Cell Church, Discipleship & the Great Commission Methodist Cell Church Conference

Models of Church Create space not life. Create space not life. Structures are for relationships, not vice versa Structures are for relationships, not vice versa Are a good servant and a bad master Are a good servant and a bad master Don’t all work everywhere – there is no avoiding discernment Don’t all work everywhere – there is no avoiding discernment

WHY CELL CHURCH? Mission - Flexibilty for mission to the unchurched. Mission - Flexibilty for mission to the unchurched. Ministry - The mobilisation of every member. Ministry - The mobilisation of every member. Discipleship - Christian distinctiveness in a consumer society. Discipleship - Christian distinctiveness in a consumer society.

OUR LONG TERM PRIORITY ‘When dealing with discipleship and the related capacity to generate authentic followers of Jesus, we are dealing with that single most crucial factor that will in the end determine the quality of the whole – if we fail at this point then we must fail in all the others.’ Alan Hirsch ‘When dealing with discipleship and the related capacity to generate authentic followers of Jesus, we are dealing with that single most crucial factor that will in the end determine the quality of the whole – if we fail at this point then we must fail in all the others.’ Alan Hirsch

The Purpose of Mission Is Discipleship

The Great Commission 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Discipleship ‘The Great Omission from the Great Commission in which the Great Disparity is firmly rooted’ ‘The Great Omission from the Great Commission in which the Great Disparity is firmly rooted’ The great disparity between ‘the hope for life expressed in Jesus and the actual day to day behaviour, inner life and social presence of most of those who now profess allegiance to him.’ Dallas Willard The great disparity between ‘the hope for life expressed in Jesus and the actual day to day behaviour, inner life and social presence of most of those who now profess allegiance to him.’ Dallas Willard

The Purpose of Discipleship Is To Be a Blessing

Jesus fulfills the promise to Abraham 12:3 Go … and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed 12:3 Go … and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed 18:18 all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him (Abraham) 18:18 all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him (Abraham) 22:18 all the nations of the earth gain blessing 22:18 all the nations of the earth gain blessing 26:4 and all the nations of the earth shall gain blessing 26:4 and all the nations of the earth shall gain blessing 28:14 all the families of the earth shall be blessed 28:14 all the families of the earth shall be blessed Mt. 28:19 Go and make disciples of all nations Mt. 28:19 Go and make disciples of all nations

Jesus fulfills the promise to Abraham Gal.3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.’ Gal.3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.’ Mt. 1:1 An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Mt. 1:1 An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Mt 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations Mt 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations

What Is Discipleship?

‘It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians’.’ Acts 11:26 ‘It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians’.’ Acts 11:26 The idea of being Jesus disciple predates the word Christian. The idea of being Jesus disciple predates the word Christian.

What Is Discipleship? Mark 3:14-15 And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message and to have authority to cast out demons. Mark 3:14-15 And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message and to have authority to cast out demons. The heart of discipleship is being with Jesus, in order to be like him. The heart of discipleship is being with Jesus, in order to be like him. Mt. 10:25 It is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher. Mt. 10:25 It is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher.

What Is Discipleship? ‘If I am to be Jesus’ disciple that means I am with him to learn from him how to be like him. Dallas Willard ‘If I am to be Jesus’ disciple that means I am with him to learn from him how to be like him. Dallas Willard

There is no discipleship without mission.

To ‘be with’ Jesus is not static but active. To ‘be with’ Jesus is not static but active. It involves following. It involves following. (And going - being sent.) (And going - being sent.) There will be no discipleship apart from the following and going. There will be no discipleship apart from the following and going. If making disciples is at the heart of mission, then mission is the essential context for learning discipleship. If making disciples is at the heart of mission, then mission is the essential context for learning discipleship.

There is no discipleship without mission. This is the calling of ordinary worshipping Christians, with their doubts and struggles. This is the calling of ordinary worshipping Christians, with their doubts and struggles. Worship and mission are inseparable, Worship and mission are inseparable, They form the rhythm of church life. They form the rhythm of church life. Authentic worship leads to mission. Authentic worship leads to mission. Authentic mission wins worshippers. Authentic mission wins worshippers.

HOW ARE DISCIPLES MADE?

How are disciples made? As Jesus made disciples. As Jesus made disciples. ‘The founding of the whole Christian movement was initiated through the simple acts of Jesus investing his life and embedding his teachings in his followers and developing them into authentic disciples’. Alan Hirsch ‘The founding of the whole Christian movement was initiated through the simple acts of Jesus investing his life and embedding his teachings in his followers and developing them into authentic disciples’. Alan Hirsch

How are disciples made? Only disciples make disciples. Only disciples make disciples. ‘He commissions his own disciples to go out and replicate themselves by creating communities of obedience among the nations. … Mission is replicated discipleship, learned through ethical obedience and passed on through teaching.’ Christopher Wright ‘He commissions his own disciples to go out and replicate themselves by creating communities of obedience among the nations. … Mission is replicated discipleship, learned through ethical obedience and passed on through teaching.’ Christopher Wright

By ‘Going’ ‘Discipleship emerges out of prayer, study, dialogue, and worship by a community learning to ask the questions of obedience, as they are engaged directly in mission.’ Alan Roxburgh ‘Discipleship emerges out of prayer, study, dialogue, and worship by a community learning to ask the questions of obedience, as they are engaged directly in mission.’ Alan Roxburgh

By ‘baptizing’ That through the Son, and by the Spirit we will share the Son’s relationship with the Father – which is the key to his discipleship. That through the Son, and by the Spirit we will share the Son’s relationship with the Father – which is the key to his discipleship. And ‘As members of Christ’s body they are baptized into his mission, equipped by the Spirit to make their distinctive contribution to the totality of the ministry of the church.’ Eddie Gibbs And ‘As members of Christ’s body they are baptized into his mission, equipped by the Spirit to make their distinctive contribution to the totality of the ministry of the church.’ Eddie Gibbs

By ‘baptizing’ ’Incorporating people into the community called the Church.' ’Incorporating people into the community called the Church.' ’No mission is imaginable that does not lead to people's incorporation into the Church. ’No mission is imaginable that does not lead to people's incorporation into the Church. The disciple follows the Master but he/she never follows him alone.' The disciple follows the Master but he/she never follows him alone.' ’Disciples belong together in an indestructible fellowship.' David Bosch ’Disciples belong together in an indestructible fellowship.' David Bosch

By ‘teaching’ ‘All that I have commanded you’ ‘All that I have commanded you’ The whole gospel becomes a manual for the making of disciples. The whole gospel becomes a manual for the making of disciples. Much more than compiling a list of ethical requirements. Much more than compiling a list of ethical requirements. It is an integrated ethical code fulfilling and going beyond the Law of Moses It is an integrated ethical code fulfilling and going beyond the Law of Moses

By ‘teaching’ Not ethics alone Not ethics alone Word and deed, evangelism and social action, healing and deliverance. Word and deed, evangelism and social action, healing and deliverance. Baptism is mentioned before teaching, but no hint of the ethical implications of following Christ being introduced at a later stage. Baptism is mentioned before teaching, but no hint of the ethical implications of following Christ being introduced at a later stage. Evangelism to begin with ethics, not treat it as a postscript Evangelism to begin with ethics, not treat it as a postscript

COUNTERING CONSUMERISM ‘The activity of consuming has become a kind of template or model for the way in which citizens of contemporary Western societies have come to view all their activities.’ Colin Campbell ‘The activity of consuming has become a kind of template or model for the way in which citizens of contemporary Western societies have come to view all their activities.’ Colin Campbell

CONSUMERISM Idolatry (Misdirection) Idolatry (Misdirection) False hope (Seduction) False hope (Seduction) Counterfeit assurance Counterfeit assurance Disciple making Disciple making

Misdirection Misdirection services the idolatrous element of consumerism. Misdirection services the idolatrous element of consumerism. Misdirection is ‘the advertising strategy of associating commodities with needs, desires and values that are not directly related to the given products. Misdirection works by encouraging consumers to fulfil more profound needs and desires through consumption.’ Vincent Miller Misdirection is ‘the advertising strategy of associating commodities with needs, desires and values that are not directly related to the given products. Misdirection works by encouraging consumers to fulfil more profound needs and desires through consumption.’ Vincent Miller

Seduction Provides a consumer hope, a consumer promise of the future. Provides a consumer hope, a consumer promise of the future. ‘Consumer desire is not focused on particular things; it is constantly enticed to go beyond what has been acquired to consider something new.’ Miller ‘Consumer desire is not focused on particular things; it is constantly enticed to go beyond what has been acquired to consider something new.’ Miller

MIMICRY ‘ You made us for yourself and our heart find no peace until they rest in you.’ Augustine ‘ You made us for yourself and our heart find no peace until they rest in you.’ Augustine ‘Consumer desire mimics the restlessness of our earthly pilgrimage.’ Vincent Miller ‘Consumer desire mimics the restlessness of our earthly pilgrimage.’ Vincent Miller

AN ASSURANCE MECHANISM ‘The deeper underlying human need for reassurance concerning the reality of the self.’ ‘The deeper underlying human need for reassurance concerning the reality of the self.’ ‘A kind of default philosophy for all modern life.’ ‘A kind of default philosophy for all modern life.’

Countering consumerism A more captivating motive for daily choices A more captivating motive for daily choices A more powerful set of character forming habits A more powerful set of character forming habits A proactive supportive community – cell and congregation A proactive supportive community – cell and congregation

Only through Christ Based on his achievement Based on his achievement Under his authority Under his authority In his presence In his presence

Conclusion Discipleship lies at the heart of mission. Discipleship lies at the heart of mission. It is both the object of mission and provides mission with its integrity. It is both the object of mission and provides mission with its integrity. It has an ecology in which it flourishes: consisting of: It has an ecology in which it flourishes: consisting of: a life lived obediently in the presence of Christ, a life lived obediently in the presence of Christ, participation in an interdependent Christian community, participation in an interdependent Christian community, and active participation in mission. and active participation in mission.

Cell Church, Discipleship & the Great Commission Methodist Cell Church Conference