The 5 C’s of Discipleship

What part of What part of "Thou Shalt Not..." "Thou Shalt Not..." didn't you understand? - God didn't you understand? - God

My way is the highway. - God My way is the highway. - God

Don’t make me come down there. - God Don’t make me come down there. - God

The real Supreme Court meets up here. - God The real Supreme Court meets up here. - God

Your Life

18 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, MATT 28:18-20

20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 GREAT COMMISSION

God’s goal for our lives… to become fully devoted disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. The process… discipleship.

How do you spell discipleship?

C ommunion Defined: being in an intimate relationship with God Focus: Knowing God better Key Word: Relationship

Results: We know what’s on God’s heart We know what’s on God’s heart We hear and recognize His voice more clearly We hear and recognize His voice more clearly He has our full attention He has our full attention How to make it happen: Spend time with God

C haracter Defined: who you are when no one else is around Focus: Developing Christlike inner qualities Key Words: Righteousness & holiness

Can’t fake character. Can’t fake character. “You shall be holy, for I the Lord, your God, am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16 It’s an “inside job” It’s an “inside job”

The Beatitudes 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger MATTHEW 5:3-9

and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” MATTHEW 5:3-9

Character is not about doing…it’s about being.

C ompetence Defined: using life skills to serve God and others Focus: Growing in biblical lifestyle Key Words: Ministry, Life skills

Two Process for Developing Competence Skills learned before practicing them Skills learned before practicing them Skills learned while practicing them Skills learned while practicing them

Lessons in Godly Competence: Do the right things Do the right things Do things right…from a biblical perspective Do things right…from a biblical perspective The difference between cultural competence & biblical competence The difference between cultural competence & biblical competence

C alling Defined: response to God’s leading to serve Him Focus: Finding my place of ministry Key Words: Responsibility & privilege (to serve)

Calling points: Matthew 4:21 “Call” = Invite Matthew 4:21 “Call” = Invite Know how God has gifted you Know how God has gifted you Be willing to serve (servant’s heart) – “Here am I, send me.” Be willing to serve (servant’s heart) – “Here am I, send me.” Be willing to be equipped for service Be willing to be equipped for service

C ommunity Defined: growing in relationship to others in God’s family Focus: Building up the Body of Christ Key Word: Fellowship

Requirements of true Fellowship: Time (with others) Time (with others) Openness (toward others) Openness (toward others) Trust (of God and others) Trust (of God and others) Commitment (to each other) Commitment (to each other)

“True community is developed through an interdependence on each other for growth, development, maturity, & trust.”

C ommunion C haracter C ompetence C alling C ommunity

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. Matthew 5:13-16 (NASB)

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16 (NASB)

This session Being the “salt of the earth” Next session Being the “light of the world”

The Context Sermon on the Mount Sermon on the Mount Jesus’ most lengthy teaching Jesus’ most lengthy teaching Addressed to believers (Christians) Addressed to believers (Christians)

Salt of the Earth Borrowed by the world Borrowed by the world Biblical meaning goes beyond world’s understanding Biblical meaning goes beyond world’s understanding

Purposes of Salt Purposes of salt in Bible times Purposes of salt in Bible times Preservative Preservative Medicinal Medicinal Food seasoning Food seasoning

Spiritual Parallels Preservative Preservative Started with the Garden of Eden Started with the Garden of Eden Always a remnant Always a remnant “Aliens in a foreign land” 1 Peter 2:11-12 “Aliens in a foreign land” 1 Peter 2:11-12 Privilege and responsibility Privilege and responsibility Biblical truth, righteousness, & holiness Biblical truth, righteousness, & holiness

Spiritual Parallels Medicinal Medicinal Spiritually sick without Jesus Spiritually sick without Jesus Balm of Gilead Balm of Gilead

Spiritual Parallels Seasoning Seasoning Make a difference where you are Make a difference where you are Sufficient evidence for your spiritual ID? Sufficient evidence for your spiritual ID? Talk, walk, conduct, & interactions Talk, walk, conduct, & interactions Christian influence Christian influence Imagine… Imagine…

Tasteless Salt There is an unsavory alternative There is an unsavory alternative A lesson from chemistry A lesson from chemistry From salt to paving materials From salt to paving materials

Spiritual Parallels Can we become tasteless? Can we become tasteless? Can we lose our Christlike influence? Can we lose our Christlike influence? Family, job, neighborhood, community, and the church Family, job, neighborhood, community, and the church How do we become tasteless? How do we become tasteless? Dilution Dilution

How are we spiritually diluted? Through reduced interaction with the Word Through reduced interaction with the Word Through prayerlessness Through prayerlessness Through reduced worship engagement Through reduced worship engagement Through lessened fellowship Through lessened fellowship

How are we spiritually diluted? Through immersion in the world’s system Through immersion in the world’s system

How do we become salty again? Through renewed interaction with the Word Through renewed interaction with the Word Through prayerfulness Through prayerfulness Through consistent worship engagement Through consistent worship engagement Through meaningful fellowship Through meaningful fellowship

Through repelling the world’s system (in, but not of the world) Through repelling the world’s system (in, but not of the world) How do we become salty again?

What kind of salt are you?

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. Matthew 5:13-16 (NASB)

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16 (NASB)

Last session Being the “salt of the earth” This session Being the “light of the world”

The Context Sermon on the Mount Sermon on the Mount Jesus’ most lengthy teaching Jesus’ most lengthy teaching Addressed to believers (Christians) Addressed to believers (Christians)

Purposes for Light Illumination Illumination Warmth Warmth Safety/security Safety/security Focus attention Focus attention

Examining the Text Personalization of the description Personalization of the description Scope of the description Scope of the description Placement of our light Placement of our light Summing it all up – v. 16 Summing it all up – v. 16

Let your light shine… Let it shine (what) Let it shine (what) Before men (where) Before men (where) That they may see your good works (why) That they may see your good works (why) And glorify your Father who is in heaven (the result) And glorify your Father who is in heaven (the result)

Questions Are we letting the light of Christ shine through our lives? Are we letting the light of Christ shine through our lives? Is there anything in our lives which is blocking the light? Is there anything in our lives which is blocking the light? Are we keeping the light of Christ to ourselves? Are we keeping the light of Christ to ourselves?

Questions Are we doing good works for others in Jesus’ name? Are we doing good works for others in Jesus’ name? What good works can we do? What good works can we do? Are we surrendering all rights for recognition to our heavenly Father? Are we surrendering all rights for recognition to our heavenly Father?

This little light of mine…