Connect, Mentor, & Send

January 24, 2016

Making disciples should be the goal of every Christian in the church. The church of Jesus Christ is literally built upon disciples that make disciples. There is no greater task for the follower of Jesus than this- to know Jesus and make Him known! This is how we bring glory to the Father- by bearing much fruit for His Kingdom.

SERIES TEXT

John 15:12-17, “12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit— fruit that will last— and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”

HOW VS. WHY

WHY WE SHOULD MAKE DISCIPLES

HOW WE SHOULD MAKE DISCIPLES

Matthew 28:18-20, “18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go (send) and make disciples (mentor) of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always (connect), to the very end of the age.”

1-CONNECT

First, Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Therefore, we believe all people should be connected to God by the following three ways:

Being born again, John 3:3.
Remaining connected to Jesus, John 15:4.
Being connected to a good church, Acts 2:46.

We believe the best way to do this is by regularly attending our services and joining one of our life groups.

2-MENTOR

Second, Jesus then said in Matthew 28:19-20, “19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Therefore, we believe all people should be mentored by God and made disciples in the following four ways:

Being teachable, 2 Timothy 2:2.
Staying accountable, James 5:16.
Acting as a servant, Matthew 23:11.
Always hungering for God and His righteousness, Matthew 5:6.

We believe the best way to do this is by finding a mentor and joining our discipleship classes (101 & 201).

3-SEND

Lastly, the Bible records in Mark 16:20, “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” Therefore, we believe all people should be sent by God as ordained elders and deacons to preach the gospel by always doing the following four things:

Seeing the Lord, Matthew 28:20.
Seeing the harvest, John 4:35.
Seeing the need, Romans 10:14-15.
Seeing your personal ministry, 1 Corinthians 12:27.

We believe the best way to be sent out to preach is to do street evangelism and make a new disciple.

EXAMPLE:

ILLUSTRATION

THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER

Luke 9:57-62, “57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Am I willing to forsake all to be a disciple of Christ? (Luke 14:25-35)
Do I believe the local church is connected to my discipleship? (Hebrews 13:17)
Do I know how to hear God’s command to carry my cross in life versus my flesh’s desire to live in comfort? (Matthew 16:24-27)
Am I a disciple being discipled and making new disciples with the church God called me to? (2 Timothy 2:1-13)

The greatest thing you will ever do in life is be a disciple of Jesus Christ that makes disciples!

Posted in Chosen Series