Get In The Game - Making Disciples For Jesus (Part 8)

Pastor Rocklyn Clarke - Sunday July 27, 2008

© 2008 Life Church Ministries, Inc.

http://www.LifeChurchMinistries.org/

 
V Introduction
* Bible Reading 7/20 - 7/26: 2Chron 1 - 18; Rom 6:1 - 10:13; Psalm 16 - 20; Prov 19:20 - 20:3
> Review
V New Material
> Preparation
V Get In The Game: Discipleship Determines Destiny (continued)
V Evangelism (continued)
V Arouse Curiosity
* Jesus and the Woman at the Well - John 4:1-42
V Violate expectations
V Be willing to discuss things that people don't expect you to discuss.
* Sexuality (apply to both married and single)
* 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.
V 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!
V Ask key questions
* What do you mean by that?
* How did you come to believe that?
* Have you ever considered . . . ?
V Example: Consider a conversation about whether or not God exists.
* "It's turtles all the way down!"
* Use the 3 key questions.
* Share only as much as they can handle.
V Invite them to follow Jesus
* Much more than a "sinner's prayer"
V Give them something to commit to:
V Public identification with Jesus
* Baptism
* Fellowship
* Training
V What are you going to do?
V Open (lift up) your eyes!
* The fields are ripe (white) for harvest.
* Even now the reaper draws his wages.
V "Cultural Christians"
* Probably won't go beyond inviting friends to church.
* They stagnate spiritually.
V "Insurance Christians"
* Might start passing out tracts or knocking on doors out of fear that God might punish them if they don't evangelize.
* They're not terribly effective.
V "Consumer Christians"
* Will wait around for evangelism training.
* They stagnate spiritually.
V "Disciples"
V Use scripture passages to present the gospel.
* Read the passages several times to understand them better.
* Naaman washed in the Jordan 7 times - 2Kings 5:1-14
* Help their teachers with their own evangelism.
* Help their disciples to evangelize their own networks.
* By evangelizing and disciple others they grow spiritually.
V Discipleship Details
V You can only disciple people who are committed to following Jesus.
* Don't compromise on this principle.
* If you can't tell the difference between the committed and the uncommitted get someone to help you.
V Analogies:
* Following the Celtics
* Following the Red Sox
* Following the Patriots
* Following Oprah
V Examples
V Jesus with Peter, James, and John
* Healing Jairus' daughter - Mark 5:35-43
* At the mountain of transfiguration - Mat 17:1-13;
* At the temple - Mark 13:1-7
* At Gethsemane - Mark 14:32-42
* Barnabas and Paul - Acts 9:1-31; Acts 11:19-26
* Paul and Timothy - Acts 15:36 - 16:5; Philip 2:19-24
V Choose A Good Candidate
* Someone of the same gender!
V Hungry
* They must be hungry, not just mildly interested
* Elisha gave up his old way of life - 1Kings 19:19-21
* Elisha sticks to Elijah and keeps his eyes on him. - 2Kings 2:1-18
V Faithful
* Faithful attendance on Sunday.
* Faithful attendance at life group.
V Available - Mark 3:13-19; Mat 8:18-23
* Be ready to adapt yourself to his/her schedule. - Mat 8:18-23
V 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
* Warning to teachers - don't be "promiscuous" with your teaching!
V Four stages in Elijah's final journey with Elisha
* Gilgal (covenant of circumcision renewed - Josh 4:19) to Bethel
* Bethel (covenant of Canaan renewed - Gen 28:10-22) to Jericho
* Jericho (Israel's first victory in Canaan) to the Jordan
* The other side of the Jordan
V Four stages of discipleship
* Establish godly habits.
* Turn godly habits into skills.
* Turn skills into ministries.
* Release Your Disciple.
V Establish Godly Habits
V Follow Jesus With Your Whole Body
V Head
* Eyes - Read God's Word
* Ears - Hear God's Word
V Mouth
* Speak God's Word
* Publicly acknowledge Jesus
* Pray
* Worship
* Brain - Meditate on God's Word and apply it to your own life.
V Hands
* Serve others
* Give generously
* Heart - Believe God's Word
* Legs - Go where God sends you
* Private Parts - Practice purity
V Discipleship is training:
* Association
* Imitation
* Feedback
* Repetition
* Turn Habits Into Skills
* Turn Skills Into Ministries
* Release Your Disciple - 2Tim 2:2
V Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)
V Scripture References: John 4:1-42
* 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 own curiosity play?
* Jesus said "The fields are ripe for harvest". 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 had a conversation with a non-Christian who was curious about spiritual things? In what ways did you encourage his/her curiosity or challenge his/her expectations about what Christians are like?
* Is "actively following Jesus" your main reason for calling someone a Christian, or do you call people Christians for other reasons? Explain.
V Witnessing Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings (pick one)
V Divide into groups of 2 or 3 and take turns sharing a personal belief that you have. It doesn't have to be related to God or the Bible and it doesn't even have to be an important belief - just something you personally believe. You partner or partners should then probe your belief by asking the following questions (in the order that they appear):
* Question 1: What do you mean by that?
* Question 2: How did you come to believe that?
* Question 3: Have you ever considered . . . ?
V 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 - Acts 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
V 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.