This Sunday, instead of continuing on in our study of the book of Romans, Pastor Dale encouraged us with a message on discipleship. As healthy things tend to grow, such as plants and children, so Christians (both individually, and as a church body) need to be in a constant state of growth. If there is health, there is growth, and yet one of the biggest challenges facing the church today is the perpetual immaturity of believers. Discipleship is the answer to this problem, and it occurs when two or more people encourage each other to grow in Christ.
Paul tells us that God’s purpose for every believer is this process of being conformed to the image of Jesus (Rom 8:29). Our natural tendency is to listen and observe, yet Jesus didn’t tell us to go and make spectators, He said, “Go and make disciples.” But what do we mean by growing and being a disciple? Is this a matter of age, church attendance, Bible knowledge, or our behavior at church? Jesus answers this question when he said we will know his disciples by their fruit. When we think of a disciple we ought to think of a student, a learner, or a follower; but even more than these, Jesus’ disciples are to be doers of the word, not hearers only.
To sum this up, here are some answers to two questions:
First, let’s ask; “What is a disciple?”
1. To be a disciple I must have a relationship with Jesus and, as with any other relationship, we should enjoy spending time with him. John 12:26 says, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also.”
2. To be a disciple I must love Jesus supremely. In comparison to Jesus, all other affections should not come close. In Luke 14:26 Jesus is saying that being his disciple means we love him to such a degree that we are willing to lay down every other relationship (even our own lives) in order to follow him. Not only this, but we are to love God with ALL our heart, ALL our soul, ALL our mind, and ALL our strength (Mk 12:30).
3. To be a disciple I must love Jesus’ church, his family. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (Jn 13:35).” And, 1 John 4:20 says, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother; he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
4. To be a disciple, I must obey him completely; partial obedience is disobedience. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (Jn 8:31-32).” (Also, see Jn 15:7-8).
5. To be a disciple, I must serve others unselfishly. “If anyone would come after me (as my disciple), let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Mt 16:24).”
6. To be a disciple, I must pass on the good news! “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him (Mt 4:19-20).” As we see in 2 Timothy 2:2, disciples make disciples. “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
The second question related to discipleship is, “How do I grow?”
1. Spiritual growth is incarnational; we grow by letting Christ grow in us. The root word “carne,” means meat, or flesh, and so the one who became flesh (incarnation) now dwells in us by the Spirit. If we are to grow, then God in the flesh (Jesus) must be growing in us. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal 2:20).”
2. Spiritual growth is intentional; it doesn’t happen automatically. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Phil 2:12-13).” Working out your salvation is not passive. If you don’t do anything; if there’s no plan or strategy for growth then nothing will happen. Be intentional.
3. Spiritual growth is incremental. Growth doesn’t happen all at once. It’s a slow process and, just as a plant grows from small to bigger, so we have a beginning and then grow. You don’t see a plant grow, but it grows nonetheless - slowly and progressively. “[We] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Cor 3:18).”
4. Spiritual growth is personal. So, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves (2 Cor 13:5).”
5. Spiritual growth is habitual. There are habits that help us grow. When you care for a plant you develop habits, such as regular watering at a certain time of day. The same is true for your spiritual growth. Develop habits for your Bible reading and not neglecting fellowship by being at church. “[Do not neglect] to meet together, as is the habit of some, but [encourage] one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
6. Growth is relational. Our relationship is not only to God, but God has saved us into a body to be in relationship with each other. Your intentional relationship with your brothers and sisters in Christ encourages their growth, and their encouragement to you also helps you to grow.
With all of this in mind, the elders want to encourage you to begin this process of learning and encouraging someone else in the faith, and an excellent resource for this is “Fundamentals of the Faith,” by John MacArthur. We have several copies available, and this will help you learn more about your faith and give you an opportunity to encourage someone else as well. There are several people in the church who have already worked through this book (see your bulletin), and are excited to continue working through it with others. If you would like to begin growing in this way you can contact either Pastor Jim (541-821-0343) or Marla Lance (541-664-5796), and they will introduce you to a person or group for you to get started with.
Thank you, Pastor Brian. It was so great to be able to keep up with what I missed in church.
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