, what can I do to get the God that you have?" [04:00] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "But they don't want to follow God like me. That's not the point. That's what God desires. And God brought you into the kingdom, not just for you. He brought you into the kingdom so that you would be saved and then bring your family the salvation that you got from God. And how many of us honestly are doing that? How many of us honestly are even praying for that? How many of us honestly have a burden in our heart? How show those around us that there's a better way? Because as I said, the last thing we want is for us to make it to heaven and realize so many of our family and friends are not there with us." [05:19] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "You do it by living it. You do it by showing what it really means to be a fisherman. You do it by being a follower of Jesus Christ, to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. They're not going to come to know God because you yell at them every time they do something wrong. Every time they act like the world, which they're a part of, if your job is just to point out, that's why you're going to hell because you're not living right, that's not going to win them to Jesus. But when you put as your strategy or your goal, I want to win my family. And then you go to God and ask him to show you strategy." [07:27] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "I don't want church partners. I want disciples. And there's something, there's something wrong if the church, and I believe this is the problem with the American church in particular, is that we are skilled at raising up good church members, but not disciples. And that's why the moment that something goes wrong in people's lives, the first thing they let go is God. Because they were never discipled into a real relationship to understand that God is first, no matter what is happening, when you're doing well or when you're doing poorly, God is the one, who you got to stay close to, no matter what state you're in." [09:19] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "So who is our mark? Our mission is to see people get saved. Who is our mark? Who is our target? The people in our homes. The people who live right where you live. People in the same house, eat the same food. Those are the people that God wants to come to know him. Before we turn our attention to foreign lands and missions in the foreign places, which is what we're doing, which is all wonderful, you have primarily been called to your family. And it is a responsibility." [11:14] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "The church is not your hiding place from life or your family. You can't use the church as your go-to because every place else in your life is messed up. Yes, we come here, we serve, we worship, but our real mission is not in here. Our real mission is out there. Our real mission is at your home. Our real mission is your social circle. Our real mission, and by our I mean God's mission he's given us, is to you, through you, to those around you, those who are closest to you." [16:19] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "A disciple is a student. A disciple is someone who is growing and learning. Which means you should not be the same as a Christian year after year after year. There ought to be a change and those who are around you should be able to see the change that God has made in your life. Those who I call my veterans who have been here in this church from our early days, I pray that you see the pastor I am today is far different from the pastor I was when we first got started. Because every year I'm supposed to be growing and getting better and learning." [17:16] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9) "Because disciples make disciples. Disciples disciples. Make disciples. If all we are is a good church partner, but we can't point to anybody who's going to be in heaven because of us, I don't want you just to be a good church member. I want you to step up and be a disciple. And ask God to help you identify just one person. In fact, I put on the back of your note sheet some lines there for you to begin to pray and put some names down that you're going to begin praying for and asking God to open up doorways for you to share the faith that you possess." [21:52] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?