Focus of Discipleship

Here is our last part concerning the Doctrine of Discipleship as quoted from the Disciple's Study Bible.

     Focus of Discipleship.  Discipleship focuses on personal spiritual discipleine, such as Bible study, prayer, and worship, to train for service.  At heart discipleship is the believer in action for God.  God's will for Christian serice is as broad as human need.  Discipleship invovles evangelism and missions as described in separate articles.  God wants all material needs met for every person He creates.  The Bible descibes ministry to the

• poor and needy (Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 11:41); 
• hungry (Luke 1:53; 9:12-17; Romans 12:20); 
• homeless (Exodus 22:21; 23:9; Leviticus 19:33-34; Numbers 15:15-16); 
• oppressed (Matthew 9:36; Mark 12:38-40); 
• sick (Matthew 10:8; Luke 9:1-6; James 5:14-16); 
• handicapped (Matthew 15:30-31; Luke 14:13); and 
• the fallen (John 4:1-42; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; Galatians 6:1-2).  

In principle discipleship involves creatively meeting any need another person has (Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-19; Luke 4:18-21).     The importance of ministry to human needs was made clear when Jesus said it would indicate qualification for blessing or rejection on the day of judgment and the great separation (Matthew 25:31-46).

Thanks for joining us on this series.  let me know if you have any questions or ideas or things that you would like to see.

Purpose of Discipleship

Continuing our sessions on Discipleship from the Disciple's Study Bible, here is part 3 of 4 concerning the Doctrine of Discipleship:

Purpose for discipleship. The first priority in a Christian's life is to seek, find, and follow the will of God. That is the way the kingdom of God, His sovereign rule in His creation, is advanced (Matthew 6:33). God's purpose is that Christian's will bear fruit. Bearing fruit is not a religious obligation; it is a natural result of conversion, submitting to Christ's lordship, and following the Spirit's leadership (Matthew 7:16-20). Discipleship centers on love for God and for neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40; Luke 6:27-35; John 17:26). Discipleship is a responsible stewardship of personal influence on others persons and on society (Matthew 5:14-16). Discipleship is more than passive adoration of God. It is active involvement in God's creation and Christ's ministry (Luke 14:34-35; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Discipleship does not seek out deserved rewards. Discipleship means doing all for God's glory. Christians share with Christ in meeting needs of other people. The commendation of the Master is the most desired reward (Matthew 25:21). God has promised to reward faithful servants (Ephesians 6:5-8; 2 Peter 1:10-11)

Next: Part 4: Focus of Discipleship

Guidelines for Discipleship

Today we are continuing our gaze into the Disciple's Study Bible (1988, Holman Bible Publishers: Nashville), specifically at an article about the Doctrine of Discipleship.  Yesterday, we covered the "Nature of and Preparation for Discipleship".  Today, we look into Guidelines for Discipleship.  As yesterday, I have spelled out the references fully. Coloring is mine for visual acuity (ie break up the monotony of the black lettering.   Click  eBible search to look up the references if you want.

     Guidelines for discipleship. Discipleship occurs only under God's leadership.  He has provided leadership in the lives and affairs of His people throughout human history (Genesis 12:1-5; 24:1-67; Exodus 14:15-16).  He provided basic guidelines for disciples through His covenant (Exodus 19-24) in which He sought to establish His kingdom.  Under the old covenant God made His will known by laws and prophets.  Under the new covenant He makes His will known by His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2).  Jesus said the only ones who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do "the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).  To be a Christian disciple demands a willingness to give up everything to experience the reality of the kingdom of God through the immediacy of Christ's ruling authority.  Being part of the kingdom means a live-evidencing repentance (Matthew 3:2; 4:17).
     Discipleship is living out the confession, Jesus is Lord.  Disciples of Jesus extend the ministry He began by doing obediently what He commands.  Discipleship involves hearing the teachings of Jesus as authoritative and following His commands (Luke 6:46; Romans 6:16).  Christ exercises His lordship in the lives of disciples through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 14:17, 20; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Galatians 5:16).  When a person repents and makes a personal commitment to Christ by faith, Christ enters the heart in the person of the Holy Spirit and becomes guide, energizer, and enabler in the Christian life (John 16:13-14).  Disciples also need human role models and spiritual leaders.  Disciples do not seek out leadership positions but answer God's call to them (Hebrews 13:7-17).

I enjoy the insight that discipleship is LIVING OUT the confession that Jesus is Lord.  How many of us have witnessed people confessing Christ as Lord, but denying Him by their lifestyle?  Oh, that I may not fall into that trap of busyness for God that I am not busy with God. 

On the next to last sentence above, do you have someone pouring into and discipling you? 
Are you discipling someone else?

Coming up . .
the Purpose for Discipleship
the Focus of Discipleship

Nature of and Preparation for Discipleship

The following is a paragraph excerpt from the Disciple's Study Bible (1988, Holman Bible Publishers: Nashville) concerning the Doctrine of Discipleship.  This is Part 1 (yesterday was the intro) to our series this week on Discipleship.  I have spelled out the references fully. Coloring is mine for visual acuity (ie break up the monotony of the black lettering.   Be sure to utilize the eBible search to look up the references if you want.

     Nature of and preparation for discipleship.  Obedient service is the basic expression of discipleship.  Such service is voluntary but never optional for the people of God.  Christian conversion is the first step of discipleship.  Mere profession of faith in words accomplishes nothing.  True confession is conversion, converting a sinner into a servant of Christ.  Faith is completed by actions it prompts (James 2:14-26).  Christians are saved to serve (Ephesians 2:8-10).  Humans cannot achieve or deserve conversion or discipleship.  People become Christians on Christ's initiative and have no reason to boast (John 15:16).  Conversion leads to discipleship, the living out of God's will.  God provides enabling power for His people to do His will (1 Samuel 30:3-8; Haggai 2:4-5).  Christians need the inner moral power necessary for living victoriously as obedient disciples (Ephesians 3:16; 1 Peter 4:11).  Family and church have responsibilities to train young disciples toward maturity in Christ (Luke 9:2; 2 Timothy 3:14-17).
     Disciples become part of God's holy priesthood as promised by Moses (Exodus 19:6) and fulfilled in the church, the ideal Israel (1 Peter 2:9).  All Christian disciples are brothers and sisters with free access to God (Matthew 23:1-11) through Christ, our High Priest (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 10:19-22).  We need no other Mediator.  We have the responsibility to go to God and learn from God directly through Christ rather than depending on human intermediaries.
     All Christian disciples are God's fellow workers.  None is left out.  All are needed.  A witnessing and serving laity is essential to a functioning and growing church, as Acts illustrates.  Women played an important part in the work of God in the past and should continue today (Exodus 15:20-21; Judges 4-5; Proverbs 31; 2 Kings 22:11-20; Matthew 28:1-10; Luke 8:2-3; Romans 16:1-3).

Tomorrow, we will look at: Guidelines for Discipleship.
Then later: Purpose for Discipleship and Focus of Discipleship.

What are your thoughts?  Anything strike you in particular?

Discipleship

I have been working through an old (but goodie) Bible Study by Avery Willis who died recently.  See a fitting tribute by Jerry Rankin HERE.  The study is entitled "LifeGuide: Discipleship & Doctrine (Using the Disciple's Study Bible)".  Both the study and the Disciple's Study Bible are out of print.  I found them in my Dad's library.
Here is the 2nd edition of the Disciples Study Bible (also out of print)

What a great tool!!  One of the key facets of this Bible is how it outlines major doctrines of Christianity throughout the whole Bible as well as providing histories, Scripture references, chain references, and study helps.

One such example is the Doctrine of Discipleship.  Over the next couple of days, I am going to outline for you the following from the Disciple's Study Bible notes:
1.  Nature of and preparation for discipleship
2.  Guidelines for discipleship
3.  Purpose of discipleship
4.  Focus on discipleship

The material shared is from the Disciple's Study Bible.  I hope you find it striking, encouraging, and challenging.  Watch everyday this week for more!!  I would love to get your thoughts!