The Cost of Doing Discipleship The Cost of Doing Discipleship RIGHTRIGHT in the Church in the Church

Or the Price You Pay if You Or the Price You Pay if You Don’tDon’t

What Discipleship is notWhat Discipleship is not

A class at 5 p.m.A class at 5 p.m.

A book study with A book study with no applicationno application

A filler before evening worshipA filler before evening worship

Something to do in Something to do in morning Bible morning Bible Study or Sunday SchoolStudy or Sunday School

A one-time eventA one-time event

Something that is Something that is completed with a completed with a written testwritten test

What Discipleship IsWhat Discipleship Is

Conforming to the Conforming to the image of Christimage of Christ

TrainingTraining and and EquippingEquipping of the saints of the saints for ministryfor ministry

Evangelism Evangelism TrainingTraining and and ParticipationParticipation

Missions and Ministry InvolvementMissions and Ministry Involvement

Practice of Practice of Spiritual DisciplinesSpiritual Disciplines

Discovering and using one’s spiritual Discovering and using one’s spiritual giftsgifts

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing

them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo

I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Jesus (Matthew 28:18b-20)

Why does Discipleship matter?Why does Discipleship matter?

It’s It’s commandedcommanded by Jesus (Matt. by Jesus (Matt. 28:19).28:19).

It is the It is the bestbest way to further the way to further the Kingdom.Kingdom.

Ministry by Ministry by multiplicationmultiplication rather than rather than additionaddition

It’s impact will It’s impact will outliveoutlive you. you.

Disciples make more disciplesDisciples make more disciples..

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself,take up his cross and follow Me.”

Jesus (Mark 8:34b)

What happens if we don’t make What happens if we don’t make discipleship a priority?discipleship a priority?

ShortageShortage of leaders of leaders

Ministry can become too Ministry can become too narrowly focusednarrowly focused

DiversityDiversity of gifts is not expressed in the of gifts is not expressed in the bodybody

Workers will be Workers will be overworked and frustratedoverworked and frustrated

Ministry will become ineffectiveMinistry will become ineffective

Church body will turn Church body will turn inwardinward

No No missional focusmissional focus

“The King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you

did it one of the least of these brothers of Mine,

even the least of them, you did it unto Me“

Jesus (Matthew 25:40)

How do we make discipleship How do we make discipleship happen in the local church?happen in the local church?

A A large grouplarge group class classA A small groupsmall group study studyMinistry or Mission teamsMinistry or Mission teamsEvangelismEvangelism training trainingOne-to-one mentoringOne-to-one mentoringAccountabilityAccountability groups groupsLeadershipLeadership training or development training or developmentTrain believers in Train believers in practicing spiritual practicing spiritual disciplinesdisciplines

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore

beseech the Lord of the HarvestTo send out laborers

into His harvest.”

Jesus (Luke 10:2b)

Why are spiritual disciplines Why are spiritual disciplines important?important?

Enable the individual believer to Enable the individual believer to mature spirituallymature spirituallyHelp individual believer to Help individual believer to assimilateassimilate into the bodyinto the bodyStrengthen the qualityStrengthen the quality of one’s of one’s relationship with Jesusrelationship with JesusEnable the body Enable the body to minister more to minister more effectivelyeffectively to the diverse needs of to the diverse needs of their mission fieldtheir mission field

Spiritual DisciplinesSpiritual DisciplinesScripture Reading & MemoryScripture Reading & Memory

PrayerPrayerWorshipWorship

EvangelismEvangelismServingServing

StewardshipStewardshipFastingFasting

Silence and SolitudeSilence and SolitudeJournalingJournalingLearningLearning

How can we best equip believers to How can we best equip believers to serve the body?serve the body?

Help them Help them discoverdiscover their spiritual their spiritual giftsgifts

Train them Train them to useto use their gifts their gifts

Give them Give them opportunities to serveopportunities to serve using their giftsusing their gifts

Grant them the freedom to serve in a Grant them the freedom to serve in a variety of ministriesvariety of ministries

What should a disciple look like?What should a disciple look like?

Spirit-filled and Spirit-filled and directeddirected

Competent and Competent and confidentconfident

Genuine Genuine humilityhumility

Team-playerTeam-player

Constantly learning and growingConstantly learning and growing

ReproducingReproducing disciple disciple

Can Can lead otherslead others through the process through the process

This presentation has been made possible through your Cooperative

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This presentation has been made possible through your Cooperative

Program gifts. Thank you.