MESSAGE: “PRIORITIES OF LIFE”

THE SINGAPORE DREAM – 5Cs!

JESUS’ PRIORITY IN LIFE Heb 10:9 “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.” John 4:34-35 “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”

JESUS’ PRIORITY IN LIFE FULFILLING OF HIS FATHER’S WILL Luke 2:49 “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” 1.THE SALVATION OF HIS PEOPLE 2.THE CONSTRUCTION OF HIS CHURCH

JESUS’ PLAN He enlist men to be His witnesses and carry on His works: Matthew 4:19 “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Luke 5:27-28 “He said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him.”

JESUS’ PROGRAM FOR CHURCH Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Matthew 28:18-20 (World English Bible) “Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.”

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN DISCIPLE? A Christian disciple is a person who accepts and assists in the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ. Christian discipleship is the process by which disciples grow in the Lord Jesus Christ and are equipped by the Holy Spirit, who resides in our hearts, to overcome the pressures and trials of this present life and become more and more Christlike. Becoming a Christian is only the beginning! Going on to maturity and becoming an effective disciple is all the rest!

PROCESS OF DISCIPLESHIP SALVATION John 1:41 “He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah!" (which is, being interpreted, Christ).” SEPARATION Mark 8:34 “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” SELECTION Luke 6:13 “When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles:” SUPERVISION Mark 3:14 “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,”

THE 4 “CALLS” OF JESUS

DISCIPLESHIP IS A MIRACLE! “The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment, but the making of a saint is the task of a lifetime.” - Alan Redpath

THE CHURCH MISSION IN THE WORLD

WHAT DISCIPLESHIP IS NOT a)Discipleship is when people attend church programs for a short term. b)Discipleship is not only for new Christians. c)Discipleship is a not special program for beginners. d)Discipleship is not only for certain parts of our lives.

Discipleship training is the urgent need of our churches. Jesus’ call is not just to win converts, but to ‘make disciples’. Only making disciples fulfills the Great Commission! “Discipleship sums up Christ’s plan for the world. Yet for all its brilliant simplicity, it is the one approach that most western churches have neglected.” - David Watson

WHAT IS DISCIPLING? “Discipling (and mentoring) is the process by which a more mature follower of Christ sees potential in a less experienced believer and establishes a close relationship with this person so as to model and share the knowledge, wisdom, commitments, understanding, insights, values, experience, resources and skills necessary to help that person know and obey Jesus Christ as Lord.” (Taken from ‘Go & Make Disciples’ by Ian Malins)

THE JOURNEY OF DISCIPLESHIP 1.Starts with a manual for ‘seekers’ showing the steps to Christ; 2.Establishing new Christians in the foundations of Christ; 3.Helping them to grow into strong disciples like Christ; 4.Training them to become disciple-makers for Christ.

WHAT DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES? “Disciple-making is the heart of the Church because it is the heart of the Great Commission.” “Discipling is the transfer of life, not just the passing on of information”

OUR GOAL IN DISCIPLESHIP

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS FOR DISCIPLES CHILDREN’S NEEDS DOUBTSAFFIRMATION YOUNG MEN’S NEEDS TEMPTATIONS FATHER’S NEEDS CRISES OF LIFE DIRECTION

THE PYRAMID OF DISCIPLESHIP STRENGTHEN OTHERS SPIRITUAL FRUITS SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN CHRIST SANCTIFICATION THRU THE SPIRIT SALVATION IN CHRIST SOLID FOUNDATION IN CHRIST

VERSE TO MEMORISE 2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 4 GENERATIONS OF DISCIPLES! FAITHFULNESS COUNTS FOR ETERNITY!

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 1. Let each member takes 3-5 minutes to share his / her personal testimony on this order: a. What my life without Christ was like; b. How I became a Christian; c. What life is like now since I believed in Christ. 2. Read Matthew 28:19; Eph. 4:11-12 which indicates that every member of the body of Christ has a part to play in evangelism. Share honestly how each feels about being called to have part in this ministry. 3. Discuss freely what are some of the difficulties you have experienced during witnessing and how to overcome them. 4. What are some of the different aspects of Christian growth in these verses (1 John 5:13; Eph. 4:13,14; Matt. 4:19; 28:19). 5. Group Prayer - let each one prays for the person by name and mentions his / her needs in the group.