Tag Archives: teaching

May 20, 2019 · 11:15 am

Make Disciples

Peninsula Community Church

May 19, 2019

Matthew 28:16-20 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. Acts 1:7-8 He said to them,“It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

In the movie Citizen Kane, the last words Charles Foster Kane utters on his death bed are the words “Rosebud.” These words served to frame the movie’s narrative and provide the key to understanding the man’s tragic but world-changing life. In Jesus’ final days, He also spoke powerful words to His disciples that frame the narrative that would guide the rest of their life. These words continue to guide us and direct us as passionate followers of Christ, even today. You see Jesus gave us a “Great Commission” that helps us focus on our purpose and the reason we live in this world torn apart by sin and the depravity of mankind. It gives us purpose beyond our existence today.

The statements before us answer the life long question that so many ask. “Why am I here?” “What am I suppose to do with my life?” “Can I really make a difference?” Mark Devers in his book “Disciple Maker” has suggested that disciplining is a ministry of how, but it is really a ministry of why. Discipling others involves modeling faith and godliness with our lives. Paul called those in Philippi to imitate what he had done and the life he lived (Philippians 3:17). Effective discipling also imparts the reasons for believing in and living for Jesus. Paul called Timothy to entrust to others what he had learned from Paul (2 Timothy 2:2). So discipleship is in fact a means to show why the way of Christ is the way to go. It is to answer the question “why Christ.” “Why should I believe?”

The truth is we are always disciplining. We are always effecting others. To disciple others we must be passionate followers of Christ ourselves. Anyone can imitate Christianity for a while without any real conviction, but that kind of “faith” will not last, and it will not save. False Christianity is a hindrance to people receiving what they really need. The fact is those who look to us need the truths we believe, the truths behind how we live, but they need more than just a good person to follow, they need Jesus. You can never teach anyone all the how’s, but when you teach them the why’s, you prepare them to exercise wisdom and generate their own how’s long into the future.

As we look at the words contained in this passage, we find that through these words Jesus laid out three exclusive means to be disciples for Him. I say exclusive because this is reserved for those who have experienced a saving knowledge of Christ. These three elements include the following. He gave us a plan. He gave us a promise. He empowered us to accomplish the task that He called us to do. That is what I love about Christ. He never calls us to anything that He does not equip or prepare us to accomplish. Hudson Taylor the great missionary to China had one of the greatest quotes ever. He said Depend on it. God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply. How many times have you been assigned a task but were not given the tools or power to accomplish the task? God never does that. He always provides everything we need.

So what is discipling? Mark Dever suggests that “At its core, discipling is teaching.” He says, “Your discipling should help people understand more. Through discipling, you want people to know why Christians pray, why we share the gospel, why we join the church, why knowledge of God’s sovereignty impacts how we live, and more.” To do this we must have been impacted by the Gospel message ourselves. We must have been changed by the radicalness of the Gospel.

A careful observation of this passage reveals that the only command in this text is really to make disciples. While go is a command. Teach is a command. Baptize is a command. In the original language, the major command here is to make disciples. All of these are the actions to be taken in order to disciple those around us. In essence, the passage could be translated something like this . As you are going, make disciples. As you are teaching, make disciples. As you are baptizing, make disciples. The emphasis, the pinnacle of this passage, is on discipleship. We reach people and bring them to a knowledge of Christ and help to deposit in them a hunger for more.

As we consider these words, let us look at what He has done for us. First of all, Jesus gave us a plan. The words we have before us are just as powerful and just as important as they were 2000 years ago. Notice what He communicates to His disciples. “Go therefore and make disciples.” This is more than just winning someone to Christ. It is turning hearts to the ways of Christ. It is allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you in such a way that people would want what you have. I think, based upon this text, Jesus would say there are three things that are true for disciples. Disciples have been adopted by God, disciples are being formed by God, and disciples are empowered by God for life and mission.

We have focused at times so much on the evangelism aspect of what God wants us to do, we have missed the discipleship aspect of what He has called us to do. Not too many years ago one of the largest churches in America, Willow Creek Church, realized an important missing component in their ministry philosophy. They had done a good job of bringing people into the church through evangelism, the problem was that they had not been as successful in discipling those who came into the church.

Listen to Hybels own words. ”We made a mistake… What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and became Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become self feeders. We should have gotten people (and) taught people how to read their Bible between services (and) how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.” Hybels indicated that the emphasis on programs and meetings did not produce disciples. Did you get that? Programs and ministries do not produce disciples. We must engage the gospel personally to grow in Christ.

The problem was that while the church was growing, they were not making disciples. While there is something to providing an atmosphere that encourages people to come to the church and feel welcomed. It is another to provide opportunities for people to grow and become disciples. How do we know that people are disciples of Christ? A true disciple of Christ makes disciples of others. That is disciples make disciples. That is why it is noteworthy that Christ commanded us to make disciples and not just evangelize. Evangelism therefore is a subset of discipleship because without accepting Christ, discipleship is ineffective.

Jesus said that we are to go into all of the world. The question however is where is our world? In other words while we all have a sphere of influence sometimes we need to move outside that sphere of influence to reach others. The world is our ministry. Where ever God plants you, that is your field of service for Christ, that is your world. No matter where you are, make disciples of all men. It is not your job to be selective, but to reach those you are given the influence to reach.

Secondly, He has given us a promise. He will be with us. He will be there and will guide your words and your voice. For this reason, we do not have to fear or for that matter worry about what we will say or do. Be confident in the fact that He is with us and that He is watching out for us. Be confident that He is leading us and directing our steps. Man makes plans in his heart but God directs his steps.

Thirdly, He has empowered us. Jesus promised that He would not leave us without empowering us to accomplish the task at hand. He has empowered us by way of the Holy Spirit. There are some in the world who have a mistaken idea of what the Holy Spirit does and what His role is in our life. Based on Acts 1 His responsibility is to empower us to evangelize and disciple others.

How does He do that? We only have to look at some of the amazing stories of the Book of Acts to see how this is worked out in us. Peter stood and preached a message where 3000 came to know Christ in one service. The disciples were empowered to meet daily in homes to encourage one another, teach the word, and share life with one another. The Holy Spirit also empowers in miraculous ways. Remember when Peter and John just walked by people and their shadow alone healed those they encountered. Stephen was empowered to preach a powerful message while men had stones clenched in their hands and were about to throw them at him.

While these things are sensational, the Holy Spirit’s task is simply to empower and make a way for us to share Christ in every day life and existence. It is that simple. It is not complicated. Know this that Jesus has a plan for your life and He has promised to be with you so that no matter where He leads you He will be with you. He has imparted to you His Holy Spirit so that you are empowered to do what He calls you to do.

So what do we do with this. We recognize that Jesus has a plan. We recognize that He has promised to be with us. And He has empowered us to accomplish His task. Let’s go for it.

For an audio of this message go to http://pccministry.org/messages.

Devotion to Cause Greater than Ourselves

Peninsula Community Church

April 30, 2017

Devotion to Cause Greater than Ourselves

Acts 2:42-47 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

I always love to look at the anatomy and how we are so fearfully and wonderfully made. For example, in the thigh there are four muscles that make up what is called the Quadriceps or the Quads. These four muscles interact with one another to serve to move the legs. We usually don’t think much about the Quads until we try to run or workout without stretching. It is at that moment or just after that moment we are reminded they exist. For immediate treatment of the Quads they say you should use the R.I.C.E. treatment plan for healing (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). To prevent injury and to bring healing to the church, we also have a treatment plan of Biblical teaching, fellowship, meals together, and prayer.

In our passage, today, we see how the early church was devoted to these disciplines. The word devoted means to love, to be loyal, or to be enthusiastic about a person or cause. The disciples were devoted to these disciplines because they had an insatiable desire to draw closer to Jesus and to one another. The disciples were enthusiastic about being guided, built up, and strengthened individually and also as a local body of believers.

With that in mind let us take a look at these disciplines. The first of these is the apostles teaching. The apostles had lived with Jesus and had personally experienced the words, life, and ministry of Jesus. For that reason, they could speak with authority and power. When they spoke they did not speak by hearsay but they spoke the truth of the gospel which is the good news.

Today, their teachings are presented in the gospels and the books of the New Testament. Their words where the truth of the story of Christ and were presented by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit! These words were powerful then and they are just as powerful, today. These words serve to give us guidance and direction. They serve to correct negative and unhealthy issues in our life. They serve to encourage us and empower us to serve in the mission of Christ more faithfully.

For the disciples, the word of God was nourishment to their soul. For them, the Word was not just to be read or memorized but it was to be lived out each and every day. Without the word of God in us we begin to die spiritually as one would die without daily nourishment. Now granted there is much in this world we can eat, but by eating that which is not good for us, we have a unhealthy outcome. The old saying is “We become what we eat.” That is true about the eating the word of God. We must have a healthy diet of the Word and then must live out the word. It is not enough to just read the word. As Scripture states in We must be doers of the word and not just hearers.

As in that day, today there is no lack of teaching. There were many who offered teachings about Jesus that were based in lies and misunderstandings. We hear a lot about fake news in our media today. In the disciples day there was a lot of fake news. There is no exception to that in our day either. Today, there are many ministries and many people who are not being nourished by the truth of the gospel. They are being fed lies and half truths which are based on man made laws and legalism. Too many are dying spiritually because they are feeding on an extremely watered down version of the gospel. Too often, individuals tend to pick and choose which of the doctrines of Jesus they will follow and obey. And, too often many would choose to believe the lie rather than the truth which sets us free. The problem is that when we water our doctrine down, we will not grow the way we should. We will not be focused on the right issues. We will actually be in more bondage than in freedom when we believe a lie or a half truth. Our energy as believers will be zapped from us. So for that reason, may we be faithful to the doctrine of Christ and His word.

The second of these disciplines is that they continued in fellowship. Fellowship was not just a good thing, it was a necessity. Through fellowship, the early church encouraged each other, built each other up, and cared for one another. In the New Testament Church there was a sense of community. They shared life together and they shared their possessions so that no one lacked what they needed when there was a genuine need. It is noteworthy that fellowship did not just occur in the church but outside the church. Fellowship took place in the marketplace, on their jobs, and in their homes.

True fellowship is a powerful weapon that can be used against division in the body and the attacks of the enemy. Strong, stable churches are made up of those who desire fellowship with Christ and with one another. It is for this reason that the writer of Hebrews gave this insight. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:23-25).

Do you see what he is saying? Encourage one another! Stir one another to good works! That is fellowship at its best. And let me tell you there is so much in this world that is looking to discourage us and to knock us down. That is the reason that we are encouraged to not forsake meeting together as believers of Christ. It is in meeting together that true fellowship is experienced.

For this reason it is understood that fellowship is more than just an activity. It is more than being social. It is not a superficial friendliness. We can be in a room filled with people and yet not have fellowship. True fellowship comes from the word “koinonia” which means “to partner, or to share in common interests.” “Koinonia” is a deep association. What the disciples understood was that an unattached Christian is vulnerable and to live an unattached spiritual life is impossible. The quest for us today is to be devoted to Biblical fellowship.

The third discipline considered is that they continued to break bread together. They shared meals together regularly. Even in communion in those days they enjoyed a meal together. It was a feast. Have you ever considered the power of eating a meal together. It breaks down walls and it brings people together in ways not considered before. In his book “A Meal with Jesus: Discovering Grace, Community, and Mission Around the Table,” Tim Chester stated that Food matters. Meals matter. Meals are full of significance. “Few acts are more expressive of companionship than the shared meal. . . . Someone with whom we share food is likely to be our friend, or well on the way to becoming one.”

Food connects. It connects us with family. It turns strangers into friends. It is noteworthy how many times Jesus was having a meal or there was an event that involved food in His life. Some would say He was a good Christian because so much of what He did was centered around food. He turned water into wine at a wedding feast. He fed 5000 and then 4000 respectively. He was accused of eating with sinners. After his resurrection, he prepared the disciples a breakfast of fish and bread. He plucked corn on the Sabbath so His disciples could eat. In fact, the communion elements we take are the Bread and the wine. Meals together were important to Jesus and they should be important to us as it has a way of bringing us together.

Meals are a way to reach those who are isolated and disconnected from the church. Meals are a way for us to reach the lost and disenfranchised. People will join us for a meal when they might refuse to do anything else. Around the table people feel more open to talk and share life. Around the table people are more open to share their heart. So may we continue to share life around the table of fellowship.

The fourth discipline was they continued in prayer. Prayer is a powerful discipline. The disciples continued in prayer because they knew that prayer was a tool for change. In prayer things change, but in prayer we change as well. Prayer can move mountains and prayer can touch the heart when nothing else works. Prayer is more than a ritual, it is a lifestyle of connection with God. It is communication with a living, powerful God. May we be devoted to prayer.

As we bring this to a close, I want to remind you that the result of the disciple’s devotion to the apostles doctrine, fellowship, sharing meals together, and prayer was that they experienced joy. There is nothing that brings more joy than being in fellowship with others. There is nothing that brings more joy than sharing the doctrine and teachings of Jesus. They experienced life in a new way by coming together. They experienced a wholeness by celebrating Jesus together.

By living out these disciplines they also experienced growth in the church. Here is a fact. People are attracted to a healthy body. People come to Christ when they sense that the church is a place of healing and wholeness. This was the atmosphere in this new church and it must be the atmosphere in our church today.

So how are we doing? How is our fellowship? How is our meal times? How is our desire for doctrine? How is our prayer life? I encourage you to inventory your life and have the courage to change where necessary. Fall in love with God’s word again. Don’t isolate yourself. Have a meal with someone this week to encourage them. And finally, renew your commitment to prayer. You will be amazed at what can happen when we continue in these disciplines. We too will experience joy and spiritual growth. Are you ready?

For an audio of this message go to http://pccministry.org/media.php?pageID=14

Tag Archives: teaching

Make Disciples

Devotion to Cause Greater than Ourselves

Bob’s ramblings

Archives