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THE PHILOSOPHY OF BUILDING BELIEVERS IN THEIR FAITH
1. Introduction
1.1.
The need for Building or Discipling Believers in their faith
Young people need to be discipled and built up in their faith. In this study, we will
look at how we can best disciple young people so that in the end they are living out
the character and priorities of Christ.
How many young people do you know who have made a decision to follow Christ
and then a few months or years down the line have slowly fallen away?
So many people too, sit in the church for years and never develop and grow as
Christians – they are like infants – never growing towards maturity.
Perhaps there is a need to redefine discipleship so that we see the new believer
growing up in their faith and that we see long term nurture happening so that young
people will go forward in their faith and eventually make a difference in the lives of
others.
1.2.
The Definition of Christ-like discipleship
Definition: Christ-like discipleship is…the holistic care of people, that helps each
individual more consistently live the character and priorities of Christ.
Much of what is being called “discipleship” in our churches today seems to be a far
cry from the example that was set before us in the life of Jesus. In most
churches/youth groups, discipleship is seen as a curriculum to be discussed, a Bible
passage to be studied, a Sunday school class, a small group meeting, or programmes
offered by the church.
Many church leaders believe that certain programs or structures, such as the use of
small groups, automatically translate into discipleship for those in a group. Though
small groups are an important aspect of healthy discipleship, a programme or
structure alone does not guarantee that group members are being discipled.
Though the things mentioned above have some possible discipleship value, they fall
far short of what is necessary to help bring about long-term life transformation in the
life of a believer.
There is a desperate need in our churches and youth ministries today to redefine what
true discipleship is; so that we can help more people live the character and priorities
of Christ more consistently.
Young people need to be discipled in their faith!
So, let’s look at some broad principles that we should focus on, if we are to try to
disciple like Jesus ……
1.3.
Broad Principles for effective Christ–like Discipleship
1.3.1. Frequent and long-term Discipleship:
It took Jesus 3 years of investment in the disciples, before they were ready to minister
and lead on their own. During those 3 years, they spent an incredible number of hours
together. Is it possible to truly disciple someone with the 2-4 hours a week that are
spent together in most discipling relationships today?
Discipleship is not fast, and it’s not easy. It takes a lot of time, commitment, and
sacrifice. A discipler must be with his or her disciples frequently and must care for
them over the long-term.
1.3.2. Experiential:
Most of the time Jesus spent with His disciples was in an experiential learning
environment. They were living together, travelling together, eating meals together,
ministering to the needs of people together, etc. Very little of their time spent together
seems to be in what we would consider a formal learning environment.
People learn much more when they do something than when they just hear something.
For this reason, we need to help people experience the priorities of a Christ-like
lifestyle. We need to live closely with them outside of the church, engaging in life,
relationships, and ministry together.
1.3.3. Other-centered or Missional – a high value is placed on service and evangelism
outside of the church and church body:
Jesus was consistently exposing the disciples to different kinds of people, in different
kinds of places, with different kinds of needs, many of whom were physically,
relationally, emotionally, or spiritually needy. He often placed the disciples in
situations where they could learn to love and serve “the least of these” by watching
Him or by serving alongside Him.
Character qualities like love, compassion, servanthood, sacrifice, and generosity are
more likely to be integrated into a person’s life, as they enter into the lives of others
and frequently demonstrate the above qualities in the context of those relationships.
This is more likely to happen outside the church, in the lives of people who are
desperately needy. It’s very important for these things to be practised frequently, so
that they become part of a person’s lifestyle, rather than a project that they participate
in a few times a year.
1.3.4. Holistic:
It’s obvious from the teaching and experiences Jesus had with the disciples that He
was committed to developing them holistically, concerned with helping them bring
their whole lives under the will of the Father and offering their whole lives as worship
to the Father.
Discipleship needs to involve caring for the whole life of a person. Every area of a
person’s life is considered, not just the spiritual (Bible study, prayer, etc.) A person’s
time, money, relationships, body, etc. must also be shaped from a Biblical
perspective.
1.3.5. Group:
Though the disciples learned an extraordinary amount from watching and listening to
Jesus, it can be assumed that they also learned a great deal from their interaction with
each other, as they travelled, lived, and ministered together in close community.
The role of a small group leader is important as a primary discipler, but just as much
learning, modelling, and sharpening takes place between group members, as they
serve together and experience life together. The examples of a healthy family or
strong sports team apply here.
1.3.6. Individual:
Though we see Jesus spending a great deal of time with the disciples as a group, we
also see Him speaking specifically into the lives of individual disciples, at different
times and in different ways.
In addition to the need for the group dynamic, discipleship must have a personal
nature as well because each person in a group has different needs, problems, and
spiritual gifts. Each person must be viewed individually; in the same way parents
must view each of their children individually.
1.3.7. Modelled:
Though, at times, Jesus taught the disciples in a classic sense, it was His
consistent example of love, servanthood, sacrifice, generosity, encouragement,
worship, etc. that probably had the greatest impact on the lives of the disciples.
Disciples need to see most of what is expected of them lived out in the day-to-day
example of their discipler (discussed later). If a person can not see a model of what
they should be doing, it will be difficult for them to do it well or to do it consistently
themselves.
1.3.8. Truth-connected (with experience):
How often did Jesus teach after an experience or from an illustration, rather than in a
formal setting?
The truth of Scripture plays a vital role in the discipleship process, but truth
disconnected from experience is not likely to be remembered or to result in
application. Truth needs to be most often taught after or during an experience. A
tangible experience used to connect the application of an idea with the principle being
taught should be part of almost all teaching/learning activities.
1.3.9. Multiplication Expectation:
It was Jesus’ strategy from the beginning that His disciples would be the foundation
for the church and the foundation for the multiplication of followers of Christ around
the world.
The end goal of multiplication, with “disciplee” becoming a discipler, should be
stated and expected from the beginning.
1.4.
Common Barriers to Effective Discipleship
Think about what you have just read and then fill in the blanks below ……
[fill in the blanks in pencil and then check your answers with mine below]
Not enough T____ spent together
The time spent together is rarely E________________
Little of the time spent together is other-centered or compassion/sacrifice motivated,
as most “ S___________” is done inside the church for other believers
Sacrificial service isn’t frequent enough to become part of a person’s L____________
The discipling care isn’t H__________
The discipling care isn’t individual, but is only done in a G__________ and as a
group
The group dynamic is too leader focused, so there’s little “sharpening” between group
members and little expectation of them to be fellow D______________
Truth is often disconnected from E_____________
The expectation of every person becoming a D____________ is weak or missing
The priorities of Service and E______________ are often weak or missing
[Time; Experiential; Service; Lifestyle; Holistic; Group; Disciplers; Experience;
Discipler; Evangelism]
1.5.
Discipleship Priorities of Jesus
NB: It is very important that you understand the discipleship priorities of Jesus as
the whole study is based upon this!
The above principles have related more to the “how’s and why’s” of discipleship, as
we see each principle coming from a consistent pattern in the life of Christ.
In addition to this, it’s important to understand the “what’s” of discipleship, or what
are the priorities of Christ that need to be “discipled into” every believer.
There are many details related to the character and priorities of Christ that need to be
discipled into a believer, but as we study the gospels and the book of Acts, the
priorities that we see over and over again seem to be:
Community
Learning
Worship
Service
Evangelism
Experiencing deep and accountable relationships with a group of
believers
An understanding and application of Scripture
Living a life of constant worship of God
Ministering to the tangible needs of those outside and inside the church
Proclaiming the incredible truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ
Looking at the book of Matthew, we see Jesus doing the above consistently with His
disciples: (fill in the blanks where necessary)
1.5.1. COMMUNITY
– in Peter’s home together
– crossing the lake in the boat together
– eating together at Matthew’s house with tax collectors and
sinners
12:1,2 – walking through the fields together, eating heads of grain
12:9
– going to church together
13:10
– debriefing together after a ministry event
13:36-52
– discussing parables together in someone’s home
14:32
– time in the boat together
15:32
– Jesus shares His
heart with them on the mountain
17:1
– took the “3” up to a high mountain alone
20:29
– on a “road trip” together to Jerusalem
24 and 25
– talking privately on the Mount of Olives
26:6
– in Bethany, at Simon’s house, reclining at the table after a
meal
26:17-30
– experiencing the Lord’s Supper together
Matt. 8:14
8:23
9:10
1.5.2. LEARNING
– Sermon on the Mount on many subjects
– taught about the harvest field
– taught them about how to fulfill their mission
– gave them a private interpretation of the parables
– taught them about the depravity of the heart
– taught them through asking questions
– taught them about prophecy and His coming death
- took 3 disciples up the mountain for a special teaching
experience
18:1-35
taught them about who the greatest is in the kingdom of
heaven, the lost sheep, handling conflict and forgiveness
19:1 – 20:16 – taught them about divorce, little children, the rich young man,
the vineyard workers and His coming death
23
– taught about the seven woes
24 and 25
– taught about end times, the parable of the talents, and the
sheep and goats
Matt. 5:1-7:29
9:37
10:1-42
13:36-52
15:15-20
16:13-20
16:21
17:1-13
1.5.3. WORSHIP
Matt. 11:25-30
– prays to His Father
14:13
– taught by example to pray in solitude
14:23
– same as above
26:36-46
– prayed in the garden of Gethsemane
(Jesus taught them about prayer in 6:5-18, 7:7-12, 10:32, 18:15-20, 21:22, 26:41)
1.5.4. SERVICE
– healed ________ mother-in-law and then the crowds outside
– healed the ______________ after getting out of the boat with
His disciples
9:18-25
– raised the dead girl and healed the hemorrhaging woman
9:35-37
– with compassion, He healed sickness and disease in many
towns and villages
12:13
– healed the man with the shriveled hand on the Sabbath
14:14
– with compassion, He healed the sick in the crowds
14:15-21
– fed the five thousand and involved the disciples
15:30, 31
– healed the lame, blind, crippled, mute and many others
15:32-38
– fed the ________________, with the disciple’s help again
17:14-18
– healed the boy possessed by the demon
19:2
- healed the large crowds
20:29-34
– gave ___________ to the blind men
(Jesus taught them about service in – 5:40-48, 6:1-4, 10:8, 20:25-28)
Matt. 8:14-17
9:1,2
1.5.5. EVANGELISM
Matt. 4:23
– preaching the good news of the kingdom
5:1-7:29
– Sermon on the Mount
8:10
– spoke about great ____________
9:10
– cultivating ___________________ with sinners
9:35
– preaching the good ___________of the kingdom
(Jesus taught them about evangelism in 9:37, 10:5-42, 13:1-23, 15:29-31, and gave
them the ultimate evangelistic challenge in chapter 28.)
Answers:
[Peter’s; Lake; Matthew’s; Parables; Mountain; Simon’s; Mount;
Mission; Questions; Example; Gethsemane; Paralytic; Four Thousand; Sight; Faith;
Relationships; News]