Prioritizing Disciple-Making: Jesus at the Center

 

Summary

In the Gospels, Jesus is portrayed as the central figure, the "front-page news," emphasizing His unique and unparalleled role in the spiritual journey of believers. Jesus declared that rejecting Him equates to rejecting the Father, underscoring His divine authority and significance. Even when He promised the coming of the Holy Spirit, He made it clear that the Spirit would testify about Him, maintaining His position as the focal point of faith. Jesus' relationship with His followers was not uniform; He had varying levels of intimacy with different groups, such as the 70, the 12, and the 3, indicating that not all believers experience the same depth of relationship with Him.

This differentiation is further illustrated in John 2:23-25, where many believed in Jesus, yet He did not commit Himself to them. This passage highlights that Jesus' special presence and commitment are reserved for those who actively engage in making disciples. It's not enough to have vibrant Sunday services, impressive choirs, or well-organized programs. The true measure of a church's alignment with Jesus is its dedication to disciple-making, shaping individuals to reflect Christ's character.

Just as pastors have varying levels of relationships with their congregants, Jesus relates differently to His followers based on their commitment to His mission. A disciple-making church and leadership receive a "bonus" of deeper intimacy with Christ. The call is clear: prioritize disciple-making as the core mission, ensuring that all other church activities support this primary goal. This focus aligns with the purpose of the conference, which aims to equip and inspire churches to embrace this mission wholeheartedly.

Key Takeaways:

1. Jesus as the Central Figure: Jesus is the focal point of our faith, and His role is unparalleled. He emphasized that rejecting Him is akin to rejecting the Father, highlighting His divine authority. This centrality is maintained even with the Holy Spirit's presence, as the Spirit testifies about Jesus, keeping Him at the forefront of our spiritual journey. [00:14]

2. Levels of Intimacy with Jesus: Not all believers experience the same depth of relationship with Jesus. He had varying levels of intimacy with His followers, such as the 70, the 12, and the 3. This differentiation shows that our closeness to Jesus depends on our commitment and engagement with His mission. [00:56]

3. Commitment to Disciple-Making: Jesus' special presence is reserved for those actively making disciples. It's not enough to have vibrant services or programs; the true measure of alignment with Jesus is a church's dedication to disciple-making, shaping individuals to reflect Christ's character. [02:00]

4. Differentiated Relationships: Just as pastors have varying relationships with their congregants, Jesus relates differently to His followers based on their commitment to His mission. A disciple-making church and leadership receive a deeper intimacy with Christ, emphasizing the importance of this focus. [02:49]

5. Prioritizing the Core Mission: The call is to prioritize disciple-making as the core mission, ensuring all other church activities support this goal. This focus aligns with the purpose of the conference, which aims to equip and inspire churches to embrace this mission wholeheartedly. [03:03]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Jesus as Front-Page News
[00:33] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[00:56] - Levels of Intimacy with Jesus
[01:13] - Belief and Commitment
[01:31] - Jesus' Special Presence
[01:49] - Making Disciples
[02:00] - Beyond Sunday Services
[02:16] - The Goal of Disciple-Making
[02:33] - Differentiated Relationships
[02:49] - The Bonus of Disciple-Making
[03:03] - Prioritizing the Core Mission
[03:17] - Conference Purpose

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 2:23-25

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Observation Questions:

1. In John 2:23-25, what does it mean when it says that Jesus did not commit Himself to those who believed in Him? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on disciple-making? [01:31]

2. The sermon mentions that Jesus had different levels of intimacy with His followers, such as the 70, the 12, and the 3. What are some examples from the Gospels that illustrate these varying levels of intimacy? [00:56]

3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the Holy Spirit testifying about Jesus? How does this maintain Jesus as the focal point of our faith? [00:33]

4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between vibrant church activities and the core mission of disciple-making? [02:00]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does the passage in John 2:23-25 suggest about the nature of belief and commitment in the context of Jesus’ ministry? How might this apply to modern-day believers? [01:31]

2. The sermon highlights that Jesus’ special presence is reserved for those actively making disciples. How does this idea challenge or affirm your understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ? [02:00]

3. How does the differentiation in Jesus’ relationships with His followers reflect the importance of commitment to His mission? What implications does this have for church leadership today? [02:49]

4. The sermon calls for prioritizing disciple-making as the core mission of the church. How does this focus align with or differ from the current activities and priorities of your church? [03:03]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your personal relationship with Jesus. Do you feel you are part of the 70, the 12, or the 3? What steps can you take to deepen your intimacy with Him? [00:56]

2. Consider the activities and programs in your church. How can they be adjusted or enhanced to better support the mission of disciple-making? [02:00]

3. Identify one person in your life who you can disciple. What practical steps can you take this week to engage them in a meaningful spiritual conversation? [02:00]

4. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus’ special presence is for those making disciples. How can you personally contribute to this mission in your community or church? [02:00]

5. Reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more attentive to the Spirit’s guidance in keeping Jesus as the central focus of your faith journey? [00:33]

6. How can you ensure that your personal faith journey is not just about attending services but actively participating in making disciples? What changes might you need to make in your daily routine? [02:00]

7. Think about a time when you felt distant from Jesus. How might engaging more deeply in disciple-making have changed that experience? What can you learn from this reflection? [02:49]

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus as the Unparalleled Center of Faith
Jesus is the central figure in the Gospels, and His role is unparalleled in the spiritual journey of believers. He declared that rejecting Him is equivalent to rejecting the Father, emphasizing His divine authority and significance. Even with the promise of the Holy Spirit, Jesus made it clear that the Spirit would testify about Him, maintaining His position as the focal point of faith. This centrality of Jesus is crucial for believers to understand, as it shapes the foundation of their relationship with God. By keeping Jesus at the forefront, believers can navigate their spiritual journey with clarity and purpose. [00:14]

John 14:6-7 (ESV): "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that Jesus remains the central focus of your daily spiritual practices and decisions?


Day 2: Varying Levels of Intimacy with Jesus
Not all believers experience the same depth of relationship with Jesus. In the Gospels, Jesus had varying levels of intimacy with His followers, such as the 70, the 12, and the 3. This differentiation illustrates that our closeness to Jesus depends on our commitment and engagement with His mission. By understanding these varying levels of intimacy, believers can assess their own relationship with Jesus and seek to deepen it through intentional actions and commitments. This journey towards greater intimacy with Christ is a personal and transformative process. [00:56]

James 4:8 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Reflection: Identify one specific way you can deepen your relationship with Jesus this week. How can you actively engage in His mission to foster this intimacy?


Day 3: The Call to Disciple-Making
Jesus' special presence is reserved for those actively making disciples. It's not enough to have vibrant services or programs; the true measure of alignment with Jesus is a church's dedication to disciple-making, shaping individuals to reflect Christ's character. This commitment to disciple-making is a call to action for believers, urging them to prioritize this mission in their lives and communities. By focusing on disciple-making, believers can experience a deeper connection with Jesus and fulfill their purpose as His followers. [02:00]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Who is one person in your life you can begin to disciple? What steps can you take this week to start this journey with them?


Day 4: Differentiated Relationships with Christ
Just as pastors have varying relationships with their congregants, Jesus relates differently to His followers based on their commitment to His mission. A disciple-making church and leadership receive a deeper intimacy with Christ, emphasizing the importance of this focus. This understanding encourages believers to evaluate their own commitment to Jesus' mission and seek ways to strengthen their relationship with Him. By prioritizing disciple-making, believers can experience the "bonus" of a closer walk with Christ. [02:49]

Luke 9:23 (ESV): "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'"

Reflection: Reflect on your current level of commitment to Jesus' mission. What is one area where you can increase your dedication to experience a deeper relationship with Him?


Day 5: Prioritizing Disciple-Making as the Core Mission
The call is to prioritize disciple-making as the core mission, ensuring all other church activities support this goal. This focus aligns with the purpose of the conference, which aims to equip and inspire churches to embrace this mission wholeheartedly. By making disciple-making the central mission, believers and churches can align their efforts with Jesus' purpose and experience the transformative power of His presence. This prioritization requires intentionality and dedication, but it leads to a more vibrant and impactful faith community. [03:03]

Colossians 1:28-29 (ESV): "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

Reflection: How can you and your church community better prioritize disciple-making in your activities and programs? What changes can you implement to ensure this mission remains at the forefront?

Quotes


In the Gospels Jesus was front-page news. Jesus was so much front-page news that he said if you reject me you reject the father. I'm the front page. I am the way. Okay, I'm front page. When he said I'ma send the Holy Spirit he told them I believe but I'm still gonna be in the front page cuz he will talk about me. [00:00:00]

Jesus is not equally related to every Christian and he's not equally related to every creature even if all of them are saved. He was not equally related to all of his followers. He had the 70, he had the 12, and he had the three, and each one of them got a little bit more of him. [00:40:41]

Saint John chapter 2 verses 23 to 25 says many believed in him. The Greek phrases pistou o ice but still ice always means get saved in the book of John. He says many got saved, many believed in him, and then it says but he would not commit himself to them. [00:77:82]

This verse is not talking about Jesus being with you when you're sick, Jesus being with you when you're down, Jesus being with you into discouraged. That's not this verse. This verse is talking about I will be with you when you are making disciples. [00:109:47]

He says if you want my special presence, if you want my intimate, if you want me to be committed to you then I gotta have more than a Sunday morning sermon. I gotta have more than a great choir or choir festival. I gotta have more than well-dressed ashes. [00:120:42]

I gotta have more than a nice Sunday school programs. I gotta know that you are making folk look like me and until I know that is your goal you will not experience all of me that might be available to you because I'm discriminatory and who I give myself to. [00:138:85]

You have people in your church they don't all get the same access to you. That's the general congregation then there's the leadership. I mean you got people at different level you love them all but you don't relate to them all the same way because some of them relate to you at a distance. [00:157:63]

Some of them you deal with them on a more intimate and a more and more responsible level. So what I'm saying to you is you get a bonus when you are a disciple making pastor and pastor's wife and you are making a disciple making Church with all the other frills that's fine that go along with it. [00:173:83]

But don't let the fruit become the rule that you ought to make disciples and when we do that and that's what our conference is designed to do. [00:192:07]

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Transcript
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