Discipleship: Reproducing Christ-Followers in Today's World

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Parenting in Discipleship

Discipleship is a profound journey that goes beyond merely imparting biblical knowledge or conducting Bible studies. It is about reproducing Christ-followers who embody His image and live out His teachings. This process can be likened to spiritual parenting, where one engages deeply in the lives of others, guiding them to follow Christ as they do. Historically, discipleship has been about more than just learning; it involves a life-on-life connection, where the disciple identifies closely with the teacher, much like the Greco-Roman philosophers and their followers. This intimate relationship fosters growth and transformation, allowing the disciple to truly embody the teachings of Christ. [00:50]

1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 (ESV): "But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us."

Reflection: Who in your life can you engage with more deeply to guide them in their spiritual journey, much like a spiritual parent would?

Day 2: Adapting Discipleship for Generation Z

With Generation Z, it is crucial to adapt discipleship methods while holding firm to the timeless truths of Scripture. This generation, having grown up with technology at their fingertips, faces unique challenges and questions. Their mode of communication and access to information is vastly different from previous generations, which requires a more gentle and careful approach. It is essential to ensure that discipleship is not done in isolation but with accountability, to protect both the disciple and the discipler. By understanding and adapting to these generational differences, one can effectively guide Generation Z in their spiritual journey. [06:18]

1 Timothy 4:12 (ESV): "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

Reflection: How can you adapt your approach to discipleship to better connect with someone from Generation Z in your life today?

Day 3: Timeless Truths for New Realities

The rapid pace of change in technology and society has led to new questions, but the answers remain rooted in the Word of God. While the questions may be new, the timeless truths of Scripture provide guidance and wisdom. It is important to resist the temptation to abandon these answers, instead finding ways to apply them to the new realities faced by today's youth. By doing so, one can offer a solid foundation in a world that is constantly changing, helping others to navigate the complexities of modern life with biblical wisdom. [12:12]

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV): "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

Reflection: What is one new challenge you or someone you know is facing, and how can you apply a specific biblical truth to address it today?

Day 4: Authentic Living in Everyday Discipleship

Discipleship is not confined to formal settings; it happens in everyday interactions, from the pulpit to personal relationships. Living authentically and showing the younger generation that life includes challenges helps bridge the gap created by digital interactions. By being open about one's own struggles and imperfections, one can foster real, incarnational relationships that encourage growth and transformation. This authenticity is key to effective discipleship, as it demonstrates that following Christ is a journey that involves both triumphs and trials. [19:30]

James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: In what ways can you be more authentic in your daily interactions to foster deeper relationships and effective discipleship?

Day 5: Preparing for Persecution and Suffering

As disciples of Christ, it is important to prepare the next generation for the possibility of persecution and suffering for their faith. Being convictional in all contexts, whether in prosperity or adversity, is crucial. Discipleship involves instilling a backbone of steel, ready to stand firm in the face of challenges, knowing that following Christ may come with a cost. By equipping others with the strength and resilience needed to endure hardships, one can help them remain steadfast in their faith, regardless of the circumstances they may face. [23:02]

1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV): "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."

Reflection: How can you begin to prepare yourself and others for the possibility of facing challenges or persecution for your faith? What practical steps can you take today?

Sermon Summary

In our journey of discipleship, we must ask ourselves what it truly means to disciple others. Discipleship is not merely about imparting biblical knowledge or conducting Bible studies; it is about reproducing Christ-followers who embody His image and live out His teachings. This process can be likened to spiritual parenting, where we engage deeply in the lives of others, guiding them to follow Christ as we do. Historically, discipleship has been about more than just learning; it involves a life-on-life connection, where the disciple identifies closely with the teacher, much like the Greco-Roman philosophers and their followers.

In today's context, especially with Generation Z, we must adapt our methods while holding firm to the timeless truths of Scripture. This generation, having grown up with technology at their fingertips, faces unique challenges and questions. Their mode of communication and access to information is vastly different from previous generations, which requires us to be more gentle and careful in our approach. We must also ensure that we are not discipling in isolation but with accountability, to protect both ourselves and those we disciple.

The rapid pace of change in technology and society has led to a certain cynicism and a spotlight on issues like abuse and identity that were not as prevalent in previous generations. While the questions may be new, the answers remain rooted in the Word of God. We must resist the temptation to abandon these answers, instead finding ways to apply them to the new realities faced by today's youth.

Discipleship is not confined to formal settings; it happens in everyday interactions, from the pulpit to personal relationships. We must live authentically, showing the younger generation that life is not always perfect, and that challenges are part of the journey. This authenticity helps bridge the gap created by digital interactions, fostering real, incarnational relationships.

Finally, we must prepare the next generation for the possibility of persecution and suffering for their faith. Being convictional in all contexts, whether in prosperity or adversity, is crucial. Discipleship involves instilling a backbone of steel, ready to stand firm in the face of challenges, knowing that following Christ may come with a cost.

Key Takeaways

1. followers who live out His teachings, akin to spiritual parenting, where we engage deeply in the lives of others. It is not just about imparting knowledge but about life-on-life connection. [00:50]
2. With Generation Z, we must adapt our methods while holding firm to the timeless truths of Scripture. Their unique challenges require us to be gentle and careful, ensuring we disciple with accountability.

3. The rapid pace of change has led to new questions, but the answers remain rooted in the Word of God. We must apply these timeless truths to the new realities faced by today's youth.

4. Discipleship happens in everyday interactions, from the pulpit to personal relationships. Living authentically and showing the younger generation that life includes challenges helps bridge the gap created by digital interactions.

5. We must prepare the next generation for the possibility of persecution and suffering for their faith. Being convictional in all contexts is crucial, instilling a backbone of steel to stand firm in the face of challenges.

** [00:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:16] - What is Discipling?
[00:50] - Spiritual Parenting
[01:37] - Historical Context of Discipleship
[02:34] - Life-on-Life Discipleship
[03:20] - Beyond Content Learning
[04:50] - Discipling Generation Z
[06:18] - Gentleness and Accountability
[07:37] - Generational Differences
[09:34] - Challenges of Digital Communication
[12:12] - New Questions, Old Answers
[14:12] - Engaging on Social Media
[16:06] - Discipleship in Everyday Life
[19:30] - Authentic Living
[23:02] - Preparing for Persecution

Sermon Clips

"At the end of the day I guess the most simple way to look at it is you're reproducing Christ followers who bear his image who live out the life in Christ Jesus. I think one of the ways Fernando is an author who talks about discipleship in a multicultural context and the importance of in in terms of practice of discipleship to be understood as spiritual parenting." [00:48:57]

"Discipleship is not just a Bible study it starts with Bible study but it's not just a Bible study you know I don't know bear you're an elder in your church and you of course are engaged in discipleship at some level but you've done it on both sides of the pond I guess I'd be interested to know what kind of what are the differences that you've observed both in the states and in the UK." [03:33:12]

"I will say that um something I've had to learn uh in a very difficult way in my own life is that the discipleship that I did 20 years ago with college students and then high school students that I have to be far far more careful and I have to be far far more gentle a lot of these young people today there's some wonderful wonderful wise thoughtful young people but many are hurting and they come into the church hurting and they come to us hurting and I think we have to be very very careful." [05:24:56]

"The rapidity of change is mind-boggling that's all they've ever known change at that pace put that against the millennia of human history I think there's a cynicism uh they've they've seen so the collapse of so many things so many institutions they can sort of see through marketing um so there's a cynicism um you talk about the idea of accountability and trust and you think of the the way in which abuse has just ricocheted through always been there but maybe there's a spotlight on it in our age that we haven't seen before." [10:39:20]

"These are new questions I think we should admit these are new questions um so the context matters but it doesn't mean the old qua the old answers no longer apply or let's save the old answers until they're ready for them we've got to deal with other things and of course the old answer is the word of God that's what we're talking about we're talking about discipleship to to be uh workmen who know the word of God um and so let's let's think about the new questions let's think about the new realities and have some sympathy and try to empathize and maybe enter into their experience." [12:14:59]

"Discipleship takes place not just in a discipleship group or in a special study that discipleship takes place from the pulpit discipleship discipleship takes place in one-on-one interactions with not just one mentor but many mentors and teachers and mothers and fathers and grandmothers and grandfathers and that they need to take advantage of that discipleship wherever they are in life." [16:01:59]

"This aspect of of our living our lives authentically before those that we're serving I think is very important uh I think as as pastors as ministers as professors we have to live genuinely before them we need to take off our masks we need to be ourselves we need not to pretend that we're more holy or happy than we are in a particular day we need to live out the realities of the emotions of the Christian life away with us disingenuous facade superficial fakeness that so is so permeated ministry we need to live genuinely before them." [20:03:03]

"Some say that we may very well be training a generation of martyrs and I think we need to put things into perspective and we need to recognize the global church and where we are in the American church we need to calibrate all those things but I think we need to stress being convictional and if that's preparing them to lose a job or preparing them to get canceled or being prepared to be so marginalized that we enter into a moment where martyrdom is part of our experience as Christians the convictional steel and the backbone is what will help them stand and really we need to have them be convictional for all contexts." [22:23:39]

"Scripture promises a lot of things some things we like to remember others we don't and one of the things that scripture promises is persecution and suffering for those who follow Jesus Christ somebody asked me about carrying the cross and what that might mean and for certain we recognize when the gospels were written and Jesus said those words those disciples are reading and hearing remembering Jesus's death in their own lifetime meaning that for them following Christ meant that it could actually lead to their physical death but life is gained." [24:50:24]

"For many in America we may not realize that there are many brothers and sisters around the world where this is not even an option to believe is to risk life and even for South Korea let's say where I was brought up there are only two generations away from a time when you said do you believe in Jesus and when you said yes you could die we're not that far removed as a country for that and I think and not that we're trying to scare anyone not that we have to be forced martyrs about what's going on we want to be wise we want to be winsome we want to be engaged at the same time having backbones of steel to stand up to what scripture has taught and living by it." [24:58:88]

"Realizing really this is what the Lord said will happen is something that we do need to I think a drinking deeply and understand for ourselves as well." [25:33:36]

"I think that's where we're going to draw stumps um sorry that means that's a cricket reference apologies um would you join me in thanking Dr. Parsons Reverend Kim and Dr. Nichols." [25:53:67]

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