ECCLESIOLOGY ECCLESIOLOGY (Principles of Discipleship-Part 1)(Principles of Discipleship-Part 1)

The Call of discipleshipThe Call of discipleship

By : Servant of the Cross The Living Spring

Principles of DiscipleshipPrinciples of Discipleship

Is Connaught Chapel a Purpose Conscious church?

Are you Purpose Conscious?

• Last week in our study of the Church, we learned Last week in our study of the Church, we learned Jesus had a very focused Purpose Statement for Jesus had a very focused Purpose Statement for the Church.the Church.

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Principles of DiscipleshipPrinciples of Discipleship

Jesus summarized the entire Old Testament, all the law, and all the prophets in one purpose statement.

And Jesus says to Connaught Chapel: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] . Mt 22:37-39

• The Great Commandment.The Great Commandment. 

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

He gave Connaught Chapel the great commission which is just as focused.

19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20a

Thus, a good motto for our Assembly would be, "Worshipping God,…Loving people,...Making Disciples."

• The Great Commission.The Great Commission.

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

1. The Call of DiscipleshipYou are called unto the fellowship of His Son. (1 Cor.1:9) 

2. The Goal of DiscipleshipFollow me…and I will make you fishers of men. (Matt 4:19)

 3. The Cost of Discipleship .Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him first deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. (Matt. 16:24)

  4. The Relationship of Discipleship. And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples He gave them power. (Matt. 10:10)

• The Four Aspects of Discipleship.The Four Aspects of Discipleship.

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

In both the Greek and Latin the word is translated as ‘learner ‘ or ‘scholar.’ In all cases discipleship implies that the learner not only accepts the views of the master but also practices them.

Dietrich Bonheoffer said, “When Christ calls a man He bids him come and die.”

Gordon McDonald said, “True Discipleship is an all out commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. The Call of a Disciple1. The Call of a Disciple ..

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

1. By Whom are we call? 2. From What are we call? 3. To what are we call?.

• The Call of Discipleship.The Call of Discipleship.

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

The most important thing about being a disciple is the person or thing we are following. The Bible speaks of the disciples of Moses, John, and the Pharisees.

We become followers of Jesus because we desire to become like Him. The whole goal of our faith is to be like him.

Jesus, however, made a very revealing comment about what it means to be His disciple.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher,” (Luke 6:40, nkjv).

• By Whom are we Call?By Whom are we Call?

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

It’s not to generate Bible scholars or evangelists, or counselors or even leaders. The result of discipleship is someone who is like Jesus. That’s a powerful thing. Consider the impact the early disciples had. It wasn’t their Bible knowledge or their oratory skills that made them stand out.

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus,” (Acts 4:13).

The apostle Paul, who devoted his life to equipping believers to be followers of Jesus, embraced this. No wonder he wrote:

“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ,” (1 Corinthians 11:1, NASB).

2. The true goal of discipleship.2. The true goal of discipleship.

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

No matter where people are engaged in the process of discipleship, no matter what tools or techniques they use to pass on spiritual truth, the goal is men and women who become more and more like Jesus—and are able to pass this character on to others and help them do the same.

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit,” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

2. The true goal of discipleship.2. The true goal of discipleship.

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

v.18. He saw them. v.18. He saw them. v.19. He called them, v.19. He called them, v.20. They followed Him.v.20. They followed Him.

• b) Jesus Draws People b) Jesus Draws People

If I be lifted up from the earth I will draws all men unto me. (John 12:32)

There was attractiveness in Jesus that was unexplainable. When He spoke great crowds were attracted to Him. They would walk for miles and stay many days to hear Him speak.

 

• a) Jesus Chooses People (Mathew 4:18-22)a) Jesus Chooses People (Mathew 4:18-22)

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

Jesus Himself challenges us to make a decision. We either receive Him or we reject Him! To His disciples He said, ‘put your nets back down the water,’ to the young rich ruler, ‘sell all you have,’ to Peter, ‘Walk on the water’!

He not only calls us but He makes our callings possible. Heb.9:15 show that Jesus had to give His life in order that we might have an eternal inheritance. He challenge is to be totally transformed.

 Jesus had the ability to see the potential in His disciples’ lives.

(He didn’t just see fishermen, He saw what they could have become by His teaching, love, power & grace.)

• Jesus Challenges PeopleJesus Challenges People

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

a. Personal InsufficiencySome wandered in desert wastelands. (v4) 

b. SinSome sat in darkness and deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains. (v.10)

c. The Consequence of SinSome were fools and they had to suffer for it. (v17)

• From What are we called.From What are we called.Psalms 107 states that there are three things here that we are saved from.

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

a. RelationshipYou are called unto the fellowship of His Son. (1 Cor.1:9) 

b. ServiceFollow me…and I will make you fishers of men. (Matt 4:19) Jesus called His disciples to Himself, to relationship, but then commissioned them to serve. It is the joy and the privilege of the disciple to have a part in the work of the Master.

 And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples He gave them power. (Matt. 10:10)

• To What are we called.To What are we called.

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

• There are two major hindrances that discourage There are two major hindrances that discourage service.service.

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• AmbitionThe disciples often asked Jesus who was the greatest. They sought status rather than servanthood. The spirit of this world is to seek status rather than servanthood.

The response of Jesus to his disciples’ wrangling of who was the greatest, was to wrap a towel around His waist, get a bowl of water, and wash their feet. This is the attitude we should have, seeking to serve rather than seeking status.

Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

Self-PityLo we have left our homes and followed you. (Luke 18:28)

Self-pity will always be a hindrance to our service. When we come to serve we must realized that we have foregone our rights. We cannot demand conditions of service. Note that in Gal.5:13 tells us that we are not only called to serve Jesus but also one another.

• There are two major hindrances that discourage There are two major hindrances that discourage service.service.

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Principle of DiscipleshipsPrinciple of Discipleships

ObedienceBy this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. (1 john 5:2)

Jesus said not everyone who calls “Lord, Lord,” will enter into the kingdom, but only those who do the will of the father. In Matt.7:21 both the wise and the foolish men heard the Word of the Lord. The fundamental difference between them was that the man who built his house upon the rock not only hear but obeyed.

• There are two major hindrances that discourage There are two major hindrances that discourage service.service.

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ECCLESIOLOGY ECCLESIOLOGY (Principles of Discipleship-Part 2)(Principles of Discipleship-Part 2)

The The Cost Cost of discipleshipof discipleship

By : Servant of the Cross The Living Spring

To Be Continue……………

Watch out for Part 2 & Part 3 ……