Get In The Game - Making Disciples For Jesus (Part 7)

Pastor Rocklyn Clarke - Sunday July 20, 2008

© 2008 Life Church Ministries, Inc.

http://www.LifeChurchMinistries.org/

Introduction

Bible Reading 7/13 - 7/19: 1Chron 15 - 29; Rom 1:18 - 5:21; Psalm 10 - 15; Prov 19:6-19

Review

Get In The Game: Discipleship Determines Destiny

Preparation

Select The Passage: Elijah and Elisha - 2Kings 2:1-18

Background - 1Kings 19:1-21

Elijah and Elisha

Gilgal - covenant of circumcision renewed - Josh 4:19

Bethel - covenant of Canaan renewed - Gen 28:10-22

Jericho - where Israel began to experience it's inheritance.

Jordan -

Discover the Exegetical Idea

Elisha received his spiritual inheritance by keeping his eyes on Elijah.

Analyze the Exegetical Idea

Explain It: What does this mean?

Elisha was intentional about sticking with Elijah.

Elisha had to stick close in order to see Elijah when God took him.

Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?

It fits into a larger pattern found in Scripture

The way up is down

Be faithful with someone else's property to get property of your own

Work for the honor of the one who sent you - John 7:14-18

This has worked in my own experience

My knowledge of the Word and ministry came from sticking close to Bishop.

Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?

Many people are seeking success and greatness. The Bible reveals God's formula for achieving these things.

Most people pursue success and greatness the wrong way.

Formulate the Homiletical Idea

Discipleship Determines Destiny

Determine the Purpose of the Sermon

Make it plain

Use accessible language and modern parables

Make sure people do something with God's message.

See discipleship (being discipled and discipling) as the key to achieving your destiny.

Find someone to disciple you.

Prepare to start sharing the gospel.

Prepare to disciple someone else.

Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose

Outline the Sermon

The Right Perspective

It's not about your "credentials" - Jesus recruited "ordinary" men.

Discipleship - The Key To Your Destiny

Elijah and Elisha - 2Kings 2:1-18

Background

Elijah flees from Jezebel in despair - 1Kings 19:1-18

Elijah to appoints Elisha - 1Kings 19:19-21

Locations:

Gilgal - covenant of circumcision renewed - Josh 4:19

Bethel - covenant of Canaan renewed - Gen 28:10-22

Jericho - where Israel began to experience it's inheritance.

Jordan -

Elisha stayed close to Elijah.

Elisha was intentional about this from the beginning.

This becomes Elisha's only guarantee of seeing God take Elijah.

Elisha receives his inheritance by keeping his eyes on Elijah.

Related Patterns in Scripture

The way up is down - Luke 22:14-27

Be faithful with someone else's property first - Luke 16:1-13

Work for the honor of the one who sent you - John 7:14-18

Sticking close to Bishop

Reading books from his study.

Traveling with him.

Assisting him with menial tasks.

What difference does it make? So What?

Many people are seeking success and greatness. The Bible reveals God's formula for achieving these things.

Most people pursue success and greatness the wrong way.

Put God's Kingdom first - Hag 1:1-15; Mat 6:24-34

Discipleship is God's method for building his Kingdom.

We learn to set aside our personal agenda in favor of another's.

Ultimately this helps us put God's agenda first.

Identify Some Potential People To Disciple You

Someone of the same gender.

Someone who is doing something for God that you'd like to do.

Someone who is living a life of integrity and transparency.

Someone who is submitted to the people who pastor you.

Ask your life group leaders

They're looking for disciples (they can't disciple everyone).

They're looking for the best candidates they can find.

They can also suggest some potential people to disciple you.

Ask God to show you the right person.

Prepare To Be A Good Disciple

Be faithful, available, and teachable.

Be ready to serve rather than profile. - Acts 8:5-24 (Simon the Sorcerer)

Be ready to adapt yourself to his/her schedule.

Be ready to assist him/her.

Be ready to share the gospel.

Be ready to disciple someone else. - 2Tim 2:2

Ask Someone To Disciple You.

New Material

Preparation

Expository Preaching

Expository preaching is the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through the preacher, applies to the hearers.

Select the Passage

Study the Passage

NIV

Hebrew Study Bible

KJV

The Message

NASB

RSV

Discover the Exegetical Idea

Subject

Tools: How, Who, What, When, Where, Why

Complement

Analyze the Exegetical Idea

Explain It: What does this mean?

Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?

Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?

Formulate the Homiletical Idea

Determine the Purpose of the Sermon

Make it plain

Use accessible language and modern parables.

Make sure people do something with God's message.

Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose

Outline the Sermon

Get In The Game: Discipleship Determines Destiny (continued)

Preparation

Select The Passage:

Elijah and Elisha - 1 Kings 19:19-21; 2Kings 2:1-18

Background - 1Kings 19:1-21

Elijah appoints Elisha

Elisha gives up his old way of life

Elijah and Elisha

Gilgal - covenant of circumcision renewed - Josh 4:19

Bethel - covenant of Canaan renewed - Gen 28:10-22

Jericho - where Israel began to experience it's inheritance.

Jordan -

Elisha stayed close to Elijah.

Elisha was intentional about this from the beginning.

This becomes Elisha's only guarantee of seeing God take Elijah.

Elisha receives his inheritance by keeping his eyes on Elijah.

Discover the Exegetical Idea

Elisha received his spiritual inheritance by keeping his eyes on Elijah.

Analyze the Exegetical Idea

Explain It: What does this mean?

Elisha was intentional about sticking with Elijah.

Elisha had to stick close in order to see Elijah when God took him.

Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?

It fits into a larger pattern found in Scripture

The way up is down

Be faithful with someone else's property to get property of your own

Work for the honor of the one who sent you - John 7:14-18

This has worked in my own experience

My knowledge of the Word and ministry came from sticking close to Bishop.

Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?

Many people are seeking success and greatness. The Bible reveals God's formula for achieving these things.

Most people pursue success and greatness the wrong way.

Formulate the Homiletical Idea

Discipleship Determines Destiny

Determine the Purpose of the Sermon

Make it plain

Use accessible language and modern parables

Make sure people do something with God's message.

See discipleship (being discipled and discipling) as the key to achieving your destiny.

Find someone to disciple you.

Prepare to start sharing the gospel.

Prepare to disciple someone else.

Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose

Outline the Sermon

Becoming A Discipling Church

Normal Mode - Following up and discipling new believers

Transition Mode - Discipling existing believers

Adoption and Orphanage analogy

Using the "standard" package in a "non-standard" situation

Making the Transition

We must evangelize

Evangelism

The Harvest is Plentiful

Mat 9:35 - 10:4

Luke 10:1-4

Seek the Right People

Worthy Person - Mat 10:5-13

One Network at a Time - Mark 6:6b-13

Man of Peace - Luke 10:5-12

Arouse Curiosity

Jesus and the Woman at the Well - John 4:1-43

Violate expectations

Be willing to discuss things that people don't expect you to discuss.

Sexuality

Popular music

Behave as more of a "tour guide" for life's experiences rather than as a lecturer on what people should or shouldn't do.

Discover where they are with respect to the 4 principles

God exists.

God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you.

A relationship with God must be on his terms.

God's terms are: follow Jesus!

Share only as much as they can handle.

Invite them to follow Jesus

Much more than a "sinner's prayer"

Give them something to commit to:

Public identification with Jesus

Baptism

Fellowship

Training

Transition: Transitioning From Evangelism To Discipleship

You can only disciple people who are committed to following Jesus.

They walk the walk rather than just talk the talk.

They are more focused on following a teacher than on negotiating the terms of their discipleship.

Choose A Good Candidate

Someone of the same gender!

Hungry

They must be hungry, not just mildly interested

Warning to teachers - don't be "promiscuous" with your teaching!

Elijah and Elisha - 1 Kings 19:19-21; 2Kings 2:1-18

Background - 1Kings 19:1-21

Elijah appoints Elisha

Elisha gives up his old way of life

Elijah and Elisha

Gilgal - covenant of circumcision renewed - Josh 4:19

Bethel - covenant of Canaan renewed - Gen 28:10-22

Jericho - where Israel began to experience it's inheritance.

Jordan -

Elisha stayed close to Elijah.

Elisha was intentional about this from the beginning.

This becomes Elisha's only guarantee of seeing God take Elijah.

Elisha receives his inheritance by keeping his eyes on Elijah.

Faithful

Be ready to assist him/her.

Be ready to serve rather than profile. - Acts 8:5-24 (Simon the Sorcerer)

Available - Mark 3:13-19; Mat 8:18-23

Be ready to adapt yourself to his/her schedule. - Mat 8:18-23

Teachable

Everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher - Luke 6:40

Be ready to share the gospel.

Be ready to disciple someone else. - 2Tim 2:2

Teaching Others Solidifies Your Own Understanding

Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)

Scripture References: Luke 10:1-12; John 4:1-43

Consider the people who played the biggest role in your decision to follow Jesus Christ. In what ways, if any, did they challenge your expectations (i.e. say or do something as a Christian that surprised you in a positive way)? What role, if any, did your curiosity play?

Jesus said "The harvest is plentiful". What have you done to help reap the harvest recently? What are you planning to do?

How do you feel about the unsaved people you know the best? What will happen to them when they die? How do you feel about this? Do you spend enough time with any of them to change their destiny?

Have you ever said or done something that made an unsaved person express curiosity about spiritual things? Describe the encounter.

Describe ways in which you have challenged expectations when talking with someone who was not a Christian.

Witnessing Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings

Choose one of the following activities:

Develop a list of one or more of the following:

Subjects that non-Christians don't expect you to discuss.

Places that non-Christians don't expect you to go.

Experiences that non-Christians don't expect you to have had.

Divide into groups of 2 or 3 and use one of the following passages to explain salvation to your partner.

Parable Of The Sower - Luke 8:4-15

Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost Son - Luke 15

Zacchaeus - Luke 19:1-10

"For God so loved the world . . ." - John 2:23 - 3:21

Jesus heals a man born blind - John 9:1 - 10:42

Cornelius' Household - John 10:1 - 11:18

Day Of Pentecost - Acts 2:1-47

Paul in Pamphylia - Acts 13:13-52

Paul's gospel - 1Cor 15:1-11

Paul in Athens - Acts 17:16-34

Rom 10

Divide into groups of 2 or 3 and identify some potential people who might disciple you. They may or may not be part your life group, but should be at Life Church. Set a time to discuss this list with your life group leaders and also use it as a focus for prayer over the next few weeks. The people on your list should meet all of the following criteria:

They are following Jesus Christ (this should go without saying).

They are of the same gender as you.

The are living lives of integrity and transparency.

They are submitted to the people who pastor you.

Divide into groups of 2 or 3 and identify some people you might disciple. They may or may not be part of your life group, but should be at Life Church. Set a time to discuss this list with your life group leaders and also use it as a focus for prayer over the next few weeks. The people on your list should be hungry, faithful, available, teachable, and willing to teach others. If you can't think of anyone you might disciple, then make a list of unsaved people that you are in a position to share the gospel with. Once you win them to the Lord, you should plan to disciple them.