A good
friend of my mother gave me the best opportunity of my life; which was a job
working at an Elementary school. During my tenure working with children, it has
been my experience in most cases, that children didn’t have a difficult time
making friends on the playground.
However,
there are rare instances where students did not get along with each other, but
oddly enough the following day you would find the same children playing and
getting along with one another.
From
my observation in the art of making friends, it is my belief that the church
could learn from children and their behaviors. Why is it that children appear
to make friends so easily but the Church has such a difficult time? The answer
is simple; the Church needs to rediscover the importance of friendships.
The
Bible stresses the significance of friendship. In fact God uses this to
illustrate the relationship between Christ and the believer, so it is very
important. “I think a healthy discipleship relationship should be a
Christ-centered friendship.”
Mark it down: discipleship is about much more than signing
your name on a membership covenant letter. It is a community of Christ-centered
friends who loves Jesus and is in a Cross-centered covenant relationship to see
others live out the Gospel-centered message. Ultimately, there is no
discipleship where there is no community, relationship, or friendship.
Okay, so picture this: “They were continually devoting
themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of
bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe and many wonders and
signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed
were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their
property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have
need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread
from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and
sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the
Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts
2:42-47 NASB).
Let’s take a look at some of the things we need to live
out in the gospel. If we want to experience the role
of the ongoing life of the Church in discipleship this happens in the book of Acts.
Discipleship Is About Community
Thousands
of years ago a community was born in a place called the Upper Room, a 120
seekers came together with common values and common purpose because they were
commanded by Jesus. These brothers and sisters prayed “with one accord” in
unity of the spirit. These band of believers were filled with the Holy Spirit.
The first Christian community church in Acts was empowered from above with the
Spirit of God that released a radical commitment, unrestrained generosity and
solid unity of fellowship. But when you look at the church discipleship today,
some of us might see things very differently. Some believers today might find
discipleship is life-giving, others are life-draining. Whatever happened to the
wonder of Christian community? Why are there so much inconsistencies in the
church when it comes to discipleship? When the church is at the command of the
Spirit, it draws people from all multi-racial backgrounds into the community of
the Spirit and into fellowship with the Triune God. Acts 1:8 states, “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.” These disciples were supernaturally empowered by the Holy Spirit to
complete an ongoing mission for the church. A culture of spirit filled
disciples in the church would spark an ongoing supernatural empowerment in the
body that will multiply discipline communities.
Acts
2:42-44 affirm the ongoing priorities of Community Discipleship through three
steps: First “Persistent
Fellowship"is the continued steadfast teachings of the word of God and the
second is the fellowship with the disciples by modeling the word of God.
Discipleship community’s depend on the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.
Finally the community prayed for the power and the will of God. Discipleship community is formed in Acts 2.
Here you see the Church is filled with anointed teachings, is crowded with
Christ-centered fellowship, is filled up with contagious prayer, and the Church
is stuffed up with Christ communion and a common meal. Then the scripture tells
us that they “had all things in common.”
Discipleship
Is About Relationships
Verse 45 reports, “And they were selling
their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any
had need.” This is the way it should be. The presence of the Holy Spirit should
release this type of radical given within the church. Unfortunately, the church
often skips this verse when it comes to
discipleship or give little attention to it. This supernatural yard sale or
flea market help the needs of the disciples. Relationships are deepened when
the needs are met by other disciples in the church. Almost three out of every
four churchgoers say they have significant relationships with people at their
church. However, according to a study by LifeWay Research, less than half of
the churchgoers are intentionally helping other believers grow in their faith.
A disciple maker submits to the leading of the Holy Spirit and commits his
resources plus time to building relationships with other disciples in an effort
to live a Christ-centered life.
Discipleship
Is About Friendship
John 15 records, the conversation Jesus had with his
disciples, “Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life
for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” Jesus
commanded his disciples and the church to have mutual love towards one another.
In verses 13-14, Jesus explains what real discipleship is and is not about. Jesus demonstrated what real love was by dying for His
friends, those who obeyed Him. Discipleship is about friendship, and ongoing
willingness to sacrifice one’s life for the gospel. Notice the results of
sacrificial fellowship, in Acts 2:46-47, “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.” These disciples “ate together at one
another's houses in great love and friendship” with a senses of gladness and
generous hearts among each other and favor with all the people. This is an
ongoing community, relationship, and friendship celebration and the Spirit of
God added to their community day by day.
Steve Murrell says it best when he states: “In
fact, it seems like the only people who weren’t Jesus friends were the
self-righteous, judgmental hypocrites. The Pharisees and Sadducees. The
religious critics who were professionals at tearing people down rather than
building them up. If Jesus treated his disciples – the ones who were following
him and the ones who were running from him – like friends, then don’t you think
we should do the same?”
Given
below are some final list to consider as your church seeks to develop an
ongoing strategy in discipleship.
1. Discipler is filled with the Holy Spirit
2. Discipler teaches the Apostle’s teachings
3. Discipler lives in community with others
4. Discipler looks like his teacher
5. Discipler makes
other Discipler(s)
6. Discipler
delights fellowship with others
7. Discipler shares
his meal with others
8. Discipler honors
the Lord’s Supper
9. Discipler
worship God in prayer
10. Discipler reverence God in their lives
11. Discipler unite with other disciples
12. Discipler helps others who are in need
13. Discipler service at the church
14. Discipler initiates one-on-one discipleship
15. Discipler lives on mission for God
16. Discipler celebrates God’s favor
17. Discipler witness souls turn to Jesus
18. Discipler teaches other disciples to depend on the
word of God
19. Discipler understands discipleship will never replace
soul winning
20. Discipler preaches the importance of discipleship to
everyone
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