apprentice of jesus participant preparation mirroring the methods of the master investing in...

Apprentice of Jesus Participant Preparation

Mirroring the Methods of the Master

Investing in Disciples Equipping Disciple Makers

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PARTICIPANT PREPARATION

Assisting a Person to a

Pre-Covenant Relationship

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DISCIPLE

Strong’s Dictionary (from Greek, first century)

A learner, pupil

Indicating thought accompanied by endeavor

Denotes one who follows one’s teachings

A disciple was not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher

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PARTICIPANT PREPARATION

Have you made the wonderful discovery

of the

Spirit-Filled Life?

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WHO’S ON THE THRONE?

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GENESIS 1 - 3

Genesis 1 and 2

Prior to “The Fall of Man” - Man is created In God’s Image

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CREATED IN HIS IMAGE

Genesis 1 and 2

• Worship

• Relationship

• Free Will

• Significance

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THE FALL

• What we worship?

• Who we are in relationship with?

• Self-centered view of the world?

• Search for self esteem and self worth?

Genesis 3

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IMAGE OF GOD

Worshipers

• Not just something we do; it defines who we are.

• It’s the motivational core of our lives.

• All we do expresses worship.

• We either worship God – or something else – or ourselves.

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RELATIONSHIP

Revelation Receivers

• Ability to hear, understand and apply God’s Word

• Ability to know and understand God

• Built for dependent relationships and this need preceded sin

• Our need for help is part of life’s design

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FREE WILL

Interpreters• Ability to think or “meaning makers”

• Live our lives according to our interpretations

• Thinking conditions our: emotions sense of identity view of others agenda for solutions

willingness for counsel

* Why we need a framework for interpretations

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SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE

Identity in Christ• Abundant life is the experience of God’s love,

forgiveness and power in the midst of life’s problems.

• Biblical self-concept is an accurate perception of self, God, and others based on God’s Word.

• Abide is the focus on Christ’s Lordship moment by moment.

• We were created so that everything in our lives draws its meaning and purpose from the person, presence, and purpose of God.

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THE FALL

Genesis 3

• Eve saw the fruit as “desirable for gaining wisdom.” Satan told Eve that she would be independently wise.

• Satan’s promise of autonomous personal wisdom, without any need for God or His revelation So that people can discern life on their own

• Sinful unbelieving turning away hardened hearts Know that sin is deceitful

• As long as sin remains, we will have pockets of “spiritual blindness.”

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THE FALL

* In relationships, there is a constant war of words, competition for power, and mutual condemnation - which is rooted in a deep battle about who or what will rule our lives.

* The voices of the world appeal to a core delusion in our sinful hearts, the desire to be god, able to understand and live life on our own.

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THE BIBLE

* Only The Whole of the Gospel can make sense of life.

Real Knowledge begins with knowing Him

Wisdom is the fruit of worship and received on bended knee.

* My interpretations all rest on some view of God, myself, and others. And they always tell me what to do with both my heart and my hands.

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THE WHOLE OF THE GOSPEL

Bible - is a narrative, a story of redemption, and the chief character is Jesus Christ.

• God harnesses nature and controlled history to send His Son to rescue rebellious, foolish, and self-focused men and women.

• He freed them from the bondage to themselves, enabled them to live for His Glory, gifted them with eternity in His presence, far from the harsh realities of the Fall.

• Christ delivers us from slavery to sin, defeats the enemy, and leads us in the way to go.

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3 GRAND THEMES OF THE STORY OF REDEMPTION

“God’s Sovereignty” His plan

• Calling people to Himself

• Forming them into His likeness

• Preparing them for an eternity with Him

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“God’s Grace” Defines the story and gives it direction

• Grace enables, empowers me to think, say and do things I could not do in my own strength.

• Grace transforms, radically changing every aspect of our lives.

• For relationship to grow – need “Economy of Grace”

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The center of the story is The Lord – “Theme of Glory”

• The agenda is bigger than myself; it offers me something truly worth living for.

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THEMES OF REDEMPTION

* Our goal is to help one another live with a “God’s Story” mentality.

Our mission is to teach, admonish, and encourage one another to rest in His sovereignty, rather than establishing our own, to rely on His grace, rather than performing on our own, to submit to His Glory rather than seeking our own.

1 Sovereignty 2 Grace 3 Glory

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2

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ANSWER JESUS’ 3 QUESTIONS TO PETER

Who do you say I am? Identity

Do you love me? Security

Will you stay with me? Significance

Barriers

Fear rooted in shame (measuring up)

Hiding rooted in insecurity (image management)

Blame rooted in denial (rationalism)

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3 BARRIERS TO SPIRITUAL TRUTH

First - Emotional Barrier

• Usually have been wounded by a religious person

• Typically are emotionally argumentative

* They must be loved into the Kingdom

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Second – Intellectual Barrier

• Typically a serious seeker and wants enough information to make an intelligent decision

• Introduce to: Lee Strobel – The Case for Christ C. S. Lewis – Mere Christianity Francis Schaffer – The God Who Is There

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Third – Lifestyle Barrier

• Typically are living in a way that they know would have to change for them to get serious

• Graciously share it with them and pray

• Won’t show much interest until reaching a point of despair

“People don’t care how much you know –

until they know how much you care.”

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Come away with Me for a while. The world, with its nonstop demands, can be put on hold. Most people put Me on hold, rationalizing that someday they will find time to focus on Me. But the longer people push Me into the background of their lives, the harder is it for them to find Me.

JESUS CALLING

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You live among people who glorify busyness; they have made time a tyrant that controls their lives. Even those who know Me as Savior tend to march to the tempo of the world. They have bought into the illusion that more is always better: more meetings, more programs, more activity.

JESUS CALLING

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I have called you to follow Me on a solitary path, making time alone with Me your highest priority and deepest Joy. It is a pathway largely unappreciated and often despised. However, you have chosen the better thing, which will never be taken away from you. Moreover, as you walk close to Me, I can bless others through you.

Song of Songs 2:13, Luke 10:42

from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

JESUS CALLING

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Faithful – Loyal, Steadfast

Trustworthy in the fulfillment of promises or obligations

Available – Ready, Prepared

Capable of being utilized and trained

Intentional – Purposeful, Deliberate

Disciplined to follow a plan

Teachable – Acquiring knowledge or skill, trainable

Ready and willing to learn

Hungry – Desire, Longing

Passion to go deeper in Spiritual Walk

THE CALLING OF A DISCIPLE

Disciples Need To Know What They are Saying “Yes” to:

F. A. I. T. H.

Disciples Need To Know What They are Saying “Yes” to:

F. A. I. T. H.

I

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R12 CHRISTIAN “The Executive Summary” *

• Surrender to God “All In”

Romans 12:1 – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”

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R12 CHRISTIAN “The Executive Summary”

• Separate from the world Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

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• Sober in self-assessment Romans 12:3 – “For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

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• Serving in love Romans 12:9-10 – “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

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• Supernaturally responding to evil with good

Romans 12:14, 21 – “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

* from Living on the Edge by Chip Ingram

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APPRENTICE OF JESUS

Five Behaviors of a Disciple

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APPRENTICE OF JESUS

A Disciple is one who puts Christ first by…

• Having a personal relationship with Jesus• Being held accountable within a small group• Serving others through acts of love and

compassion to build God’s Kingdom• Demonstrating a life of stewardship• Sharing the Gospel – reproducing Disciples

Maturing in these five dimensions results in a high impact Christian with a Biblical world-view, reproducing to the fourth generation.

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APPRENTICE OF JESUS

Having a real relationship with JesusA disciple sees and knows Him as a living friend, not just a historical figure. The relationship is personal, not institutional, and it is motivated by how the Disciple can give glory to God in all aspects of their life. By practicing the Spiritual Disciplines, one will come to know Jesus as both Savior and Lord.

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APPRENTICE OF JESUS

Accountability within a small groupGives others the right to speak into your life as you progress in putting off the “old self.” The Twelve Disciples comprised the first small group because Jesus knew that becoming an intentional authentic Christian could not be accomplished in isolation.

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APPRENTICE OF JESUS

Serving others through acts of love and compassion

This is reflected through our spiritual gifts as we seek to glorify God. A Disciple will answer the call to act for those in need. Jesus came to serve, and as a Disciple, we are compelled to follow His example as we build the kingdom.

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APPRENTICE OF JESUS

Demonstrating a life of Stewardship

A Disciple readily acknowledges that God created the universe and owns it all. Because God owns everything, we acknowledge that we are simply stewards of the gifts of time, talent, resources, relationships, and truth. God gives us enough time to do everything He wants us to do.

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APPRENTICE OF JESUS

Sharing the Gospel – Reproducing DisciplesSharing the Gospel, modeling a Christ-centered life, and nurturing other Disciples is our fundamental calling from Christ. We are called to share our own personal faith journey, for the purpose of bringing others to Christ. We live our lives reflecting authenticity and transparency to reflect his Lordship. We invest our life in the lives of others to help engage, equip and encourage Disciples for Christ. The cycle of Christian life is perpetuated when a Disciple’s life is committed to reproducing more Kingdom builders.

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GROWTH TOOLS

How Christians Grow

“Means of Grace”

9 Growth Tools by Dr. Charles Lake

of Growth Ministries

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GROWTH TOOLS

Truth from God’s Word

Defined Wisdom communicated in His infallible Word.

Objective To demonstrate His likeness in all our actions and reactions

Temptation

Defined Enticed to do evil by offering some seeming advantage

Objective Finding and taking the way of escape

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GROWTH TOOLS

Trials

Defined Tests of various sorts that God allows

Objective To joyfully persevere and trust Him

Thorns

Defined Factors God chooses not to remove but to give you grace to conquer

Objective Accept what you cannot change and seek His spiritual strength

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GROWTH TOOLS

Challenges

Defined Taking a step in faith, not knowing the outcome

Objective Obey in faith that God will reveal the next step

Conflicts

Defined Inter-personal relationships that challenge our unconditional love for others

Objective Respond in a Christ-like manner, not permitting bitterness to take hold

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GROWTH TOOLS

Loneliness

Defined Times of weariness when God seems to have withdrawn

Objective To live by faith and not by feelings

Discipleship

Defined Exercising the disciplines of the Christian faith

Objective To be Christ-like in our actions and reactions

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GROWTH TOOLS

Blessings

Defined Faithfulness of God to reveal His love

Objective Attitude of gratitude to the Lord, in everything give thanks

Growth Tools: Instruments God uses to grow us

• Being a disciple involves a cooperative effort between Christ and His follower

• Discipleship is the practice of growing believers and cultivating the fruit of the Spirit

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GOD’S 4 CALLS

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GOD’S 4 CALLS

To follow and obey Christ, you need to answer

4 calls

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GOD’S 4 CALLS

External Call = Gospel

Internal Call = Holy Spirit

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GOD’S 4 CALLS

Call to repentance and Faith “Jesus as Savior”

Job 42:6; Matthew 3:2; Jeremiah 5:3; II Peter 3:9,

John 3:16; Matthew 22:14; Ephesians 4:1

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GOD’S 4 CALLS

Call to a Covenant Relationship “Jesus as Lord”

Living under His authority

Matthew 7; Exodus 19-24; Genesis 1-

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GOD’S 4 CALLS

Call to Follow as a Disciple “Be a disciple and make disciples”

Evangelism, Discipleship, Cultural Mandate

John 8:31-32; Luke 14:26-27;

Matthew 28:19; Luke 5:1-11

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GOD’S 4 CALLS

Call to Purpose “I have been uniquely designed

to…as my role in Kingdom building and bearing Jesus’ fruit”

Acts 20:24; Romans 8:28; Acts 26:16; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 5:15-16

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GOD’S 4 CALLS

Most people are intimidated by this because it can’t be accomplished by “performance.”

The Performance Trap

by Steve Wood

Lead Pastor, Mount Pisgah UMC

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“The Normal Christian Life”

by Dr. Allan Coppedge

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THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN LIFE

Stage I: Becoming a Christian Salvation

• The Lamb of God (Genesis 12)

Stage II: Following Jesus Disciple

• Relationship with Jesus• Learner – Pupil• Imitate the teacher

* Nothing happens until these two happen!!

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Two clear choices we must make:

• Becoming a Christian• Following Jesus as a Disciple

Where am I in the process?

What’s the next good thing God wants me to do?

Discipleship is part of Wesleyan heritage

* If you miss any of Stages I, II, or III – you will not be what you want to be!!

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Stage III. Baptized by the Spirit

• Cleansing of self-will to Jesus’ way• Surrendered life to the Trinity• Learn to pray in the Spirit

Stage IV: Living as a disciple in the fullness of the Spirit

• Let the Lord have full control• Uniquely designed for a Kingdom

purpose• Prayer partner with accountability

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HOLINESS

5 Habits of Holiness

Living on the Edge by Chip Ingram

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5 HABITS OF HOLINESS

Personal Integrity

• Speak the truth in love

Training Apparatus: Confession

Ephesians 4:15, 25

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Emotional Control

• Be angry and do not sin

Training Apparatus: I feel…when you do…I would like

Ephesians 4:26-27

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Employment Stewardship

• Put on work ethic

® Training Apparatus: Good Mentors/ Accountability Partner

Ephesians 4:28

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Speech Patterns

• Say only what helps

® Training Apparatus: Silence & Solitude

Ephesians 4:29-30

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Positive Attitudes

• Be kind to one another

® Training Apparatus: “Matthew 5:24 Principle” – be reconciled to your brother

Ephesians 4:31-32

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GOOD TO GREAT

“Good to Great in God’s Eyes” by Chip Ingram

• Think great thoughts• Read great books• Pursue great people• Dream great dreams• Pray great prayers

• Take great risks• Make great sacrifices• Enjoy great moments• Empower great people• Develop great habits

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GOOD TO GREAT

• Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit does not rule out having a clear target for your discipleship

• “Intentionality” – Your faith can’t be a random growth process

• Applying truth to your life is first quality, then quantity

apprentice of jesus participant preparation mirroring the methods of the master investing in...

Documents

worship god

view of god

purpose of god

fall genesis

image of god worshipers

god harnesses nature

image genesis

sense of life