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A Charge to Discipleship - Week 4 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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So this will be our last Sunday taking a break from our normal pattern of verse-by-verse exposition through the Gospel of Mark.
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We've come in Mark to Jesus' arrest and we're going to pick back up next week with his trial and his crucifixion and his resurrection that follows that.
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I'm thankful by no great effort of my own in the scheduling of this that we'll actually be able to, Lord willing, things don't change on us, to preach on the resurrection on Easter Sunday.
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Not as a break from the text, but as part of the natural flow and telling of it by Mark.
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But we've found this need to take a little break, a little stop, a little step away from Mark's Gospel.
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Really not as a complete diversion from it, but really as kind of an outworking of some of the things that I believe are happening in our church as a result of our study of Mark.
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Two verses in particular that have really been resonating with me.
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This axiomatic statement that Jesus makes in Mark 8, 34 and 35, where he says,
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If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
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For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospels will save it.
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So we see that Jesus is saying that you must give up those things that are of value in the world.
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You must give up your self-determination.
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You must give up your plans and take up mine.
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And that's what it's going to mean to follow Jesus, that we're going to deny ourselves.
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We're going to die to ourselves and we're going to follow him.
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And I think that unfortunately in the American church, there's so many mouths that claim to know Christ.
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And there's so few people that actually follow him, that are truly his disciples.
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Now hear me, we don't do activity so that we will become his disciples,
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but the activity itself becomes the result of who we are in him.
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That God, through the work of Christ, has changed our hearts.
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He's made us new.
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And new people live different than old people.
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New creations working out the great mission of the Gospel in this world.
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So we started three weeks ago, kind of just gave a general charge to discipleship.
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We talked about some of the challenges in our very culture.
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The three-county area that we live in, 232,000 people.
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It's estimated, I think, quite generously that 80% of them are unchurched.
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And so we're looking at a massive number, 186,500 people who, in a generous estimation,
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don't know Christ, are eternally separated from God, will be damned forever, rightly, justly punished for their sin.
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And they won't respond in faith in large part because Christians aren't telling them the good news of Jesus Christ.
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If we're to follow Jesus, we're going to care about what he cares about.
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We're going to have to be disciples who are about the work of making disciples.
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Two weeks ago, we talked about how the ongoing way this activity is to be encouraged,
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which is by the life of a local congregation, by the life of the church.
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And in our setting, we talked more specifically about how that will happen in our community outreach groups.
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Last week, we addressed some particular, some biblical pattern for evangelism,
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for the sharing of the gospel, for the making of converts.
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And this week, we're going to talk about discipleship, the ongoing work of maturing converts.
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So once a convert is made, and if you guys are hearing, and if God is working in your lives,
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and you're seeing the point, if I'm to be a disciple of Jesus Christ,
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I'm going to be about the work of making disciples.
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This begins with the act of conversion, the Spirit working by our words to change people's hearts.
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What do we do after that?
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Is there a responsibility beyond?
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And yes, there is.
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And we tend to call this responsibility discipleship.
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But let's build a bit together toward this idea.
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So if you will, let me turn to Matthew chapter 28, starting in verse 18.
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The mission that God has given His church to, we very often, most often call it the Great Commission.
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You probably have a subtitle in your copy of God's Word that says the Great Commission.
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It's repeated in the synoptics.
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It's restated in a little bit of a different way in the first chapter of Acts.
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One of my favorite statements of it is recorded here by Matthew.
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And Jesus came and said to them,
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All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
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Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
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baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
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teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
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And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
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And we see in these verses, these three verses, a commandment first of all.
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And that commandment is in verse 19 in the first part of 20.
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Go and make disciples.
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Conversion is certainly part of that process, but not merely converts.
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Don't just preach the gospel.
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Have people respond in faith and leave them.
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We've talked about scattering seed.
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The way in which we're meant to sow in the parable of the sowers.
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And the way that we find the good soil is by sowing seed.
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This is the way you see the evidence of this.
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But there's a follow-up that must take place.
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The field must still be tended when we find good soil.
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And part of the way we weed out some things is that we recognize,
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as we're working in people's lives, once they have been made converts to Christ,
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the fruit and the things that are happening to them in that regard.
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We're meant to baptize them in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
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And we're meant to teach them to observe all that Jesus Christ has commanded us.
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So this is what he leaves us with.
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Here are the things that I have given to you.
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Now go and make disciples.
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So we should ask the question, what is a disciple?
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If we are disciples and we're meant to make disciples, what is a disciple?
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And just simply, probably even in too simple of a term,
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I'm going to say that a disciple is a follower and propagator of Jesus,
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his teaching and his ways.
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A follower and propagator of Jesus, his teaching and his ways.
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So a disciple makes disciples, necessarily.
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This is part of what a disciple does.
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They make others disciples.
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book, The Cost of Discipleship,
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which I would strongly encourage anyone here to read.
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He defines what discipleship is and what it is not.
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He writes this,
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Discipleship means adherence to Christ.
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And because Christ is the object of that adherence,
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it must take the form of discipleship.
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We must follow because it's Christ.
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He's a man.
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We must follow.
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An abstract Christology or understanding of who Christ is,
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a doctrinal system, a general religious knowledge on the subject of grace
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or on the forgiveness of sins,
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render discipleship superfluous.
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And in fact, they positively exclude any idea of discipleship whatever
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and are essentially inimical or contrary to the whole conception of following Christ.
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With an abstract idea, it is possible to enter into a relation of formal knowledge,
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to become enthusiastic about it,
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and perhaps even to put it into practice.
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But it can never be followed in personal obedience.
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Christianity without the living Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship.
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And Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.
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Let me rephrase that in my own terms.
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I hope you appreciate Bonhoeffer's writing.
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We, and I think particularly us, tend to be very heady Christians.
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We know a lot.
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This congregation could stand toe-to-toe with many people and defend the faith.
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And this is good.
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It's good for us to have a depth in that regard.
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It's good for us to know a lot.
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Theology is precious.
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God has revealed Himself to us in the Scriptures,
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and we ought not neglect anything that He has taught us to be true.
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But in many ways, we're very, very immature as Christians
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because we know so much and we practice so little.
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And this is what He's saying.
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Some abstract idea, some formation of a philosophy of who Jesus Christ is,
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is of no value if it's not practiced in our lives.
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We must be obedient to the things that we know.
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And a disciple necessarily works out and is obedient to the call of Christ.
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The great mark of Christian maturity is obedience.
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Why are we to make disciples?
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Again, from this text.
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Verse 18.
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Jesus says,
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All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
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And then He says what in verse 19?
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Go, therefore.
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Because this is the case, go and make disciples.
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Jesus Christ has been set on His throne to reign over His kingdom.
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This has been accomplished.
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He Himself says it there.
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All authority in heaven and on earth.
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It has been given.
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In Mark 1, 14 and 15, Mark records that now after John was arrested,
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Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God, the good news of God,
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and saying,
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The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand.
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Repent and believe in the gospel.
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This was the message that He brought as well.
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The kingdom is here.
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My reign has begun.
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And the way in which God, through Christ, reigns in the world is by bearing Himself,
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bringing people into new life, restored relationship with Him in their hearts, here and now.
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And this is why we're meant to make disciples.
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This is why the major activity of the Christian church is to advance the kingdom of God by the grace of God in this world.
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We're bringing to bear the things that Christ Himself is reigning over.
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And in the last half of verse 20, we're given a promise.
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A precious promise.
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A promise that without this task would be entirely overwhelming.
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I would shut down if it were not for the promise in the last half of verse 20.
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Which is,
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And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
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Behold, the one to whom all authority over heaven and earth has been given is with you
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as you go about this work of making disciples.
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So we are granted power by Jesus Christ,
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who possesses all the power to bring others to follow Him.
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To the end that He will be exalted in all things to all peoples.
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Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
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I'm always afraid I'm going to point at that and it's not up there.
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So this wonderful promise that He will be with us in this.
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Praise God for the sending of His Spirit.
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That when Jesus left, the nature by which the Spirit operated in the world changed.
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Prior to Jesus coming onto the earth,
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the Spirit came and visited people in particular times and in particular ways.
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This has changed entirely.
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It's a promise that He gave to us.
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And let me encourage you to turn to John 14.
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And just follow quickly with me through three chapters.
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A couple verses from each one.
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And let me tell you what I mean.
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It is better that Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father.
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It's better.
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And in my mind, sometimes that's hard to understand
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because it seems to me that the days,
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the most precious days in history are the days in which He walked on the earth.
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And the disciples just got to follow Him around and watch Him work and do and go.
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He was the disciple maker.
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They were tasked a couple of times to go out and preach the gospel.
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But primarily, they were a witness to what He was doing.
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But He said it's far better that He's gone.
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We have the helper now.
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John 14, verses 16 and 17.
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He says,
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So this is right before Jesus' crucifixion.
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The Spirit dwells with you and will be in you.
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It's promised that the Spirit of God will actually come and reside
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in those of us who place our faith in Jesus Christ.
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Turn to the next chapter, John 15.
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4 and 5.
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This is going to have great implication
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for those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ,
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who are in fact new creations,
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converted,
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who have the Spirit of God within us.
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Jesus says,
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Verse 4,
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Abide in Me,
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and I in you.
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This is the walking by the Spirit
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that Paul talks about in Romans.
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As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself
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unless it abides in the vine,
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neither can you unless you abide in Me.
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I am the vine.
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You are the branches.
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Whoever abides in Me and I in him,
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he it is that bears much fruit.
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For apart from Me,
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you can do nothing.
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This is on the heels of Him telling them
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He's going to send to them a helper.
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The very power of God to live within them.
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That they might abide
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so that they will bear fruit.
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John 16.
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7.
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There's some sorrow on behalf of the disciples.
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What you're leaving,
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He's promising,
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and there's great things that are going to happen
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when He does depart.
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They're leaving.
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And He says,
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I tell you the truth,
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16.
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7.
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It is to your advantage that I go away.
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For if I do not go away,
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the Helper will not come to you.
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But if I go,
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I will send Him to you.
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So as we talk about this process
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of making disciples
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and what that looks like,
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we must,
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we absolutely must,
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stop and recognize
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that it is by the power of God
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that people are converted
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and that people are ultimately made perfect.
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That they are sanctified.
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They are moved along in holiness.
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This is a work of God.
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However,
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God does use graces.
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One of those is the church.
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One of those is the people sitting to your right
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and to your left
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and before you and behind you.
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That we are saved to a community of believers
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by which we disciple one another.
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But it's ultimately and finally the work of God
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through those people on our behalf.
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I found this,
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some of the crosses quote
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by Charles Spurgeon.
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He said,
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If I had any human master,
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he would have been out of patience with me long ago.
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I would agree with him on that.
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But the Lord Jesus Christ
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never gives up a scholar.
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Having once commenced to teach,
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he continues his divine lessons
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till they are fully learned.
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And the more difficult it is for him to teach,
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the more honor it will be
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when he gets all his scholars educated
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for the skies.
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So, praise God that it's ultimately Jesus' work.
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Because he doesn't give up on us
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even though in our human relationships
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we often grow tired of the work ahead
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for the work of sanctification.
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So, what is then discipleship?
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What is this grace given to us
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by which we work in this way?
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And here's my definition.
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Discipleship is the God-given,
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God-empowered process
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by which the church brings about obedience
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to the commands of God.
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Discipleship is the God-given,
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God-empowered process
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by which the church brings about obedience
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to the commands of God.
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Now, sometimes as the church,
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when we think about discipleship
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or when we practice discipleship,
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our definition is too narrow.
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We think of it as one particular thing,
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but in a broad sense,
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it's so many things.
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It's everything that one Christian does
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in service to another Christian,
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at least rightly does,
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in service to another Christian.
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In a broad sense,
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discipleship is most everything
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we're doing together.
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Me preaching to you this morning
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is a form of discipleship,
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opening the Word of God before you
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and telling you what it means
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and the implications for your life.
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Discipleship is Wes and Liz
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picking out God-honoring,
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Gospel-saturated songs
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and leading us in the singing of them.
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If you even kind of tune your brain in
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to the words that you're singing,
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you will be taught by those songs.
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It's the prayers that you're led in
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when we meet together in this way.
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Prayers based in the promises of God.
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It's the activity of our community outreach groups,
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the way in which they fellowship
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with one another around the Scriptures
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and encourage each other to love in good works.
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It's the encouraging words
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that you speak to one another in the hallways.
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It's the late-night phone conversations
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when you're having a struggle
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and you need a good Christian friend.
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It's the modeling of a healthy home
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around a meal.
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Young people,
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those of you who are not in college,
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the few of you in the room,
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many of these young people
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don't know what healthy homes look like.
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The more and more we get to know
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our congregation
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and the people who are coming in
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and out of our congregation,
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healthy home is more of a rarity
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than I'd like to admit.
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It's a sad thing.
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They need to see healthy home
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just coming over
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and having a meal with you
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and just seeing the way in which
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you love on your wife
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and on your children.
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Discipleship in the broad sense
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is the life of the church.
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It's all the things we do together,
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both within our set programs
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and without.
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And as such,
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no one is exempt
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from this activity
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for any reason whatsoever.
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That's what we have been saying
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about the body a couple of weeks ago.
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Talking about the activity
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of the church.
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We're all part of the body.
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Necessary parts of the body.
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You all have a part to play
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in service to one another.
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That we will be pressing at each other
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gospel truth
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to follow Christ
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in all that we do.
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These things are of immense importance.
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Now, a way of kind of framing this idea
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which has been helpful to me
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in thinking about the life of our church,
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both the things that we ought
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to be doing together,
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the programs we should have in place,
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and the things that we ought not,
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the things that shouldn't be programmed,
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the things that shouldn't be organic,
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that should be happening
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as a result of the work of the Spirit
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in your lives.
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There's a book called
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The Trellis and the Vine,
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which is written by,
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co-written two guys,
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Colin Marshall and Tony Payne.
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And there's a wonderful analogy
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which the title of the book
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is based off of,
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and I'm going to read it to you
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and give a little bit
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of explanation to it.
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I hope this will help
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get your head going
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in the right direction as well.
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What does, in a general sense,
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discipleship look like?
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How should it be played out
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in our day-to-day living
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with one another?
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I think it's Tony Payne.
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I think it's Tony Payne
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that's writing in chapter one.
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We have two trellises
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in our backyard.
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Do you guys all know
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what a trellis is?
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It's a thing that's on the side
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of your house
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that supports a vine?
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We have two trellises
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in our backyard.
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The one attached
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to the back wall of the garage
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is a very fine piece
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of latticework.
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I wish I could claim it
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as my own creation,
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but I cannot.
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It is sturdy and dependable
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and neatly designed,
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and the Federation green paintwork
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has been kept fresh.
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It lacks only one thing,
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a vine.
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Tony Payne is Australian,
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so Federation green
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is a color
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that they would understand there.
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Kelly green
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would be our version of it.
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Imagine there once was a vine,
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unless, oh, I'm sorry,
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I imagine there once was a vine,
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unless the construction
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of the trellis
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was one of those handyman tasks
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that took so long
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that in the end,
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no one got around
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to planting something
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to grow on it.
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Someone certainly put a lot
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of time and care
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into building it.
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It's almost a work of art,
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but if there was ever
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a vine that laced itself
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around this beautiful trellis,
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there is now no trace of it.
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The other trellis
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leans up against the side fence
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and is barely visible
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beneath a flourishing
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jasmine vine.
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With some fertilizer
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and an occasional watering,
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the jasmine keeps thrusting
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out new shoots,
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winding its way across,
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up,
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and over the fence,
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putting out its delicate
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white flowers
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as the warmth of spring approaches.
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Some pruning is needed
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every now and then,
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and some weeding
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around the base.
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I've also had to spray it
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once or twice
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to stop caterpillars
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from feasting
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on the juicy green leaves,
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but the jasmine
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just keeps growing.
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It's hard to tell
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what condition the trellis
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is under the jasmine,
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but at the few points
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where it is still visible,
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I can see that it hasn't
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been painted
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in a long time.
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At one end,
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it has been pried
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off the fence
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by the insistent fingers
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of the jasmine,
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and although I have tried
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to reattach it
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more than once,
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it is useless.
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The jasmine
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has taken over.
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I know I'll have to do
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something about this
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in the long term,
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because eventually
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the weight of the jasmine
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will pull the trellis
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off the fence altogether,
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and the whole thing
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will collapse.
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I've often thought
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of taking a cutting
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from the jasmine
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and seeing if it will grow
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on the beautiful
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but vacant trellis
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on the garage,
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although it almost
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seems a shame
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to cover it up.
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And in the book,
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they go on to talk
22:31
about how the church
22:32
is so often
22:33
very distracted
22:34
with what they call
22:35
trellis work,
22:37
which is important
22:38
and necessary
22:39
to support the vine,
22:40
the programs,
22:41
the administrative things
22:42
that we do,
22:43
but we get so captivated
22:45
by those things
22:46
that we lose track
22:47
of the vine work,
22:49
the people work,
22:51
the heart work.
22:53
And the way
22:53
that we do this
22:54
is we simply apply
22:54
the gospel to one another
22:56
in so many situations,
22:57
in all the various ways
22:59
that we ought to be doing
23:00
that's given to us
23:01
in the scriptures,
23:02
rather than creating
23:03
program after program
23:04
after program
23:05
after program
23:06
after program.
23:07
There's a little need.
23:08
We must have a ministry
23:09
to meet that need.
23:11
Our lives are ministry.
23:13
There's a ministry,
23:15
right?
23:15
And that is discipleship.
23:18
So begin to see things.
23:19
Start to think about things
23:20
in terms of trellis and vine,
23:22
and I hope in your life
23:23
there's much more weight
23:24
given to the vine work
23:26
that is so,
23:27
so very necessary.
23:29
Now certainly
23:29
in a more specific sense,
23:31
discipleship can mean something,
23:32
and this is where we tend
23:33
to have this narrow idea of it,
23:35
but it is valuable
23:36
as a narrow idea,
23:38
and that takes place
23:39
in more planned,
23:41
more organized,
23:42
one-to-one discipleship,
23:44
or one-to-two,
23:45
or three,
23:46
or four,
23:46
or five.
23:48
Many of you
23:49
who have been involved
23:49
in campus ministries here
23:51
are very familiar
23:51
with this type of discipleship,
23:53
and this is a type
23:54
of discipleship
23:55
that takes place
23:56
in our church as well.
23:57
There are many,
23:58
many people
23:59
in our church
24:00
that are involved
24:01
in some form
24:02
of discipleship group
24:03
that meet in various ways.
24:05
I've got a couple of guys,
24:06
we meet together,
24:07
and we just finished
24:08
reading a biography together,
24:09
and now we're going to study
24:10
the book of Acts together.
24:12
I know there are a lot
24:13
of people who are gathering.
24:14
It's so encouraging to me
24:15
that you're coming up here
24:16
on Sunday afternoons
24:16
and using the building.
24:17
The other Sunday,
24:18
I couldn't find a space to go
24:20
because there are little groups
24:21
meeting all over the place.
24:22
They hadn't even talked to me
24:23
about being here,
24:23
but I didn't care.
24:24
Like, come on,
24:25
use the building.
24:26
Meet around the scriptures
24:27
and encourage one another
24:29
to love and good works.
24:31
These activities
24:31
are taking place.
24:33
And what I'd like to say to you
24:35
is that it should be happening
24:35
in a higher degree.
24:36
There should be more
24:37
of this going on.
24:39
Spurring one another on.
24:40
Encouraging one another.
24:41
Loving each other
24:41
with the gospel.
24:43
So turn with me a little
24:44
to Titus chapter 2.
24:47
If you can believe it,
24:48
this is our main text for today.
24:53
Although,
24:54
I'm just going to glean
24:54
some things out of it.
24:55
We're not going to look
24:56
at every bit of it.
24:57
There's much to be said
24:58
about this chapter
25:00
that I just won't have time
25:01
for today.
25:02
But there are a few things,
25:04
some characteristics
25:05
of discipleship,
25:07
five in fact,
25:07
that I want to pull out
25:08
of this text
25:09
to show you
25:10
how is it that we're meant
25:11
to be going about this work.
25:17
It's a short chapter.
25:18
We're going to read
25:18
all of Titus chapter 2 together.
25:22
This is Paul's letter to Titus.
25:24
But as for you,
25:27
teach what accords
25:27
with sound doctrine.
25:29
I just want to remind you
25:30
that Titus is a man.
25:31
So he's going to give
25:32
some instruction to men.
25:33
Titus is a man
25:34
in this environment.
25:36
But as for you,
25:36
teach what accords
25:37
with sound doctrine.
25:39
Older men are to be
25:40
sober-minded,
25:41
dignified,
25:42
self-controlled,
25:42
sound in faith,
25:43
in love,
25:44
and in steadfastness.
25:46
Older women, likewise,
25:48
are to be reverent in behavior,
25:49
not slanders
25:50
or slaves to much wine.
25:52
They are to teach
25:52
what is good.
25:53
And so train the younger women
25:55
to love their husbands
25:55
and children,
25:56
to be self-controlled,
25:57
pure,
25:58
working at home,
25:59
kind,
25:59
and submissive
26:00
to their own husbands,
26:01
that the word of God
26:02
may not be reviled.
26:04
Likewise,
26:05
urge the younger men
26:06
to be self-controlled.
26:08
Show yourself in all respects
26:09
to be a model of good works,
26:11
and in your teaching
26:11
show integrity,
26:13
dignity,
26:13
and sound speech
26:14
that cannot be condemned,
26:15
so that an opponent
26:17
may be put to shame,
26:18
having nothing evil
26:19
to say about us.
26:20
Slaves are to be submissive
26:21
to their own masters
26:22
and everything.
26:23
They are to be well-pleasing,
26:24
not argumentative,
26:25
not pilfering,
26:26
but showing all good faith,
26:28
so that in everything
26:29
they may adorn the doctrine
26:30
of God our Savior.
26:32
For the grace of God
26:33
has appeared,
26:33
bringing salvation
26:34
for all people,
26:35
training us to renounce
26:36
ungodliness
26:37
and worldly passions,
26:38
and to live self-controlled,
26:40
upright,
26:40
and godly lives
26:41
in the present age,
26:42
waiting for our blessed hope,
26:44
the appearing of the glory
26:45
of our great God and Savior,
26:46
Jesus Christ,
26:47
who gave himself for us
26:49
to redeem us
26:49
from all lawlessness,
26:50
and to purify for himself
26:52
a people for his own possession
26:54
who are zealous
26:55
for good works.
26:57
Declare these things,
26:59
exhort and rebuke
27:00
with all authority.
27:02
Let no one disregard you.
27:05
So in this,
27:05
we see this charge
27:07
to life together.
27:09
In fact,
27:10
many people will refer
27:11
to this chapter
27:12
as Titus 2 ministry,
27:14
the way in which
27:15
the generation before
27:16
is meant to invest
27:17
in the generation
27:18
that's coming along.
27:21
Firstly,
27:22
discipleship is personal.
27:26
Discipleship is personal.
27:28
It necessitates relationship.
27:31
Relationship in which
27:32
there is transparency
27:34
and honesty.
27:36
So many people
27:37
are parts of churches
27:39
and the people in that church
27:40
really don't know them.
27:43
No one in that church
27:44
really knows them.
27:46
In fact,
27:46
I think this is one
27:47
of the great reasons
27:48
that the mega church
27:49
is on the rise
27:50
because people don't like
27:51
to be made uncomfortable.
27:53
People want to melt
27:55
into the back
27:56
and melt back out.
27:58
No one knows
27:59
if they're there
28:00
or not.
28:02
Sam and I went to
28:02
a new hamburger place,
28:05
a place called Burger 21
28:06
down by the Mall of Georgia.
28:07
My brother-in-law's brother
28:08
owns it,
28:09
so if you're in the area,
28:11
go support him.
28:11
He's a good guy.
28:12
We're sitting there
28:14
and we ended up
28:15
with a table
28:15
really close to the soda fountain
28:18
and people are going
28:18
and coming and going
28:19
and we ran into
28:20
a lot of people
28:21
that we knew
28:22
that we hadn't seen
28:22
in a long time
28:23
like my middle school
28:24
health teacher.
28:26
An interesting night
28:27
and Sam ran into
28:29
a lot of people
28:29
that she had grown up
28:30
in church with
28:31
and in their conversation,
28:34
many of them
28:35
told her
28:35
where they were now
28:36
fellowshipping,
28:38
where they were attending
28:38
to church
28:39
and it was
28:40
all the same place.
28:42
Every single person,
28:44
every single one of them
28:45
was the same place
28:45
and I didn't
28:47
but as a sociological experiment
28:48
I really wanted
28:48
to get up on the table
28:49
and just get them
28:50
all to raise their hands,
28:51
anybody who fellowshiped,
28:53
attended this place
28:54
and then see how many of them
28:55
actually knew each other
28:57
because as I watched them
28:58
they didn't seem
28:59
to have a clue.
29:00
They didn't have a clue
29:01
that they all
29:01
actually were part
29:02
participating in
29:04
the life
29:04
of a local fellowship.
29:07
It's easier
29:08
that way.
29:09
But discipleship,
29:10
growing,
29:11
practicing,
29:12
employing this grace
29:14
that's given to us
29:15
by God,
29:15
the church
29:16
is going to require
29:18
relationship.
29:19
It's going to be
29:20
personal.
29:21
It's going to hurt
29:23
at times.
29:24
It's going to cause you
29:25
to have to drop
29:26
the facade.
29:28
Take off the
29:29
front stage makeup
29:30
and let people
29:31
into the backstage
29:32
of your life.
29:34
Show them the mess.
29:36
It's important.
29:37
It's the best thing
29:37
that can happen
29:38
in the pursual of Christ.
29:40
Tell people
29:41
how much you need
29:42
His grace.
29:44
Encourage them
29:45
to preach the gospel
29:45
to you.
29:48
Look at verse 7
29:49
of chapter 2
29:50
of Titus.
29:53
See,
29:54
his exhortation
29:54
to Titus
29:55
is to show
29:55
yourself
29:56
in all respects
29:57
to be a model
29:58
of good works.
30:00
To have people
30:01
walk along with you
30:02
to model for them
30:03
what good works
30:05
look like.
30:06
And to show
30:06
in the teaching
30:07
integrity,
30:09
dignity,
30:11
sound speech
30:11
that can't be
30:12
condemned.
30:13
So that an opponent
30:14
can just be put to shame.
30:14
They have nothing evil
30:15
to say about you
30:17
or about us.
30:19
There's other
30:20
personal language
30:20
in the text as well
30:21
like train
30:22
and urge.
30:24
Verse 15,
30:25
exhort
30:26
and rebuke.
30:28
We are meant
30:28
to be in relationship
30:30
with one another
30:31
and discipleship
30:31
must be
30:32
personal.
30:34
Ecclesiastes 4,
30:35
9 and 10
30:36
says,
30:36
Two are better
30:37
than one
30:38
because they have
30:39
a good reward
30:40
for their toil.
30:41
For if they fall,
30:43
one will lift up
30:44
his fellow.
30:46
But woe to him
30:47
who is alone
30:47
when he falls
30:48
and has not another
30:49
to lift him up.
30:51
Personal.
30:52
A person who is there
30:53
who witnesses
30:54
the fall,
30:55
who catches you
30:56
in the process of it
30:57
and lifts you
30:57
back up.
30:59
Galatians 6,
31:00
2 says,
31:01
Bear one another's
31:03
burdens
31:03
and so fulfill
31:05
the law of Christ.
31:07
And I believe
31:07
what Paul is referring
31:08
to there
31:09
is when Jesus says
31:10
that he's giving
31:11
to them a new law
31:12
and that is
31:13
that you love
31:13
one another.
31:16
Of great importance.
31:17
Discipleship is
31:17
personal.
31:18
Secondly,
31:20
discipleship is
31:21
theological.
31:23
Discipleship is
31:24
theological.
31:26
Don't be misled.
31:27
Instead,
31:28
just getting together
31:29
and talking
31:29
about your problems
31:30
does not mean
31:32
you're part
31:33
of a discipleship
31:34
process.
31:35
Getting together
31:35
and venting out
31:36
the issues of your life,
31:38
giving trite
31:39
pop psychology
31:40
answers to those things
31:42
isn't really helpful
31:43
or good for anybody.
31:45
Discipleship
31:45
is centered around
31:46
the Word of God.
31:48
The Word of God
31:49
is centered around
31:50
the Gospel of God.
31:52
This is the treatment
31:53
for all of our ills.
31:54
This is the encouragement
31:55
to love
31:56
and to good works.
31:57
Discipleship must be
31:59
theological.
32:01
Again, look at our text.
32:02
Titus chapter 2
32:03
verse 1
32:04
But as for you,
32:05
teach what accords
32:07
with sound doctrine.
32:10
An exhortation
32:11
to older women.
32:13
Last half of verse 3.
32:14
They are to teach
32:16
what is good.
32:17
Verse 5
32:18
The activity
32:19
that the younger women
32:20
are supposed to be about.
32:21
The older women
32:21
are supposed to be teaching them.
32:22
This activity
32:23
that they're supposed
32:23
to be about.
32:24
Paul says
32:25
that the Word of God
32:26
may not be reviled.
32:28
There's a practice
32:29
that is in line
32:31
with the things
32:31
that God is teaching.
32:33
Verse 15
32:34
Paul says
32:35
Declare these things.
32:36
Exhort and rebuke
32:37
with all authority.
32:38
Let no one
32:38
disregard you.
32:40
And back into verse 10
32:41
the activity
32:42
of the bondservant
32:42
is meant to be
32:44
a display
32:45
so that in everything
32:47
they may adorn
32:48
the doctrine
32:49
of God our Savior.
32:51
This is the activity
32:53
of discipleship.
32:54
It is theological.
32:56
Growing people
32:57
with the truth.
32:59
This is the expression
32:59
given to us
33:00
in Ephesians 4
33:01
of the activity
33:02
of the church
33:02
beginning in verse 11.
33:04
And He being Jesus
33:05
gave the apostles
33:06
the prophets
33:07
the evangelists
33:07
the shepherds
33:08
and teachers.
33:09
I think these are
33:10
things that are still active.
33:12
So apostles
33:13
little A
33:14
not apostles big A
33:15
and prophets
33:16
not vision seers
33:18
but those who are
33:19
calling people back
33:20
to the truth of God.
33:21
Evangelists
33:22
those who are
33:22
particularly gifted
33:23
in the sharing
33:23
of their faith.
33:24
Shepherds and teachers
33:25
which I believe
33:26
is one thing
33:26
but those who are
33:27
called to pastor people
33:29
these gifts given
33:30
to the church.
33:31
Verse 12
33:31
to equip the saints
33:33
for the work of ministry
33:34
for the building
33:35
of the body of Christ.
33:36
So the work
33:36
is then given
33:37
to the church
33:38
this work
33:39
that's multifaceted
33:41
that involves everybody
33:42
the body building itself.
33:44
Right?
33:45
So you're giving
33:45
and equipping
33:46
that you might minister
33:47
to one another.
33:48
Verse 13
33:49
until we all attain
33:50
to the unity
33:51
of the faith
33:52
of the knowledge
33:53
of the Son of God.
33:55
It's very doctrinal
33:56
is it not?
33:57
To mature manhood
33:58
to the measure
33:59
of the stature
34:00
of the fullness
34:01
of Christ
34:01
so that we may
34:03
no longer be children
34:04
tossed to and fro
34:05
by the waves
34:06
and carried about
34:07
by every wind
34:09
of doctrine.
34:10
We'll be able
34:11
to stand firm
34:12
because we have been taught
34:13
because our discipleship
34:15
is theological.
34:16
By human cunning
34:17
by craftiness
34:18
and deceitful schemes
34:19
rather
34:20
speaking the truth
34:21
in love.
34:23
We are to grow up
34:24
in every way
34:24
into him
34:24
who is the head
34:25
into Christ
34:25
from whom the whole body
34:26
joined and held together
34:28
by every joint
34:29
with which it is equipped
34:29
when each part
34:30
is working properly
34:32
makes the body grow
34:33
so that it builds
34:34
itself up
34:35
in love.
34:36
Do you see the expression
34:37
given there
34:38
of the way in which
34:39
we're meant to be
34:39
ministering
34:40
the word of God
34:41
to one another?
34:42
Discipleship is
34:43
theological.
34:44
2 Timothy 3.16
34:46
Familiar?
34:48
Children?
34:49
You ready?
34:50
All scriptures
34:50
breed that by God
34:51
and profitable for teaching
34:52
for reproof
34:53
for correction
34:54
and for training
34:56
in righteousness
34:56
and for their sake
34:57
we didn't go on
34:58
to verse 17
34:59
but I would encourage
34:59
you to know
35:00
that the man of God
35:01
may be complete
35:03
equipped
35:04
for every
35:05
good work.
35:06
So it is the tool
35:07
put in our hands
35:08
by which we
35:09
grow one another
35:10
in faith.
35:11
The Holy Bible
35:11
is our guide
35:12
and our rule
35:13
for holiness
35:14
so it must be
35:16
employed
35:17
in the making
35:18
of disciples.
35:20
So discipleship
35:21
is theological.
35:23
But not just that
35:24
discipleship
35:25
is also
35:26
practical.
35:28
It's also practical
35:29
which means
35:30
it takes
35:31
an investment
35:31
of time.
35:34
It's important
35:34
beloved
35:35
that we
35:35
are saying
35:36
to one another
35:36
not simply
35:37
do as I say
35:38
but also
35:39
do as I
35:41
do.
35:43
Look at the
35:43
instruction
35:43
for the way
35:44
in which
35:44
people are
35:45
meant to
35:45
live
35:46
in Titus
35:47
chapter 2
35:48
verse 2
35:49
older men
35:49
we get this
35:50
list of things
35:51
sober minded
35:51
dignified
35:52
self-controlled
35:52
sound in faith
35:53
and love
35:54
and instead
35:55
facets
35:55
it's meant
35:56
to be a
35:56
display
35:57
it's meant
35:57
to be a
35:58
thing
35:58
that's being
35:58
modeled
35:59
older women
36:00
likewise
36:00
reverent in
36:01
behavior
36:01
not slanders
36:02
or slaves
36:02
to much
36:03
wine
36:03
there to
36:04
teach
36:04
what is
36:04
good
36:05
so train
36:05
the young
36:06
women
36:06
to love
36:06
their husbands
36:07
and children
36:07
to be
36:07
self-controlled
36:08
pure
36:08
working at
36:09
home
36:09
kind
36:10
and submissive
36:10
to their own
36:11
husbands
36:12
likewise
36:14
urge the
36:15
younger men
36:15
to be
36:16
self-controlled
36:17
bond servants
36:18
are given
36:18
some instruction
36:19
here
36:19
servants
36:19
will be
36:19
submissive
36:20
to their
36:20
own masters
36:21
well-pleasing
36:22
not argumentative
36:23
not pilfering
36:24
but showing
36:25
all good
36:26
faith
36:26
so that
36:26
everything
36:27
that may
36:27
adorn
36:27
the doctrine
36:28
of God
36:29
our Savior
36:29
and here's
36:30
a great
36:31
tragedy
36:31
in our
36:32
culture
36:33
we become
36:33
such high-minded
36:34
Christians
36:34
that we
36:36
either think
36:37
only those
36:38
who have
36:38
such great
36:39
depth
36:39
of theological
36:40
education
36:40
have any
36:41
business
36:41
teaching
36:42
anybody
36:42
anything
36:43
we have
36:45
a tragedy
36:45
in that
36:46
or
36:47
that we
36:47
think
36:47
because
36:48
we
36:48
don't
36:48
we have
36:49
nothing
36:50
to offer
36:50
anybody
36:51
else
36:51
and talking
36:52
with some
36:53
of the
36:53
non-college
36:54
adults
36:54
in our
36:55
church
36:55
many of
36:56
you are
36:57
intimidated
36:57
by the
36:58
knowledge
36:59
of the
37:00
students
37:00
that are
37:01
in our
37:01
church
37:02
but they
37:03
need to
37:03
see your
37:04
faithfulness
37:05
to the
37:05
word of
37:06
God
37:06
modeled
37:06
out
37:07
right
37:07
again
37:08
like I
37:08
mentioned
37:08
before
37:09
the way
37:09
in which
37:09
you love
37:10
your wife
37:10
and your
37:11
children
37:11
vice
37:12
versa
37:12
wives
37:12
the way
37:12
you love
37:13
your husbands
37:13
and lead
37:14
your children
37:15
this is an
37:15
important thing
37:16
see the
37:17
faithfulness
37:17
in working
37:18
a job
37:19
holding down
37:20
the nine
37:20
to five
37:21
they need
37:22
to hear
37:22
about how
37:22
you've
37:23
learned
37:23
to glorify
37:23
God
37:24
in the
37:24
mundane
37:25
things
37:25
of life
37:26
college students
37:27
have no
37:28
idea
37:29
how much
37:30
time is
37:30
going to be
37:30
spent in
37:31
a home
37:31
washing
37:32
dishes
37:32
and
37:33
clothes
37:34
and cleaning
37:35
floors
37:35
just
37:36
clueless
37:37
for the
37:37
most part
37:38
and it's
37:38
shocking to
37:39
them when
37:39
they get
37:39
to this
37:40
point
37:40
how do
37:40
I
37:40
worship
37:41
God
37:42
in
37:42
these
37:42
things
37:43
it's
37:44
amazing
37:44
to hear
37:45
the stories
37:45
of young
37:45
people
37:46
who have
37:46
gone off
37:47
to be
37:47
foreign
37:48
missionaries
37:48
they've
37:49
romanticized
37:50
it
37:50
they think
37:50
it's
37:50
going to
37:50
be such
37:50
a fantastic
37:51
it's
37:52
going to
37:52
be so
37:52
radical
37:53
and they
37:54
realize
37:54
when they
37:54
get there
37:55
they have
37:55
to wash
37:56
dishes
37:56
and do
37:57
laundry
37:57
but it
37:57
just takes
37:58
twice as
37:58
long
37:59
all of
38:00
the mundane
38:01
things of
38:01
life go
38:02
along
38:02
with them
38:03
and you
38:05
have such
38:05
opportunity
38:06
to show
38:07
them how
38:07
to walk
38:08
these things
38:09
out together
38:10
there's got
38:10
to be a
38:11
practical
38:11
side to
38:13
discipleship
38:13
not just
38:14
teaching things
38:15
but modeling
38:16
it out
38:16
as well
38:17
so discipleship
38:18
is
38:18
practical
38:19
discipleship
38:21
is
38:21
humble
38:23
fourthly
38:25
discipleship
38:25
is humble
38:26
both for
38:28
the
38:29
disciple
38:29
e
38:30
and the
38:31
disciple
38:32
and i'm
38:32
really pretty
38:33
sure i just
38:33
made both
38:34
those words
38:34
up
38:34
verse 11
38:37
says for
38:38
the grace
38:38
of god
38:39
has appeared
38:39
bringing salvation
38:41
for all people
38:41
verse 12
38:42
training us
38:43
to renounce
38:44
ungodliness
38:45
and worldly
38:46
passions and
38:46
to live
38:47
self-controlled
38:47
upright
38:48
and godly
38:49
lives in
38:50
the present
38:50
age for
38:51
the grace
38:52
of god
38:52
being
38:53
christ
38:54
and now
38:55
by his
38:56
spirit
38:56
with the
38:57
primary use
38:58
of the word
38:59
we are being
38:59
trained in
39:00
the way
39:01
that we
39:01
should live
39:01
as i said
39:02
before
39:03
this is a
39:04
mighty work
39:05
of god
39:06
so to grow
39:07
in faith
39:08
in the activity
39:08
of discipleship
39:09
either as the
39:10
recipient of it
39:11
or the
39:12
leader of it
39:13
is a humbling
39:14
thing because
39:15
we need him
39:16
we need him
39:17
to work in us
39:18
and through us
39:19
you ought to
39:20
feel the weight
39:21
of being a
39:22
discipler
39:23
you ought to
39:23
go god
39:24
i'm not sufficient
39:25
for this task
39:25
but praise you
39:26
i am in
39:27
christ
39:28
this is the
39:29
thing i shared
39:30
with you
39:30
as i got up
39:31
here this
39:31
morning
39:31
i tremble
39:33
to preach
39:34
god's word
39:35
and it doesn't
39:35
matter if this
39:36
room is filled
39:36
or if there's
39:37
only five people
39:38
to speak of the
39:39
word of god
39:40
and to say
39:41
this is what
39:42
it means
39:42
just causes
39:43
me to
39:44
shudder
39:44
the weight
39:45
of that type
39:46
of thing
39:46
i need
39:47
god's
39:48
intervention
39:49
to help
39:49
me do
39:49
it
39:50
rightly
39:50
it is my
39:52
prayer that
39:52
when i
39:53
err you
39:53
just forget
39:54
about what
39:54
i said
39:55
what a blessing
39:56
that is
39:56
that's actually
39:57
happened
39:57
i've actually
39:57
said i'm
39:58
really sorry
39:58
that i said
39:59
this and people
40:00
have gone
40:00
you didn't
40:00
say that
40:01
i'm like
40:01
i'll show
40:02
you the
40:02
note
40:03
i did
40:03
i did
40:04
in fact
40:04
say it
40:04
but people
40:05
just forget
40:05
it
40:06
altogether
40:06
it's a
40:07
very humbling
40:08
experience
40:08
to walk
40:09
into these
40:10
types of
40:10
situations
40:11
and to
40:11
share
40:12
in this
40:12
way
40:12
because
40:13
god's
40:13
power
40:14
is at
40:14
work
40:14
in it
40:15
i want
40:16
us to
40:16
as
40:17
disciples
40:17
have
40:18
the
40:18
mind
40:19
of
40:19
paul
40:19
he says
40:19
in
40:20
first
40:20
corinthians
40:20
three
40:20
five
40:21
through
40:21
seven
40:21
what
40:22
then
40:22
is
40:22
apollos
40:23
what
40:24
is
40:24
paul
40:24
servants
40:25
through
40:26
whom
40:26
you
40:26
believe
40:27
as
40:27
the
40:27
lord
40:27
assigned
40:28
to
40:28
each
40:28
i
40:29
planted
40:29
apollos
40:30
watered
40:31
but
40:31
god
40:31
gave
40:32
the
40:32
growth
40:32
so
40:33
neither
40:33
he
40:34
who
40:34
plants
40:34
nor
40:34
he
40:35
who
40:35
waters
40:35
is
40:35
anything
40:36
but
40:37
only
40:37
god
40:38
who
40:38
gives
40:39
the
40:39
growth
40:40
that's
40:40
massively
40:41
humbling
40:41
to see
40:42
people
40:42
grow
40:43
in
40:43
faith
40:43
by
40:44
the
40:44
work
40:44
that
40:44
i
40:45
do
40:45
it
40:45
causes
40:46
me
40:46
to
40:46
give
40:46
all
40:47
praise
40:47
in
40:48
honor
40:48
to
40:48
him
40:48
because
40:48
i'm
40:49
an
40:49
idiot
40:49
but
40:50
he
40:51
uses
40:51
me
40:51
to
40:52
accomplish
40:52
his
40:53
will
40:53
in
40:54
many
40:54
ways
40:54
in
40:54
many
40:54
cases
40:55
you
40:56
may
40:57
not
40:57
think
40:57
that
40:57
you
40:57
have
40:58
anything
40:58
to
40:59
offer
40:59
anyone
41:00
else
41:00
you
41:01
may
41:02
doubt
41:02
your
41:03
ability
41:04
!
41:06
you
41:06
in
41:08
many
41:08
ways
41:09
you
41:09
must
41:09
check
41:09
the
41:09
condition
41:10
of
41:10
your
41:10
heart
41:11
because
41:11
what
41:11
you're
41:11
really
41:12
doing
41:12
is
41:12
denying
41:13
that
41:13
god
41:14
is
41:14
powerful
41:14
to
41:15
work
41:15
in
41:15
you
41:15
to
41:16
accomplish
41:16
anything
41:17
in
41:17
anyone
41:17
else's
41:17
life
41:18
you're
41:18
saying
41:19
that
41:19
he
41:19
can't
41:20
possibly
41:20
use
41:21
you
41:21
to
41:22
do
41:23
his
41:23
work
41:23
i'll
41:24
tell
41:24
you
41:24
this
41:25
god
41:25
can
41:25
do
41:25
whatever
41:26
he
41:26
wants
41:27
to
41:27
it
41:29
is
41:29
good
41:29
to
41:29
be
41:29
humble
41:30
it
41:30
is
41:30
good
41:30
to
41:30
walk
41:31
into
41:31
that
41:31
desiring
41:36
you
41:36
will
41:36
rely
41:37
on
41:37
his
41:38
grace
41:40
there's
41:41
much
41:42
promise
41:42
in
41:42
our
41:42
church
41:43
i
41:45
in
41:45
earthly
41:46
terms
41:46
in
41:46
human
41:47
terms
41:47
am
41:47
intimidated
41:48
by
41:48
some
41:48
of
41:48
the
41:48
people
41:48
in
41:49
our
41:49
church
41:50
charles
41:52
spurgeon
41:52
once
41:53
said
41:53
a
41:53
wet
41:53
stone
41:53
though
41:54
it
41:55
cannot
41:55
cut
41:55
a
41:56
wet
41:56
stone
41:56
is
41:56
a
41:56
stone
41:57
made
41:57
for
41:57
sharpening
41:57
knives
41:58
a
41:59
wet
41:59
stone
41:59
though
42:00
it
42:00
cannot
42:00
cut
42:01
may
42:01
sharpen
42:02
a
42:02
knife
42:02
that
42:03
will
42:04
god
42:05
uses
42:05
us
42:06
in
42:06
all
42:06
of
42:06
our
42:06
various
42:07
ways
42:07
and
42:07
all
42:07
of
42:07
our
42:08
various
42:08
giftings
42:09
even
42:09
in
42:10
our
42:10
inability
42:11
to
42:12
disciple
42:12
people
42:13
so
42:13
as
42:13
a
42:13
discipler
42:13
it's
42:14
incredibly
42:14
humbling
42:18
proverbs
42:19
1
42:20
5
42:20
says
42:20
let
42:20
the
42:21
wise
42:21
hear
42:22
and
42:22
increase
42:23
in
42:23
learning
42:23
and
42:23
the
42:23
one
42:23
who
42:24
understands
42:24
obtain
42:25
guidance
42:26
proverbs
42:28
3
42:28
7
42:29
be
42:29
not
42:29
wise
42:29
in
42:29
your
42:30
own
42:30
eyes
42:30
fear
42:31
the
42:31
Lord
42:32
and
42:32
turn
42:33
away
42:33
from
42:33
evil
42:34
some
42:36
people
42:36
may
42:36
think
42:37
themselves
42:38
above
42:38
discipleship
42:40
I'm
42:41
not
42:42
you
42:43
guys
42:44
have
42:44
designated
42:45
me
42:45
the
42:45
pastor
42:46
of
42:46
this
42:47
church
42:47
I
42:47
am
42:47
not
42:48
above
42:48
discipleship
42:50
it's
42:50
why
42:51
we
42:51
have
42:51
elders
42:51
in
42:52
our
42:52
church
42:53
I
42:53
need
42:53
a
42:54
peer
42:54
group
42:54
men
42:56
who
42:56
I
42:56
can
42:56
share
42:57
my
42:57
struggles
42:57
with
42:58
and
42:58
who
42:58
can
42:59
admonish
42:59
me
42:59
and
43:00
exhort
43:00
me
43:00
and
43:00
encourage
43:01
me
43:01
it's
43:03
why
43:03
I
43:03
seek
43:03
discipleship
43:04
even
43:04
outside
43:05
of our
43:05
church
43:05
as
43:06
well
43:06
with
43:06
other
43:06
pastors
43:07
there's
43:07
some
43:07
things
43:07
that
43:08
our
43:08
elders
43:08
don't
43:08
fully
43:09
understand
43:09
about
43:10
the
43:10
way
43:10
I
43:10
walk
43:11
out
43:11
my
43:11
life
43:11
and
43:11
the
43:11
things
43:12
that
43:12
I
43:12
do
43:12
in
43:12
the
43:12
day
43:12
to
43:12
day
43:13
and
43:13
so
43:13
I
43:13
try to
43:13
fellowship
43:14
with
43:14
other
43:14
pastors
43:15
as well
43:15
that can
43:16
invest
43:17
in me
43:18
if you
43:20
think that
43:20
you're
43:21
above
43:21
discipleship
43:22
it's at
43:22
this
43:23
very
43:23
point
43:23
that
43:23
you
43:23
need
43:24
discipleship
43:25
you
43:26
need
43:27
someone
43:27
to speak
43:28
to you
43:28
about
43:28
your
43:29
pride
43:29
and
43:30
your
43:30
self
43:30
righteousness
43:31
we're
43:32
so often
43:33
blind
43:33
to these
43:34
types
43:34
of
43:34
things
43:34
we
43:35
need
43:36
someone
43:36
else
43:36
to
43:36
look
43:37
into
43:37
peer
43:37
into
43:38
our
43:38
hearts
43:38
and
43:39
tell us
43:39
how
43:40
horribly
43:41
deceptive
43:41
that
43:42
they
43:42
are
43:43
all
43:44
of
43:44
us
43:45
need
43:45
to
43:45
be
43:45
in
43:45
some
43:45
process
43:46
of
43:47
discipling
43:48
another
43:48
or
43:49
being
43:49
discipled
43:50
ourselves
43:51
this
43:53
great
43:53
complex
43:54
network
43:54
that we
43:55
are
43:55
as a
43:55
congregation
43:56
we need
43:56
to be
43:57
doing
43:57
this
43:57
in
43:57
this
43:57
large
43:58
general
43:58
sense
43:59
but I
43:59
would
43:59
also
44:00
encourage
44:00
it
44:00
to
44:00
happen
44:01
in
44:01
that
44:01
more
44:02
small
44:03
programmatic
44:04
one to
44:04
one
44:05
or a
44:05
couple
44:05
sense
44:06
to be
44:06
getting
44:07
together
44:07
and
44:08
pressing
44:08
at each
44:09
other
44:09
in the
44:10
truth
44:10
and
44:13
fifthly
44:13
and
44:14
finally
44:14
discipleship
44:17
is for
44:18
the glory
44:20
of God
44:21
in all
44:23
of these
44:23
things
44:24
Paul says
44:25
in
44:25
Titus
44:26
verse 13
44:27
that we
44:27
are waiting
44:28
for our
44:29
blessed
44:29
hope
44:29
the appearing
44:31
of the
44:31
glory
44:32
of our
44:32
great
44:33
God
44:33
and
44:33
Savior
44:34
Jesus
44:34
Christ
44:35
who
44:36
gave
44:36
himself
44:37
for
44:37
us
44:38
to
44:38
redeem
44:39
us
44:39
from
44:39
all
44:40
lawlessness
44:40
and to
44:41
purify
44:41
for
44:42
himself
44:42
a
44:43
people
44:43
for
44:44
his
44:44
own
44:44
possession
44:45
who
44:46
are
44:46
zealous
44:46
for
44:47
good
44:47
works
44:47
the
44:48
gospel
44:49
is
44:49
not
44:49
firstly
44:50
about
44:51
you
44:52
the
44:53
gospel
44:53
is
44:54
firstly
44:54
about
44:55
God
44:56
and
44:56
his
44:57
glory
44:57
Jesus
44:58
Christ
44:59
came
44:59
we
45:00
are
45:00
the
45:01
recipients
45:01
of
45:01
his
45:02
perfect
45:02
life
45:03
he
45:03
lived
45:03
the
45:04
life
45:04
that
45:04
we
45:04
could
45:05
not
45:05
he
45:05
did
45:06
not
45:06
transgress
45:07
the
45:07
law
45:07
spotless
45:08
perfect
45:09
sacrifice
45:10
and
45:10
he
45:10
went
45:11
a
45:11
step
45:11
beyond
45:11
and
45:12
he
45:12
paid
45:12
the
45:13
price
45:13
for
45:14
our
45:14
sin
45:14
he
45:15
took
45:15
all
45:15
of
45:15
the
45:16
condemnation
45:16
that
45:16
was
45:16
due
45:17
to
45:17
us
45:17
rightly
45:17
do
45:18
us
45:18
and
45:18
he
45:18
bore
45:19
it
45:19
in
45:19
himself
45:20
God
45:21
being
45:22
perfectly
45:22
just
45:23
could
45:23
not
45:23
just
45:23
simply
45:24
dismiss
45:24
sin
45:25
he
45:25
had
45:25
to
45:26
punish
45:26
it
45:26
he
45:26
punished
45:27
it
45:27
in
45:27
the
45:28
person
45:33
redeem
45:33
us
45:34
to
45:35
deliver
45:35
us
45:35
from
45:36
the
45:36
punishment
45:36
that
45:37
was
45:37
due
45:37
us
45:38
but
45:38
he
45:38
brought
45:39
us
45:39
along
45:39
beyond
45:40
that
45:40
to
45:40
redeem
45:41
us
45:41
from
45:41
lawlessness
45:42
to
45:42
purify
45:43
a
45:44
people
45:44
for
45:44
his
45:45
possession
45:45
who
45:46
are
45:46
zealous
45:46
for
45:46
good
45:47
works
45:47
a
45:47
people
45:48
who
45:48
are
45:48
about
45:48
his
45:49
exaltation
45:51
this
45:52
is
45:52
why
45:52
we
45:52
exist
45:53
all
45:53
of
45:53
that
45:53
everything
45:54
that
45:54
we've
45:54
mentioned
45:55
today
45:55
all
45:55
the
45:56
things
45:56
we've
45:56
mentioned
45:56
over
45:56
the
45:56
last
45:57
three
45:57
weeks
45:57
all
45:58
of
45:58
this
45:58
is
45:59
about
45:59
the
46:00
glory
46:00
of
46:01
God
46:01
in
46:02
similar
46:02
language
46:02
Peter
46:03
writes
46:03
in
46:03
1st
46:03
Peter
46:03
2
46:04
9
46:04
but
46:05
you
46:05
are
46:05
a
46:05
chosen
46:06
race
46:06
a
46:07
royal
46:07
priesthood
46:08
a
46:09
holy
46:09
nation
46:09
a
46:10
people
46:10
for
46:11
his
46:11
own
46:11
possession
46:12
why
46:13
that
46:14
you
46:14
may
46:14
proclaim
46:15
the
46:16
excellencies
46:17
!
46:17
of
46:17
him
46:17
who
46:18
called
46:18
you
46:18
out
46:18
of
46:18
darkness
46:19
into
46:20
his
46:20
marvelous
46:20
light
46:20
he
46:21
has
46:21
made
46:21
us
46:22
who
46:22
we
46:22
are
46:22
so
46:23
that
46:23
we
46:23
can
46:23
tell
46:23
this
46:24
world
46:24
about
46:25
him
46:25
right
46:26
some
46:26
will
46:26
respond
46:29
he
46:30
is
46:30
the
46:30
one
46:30
that
46:31
plows
46:31
the
46:31
field
46:31
he
46:32
is
46:32
the
46:32
one
46:33
that
46:33
makes
46:33
the
46:33
soil
46:34
causes
46:34
the
46:34
seed
46:35
to
46:35
grow
46:35
we
46:35
are
46:35
just
46:35
meant
46:36
to
46:36
scatter
46:36
it
46:36
right
46:37
to
46:37
exalt
46:38
him
46:38
in
46:38
the
46:38
way
46:39
in
46:39
which
46:39
we
46:39
live
46:40
and
46:40
the
46:40
way
46:41
in
46:41
which
46:41
we
46:41
speak
46:42
to
46:42
go
46:43
far
46:43
and
46:43
wide
46:43
we
46:44
are
46:44
to
46:45
be
46:45
disciples
46:45
who
46:46
make
46:47
disciples
46:47
who
46:48
make
46:49
disciples
46:50
who
46:51
make
46:51
disciples
46:52
hastening
46:54
the
46:54
day
46:54
to
46:55
the
46:55
ends
46:55
of
46:59
we
46:59
have
47:00
completed
47:00
the
47:00
number
47:00
of
47:00
the
47:01
church
47:01
he
47:01
will
47:01
come
47:02
back
47:02
and
47:02
judge
47:02
the
47:02
world
47:03
and
47:03
he
47:03
will
47:03
reign
47:03
forever
47:04
and
47:05
ever
47:05
and
47:06
ever
47:06
I
47:08
hope
47:08
this
47:08
morning
47:09
that
47:09
with
47:09
confidence
47:09
you
47:10
can
47:10
say
47:10
that
47:10
you're
47:10
part
47:10
of
47:11
that
47:11
kingdom
47:11
you
47:12
know
47:12
without
47:13
a
47:13
doubt
47:13
that
47:13
you
47:13
are
47:13
a
47:14
disciple
47:14
of
47:15
Jesus
47:15
Christ
47:15
is
47:16
all
47:16
of
47:16
this
47:17
bearing
47:18
down
47:18
on
47:18
you
47:18
with
47:19
massive
47:19
!
47:19
conviction
47:20
It
47:20
may
47:20
be
47:20
that
47:21
you're
47:21
not
47:21
or
47:22
that
47:22
you
47:22
just
47:22
simply
47:22
need
47:23
to
47:23
repent
47:24
of
47:24
your
47:24
own
47:25
self
47:25
sinterness
47:26
and
47:26
turn
47:26
back
47:27
to
47:27
following
47:27
Christ
47:28
either
47:28
way
47:29
the
47:29
call
47:29
is
47:29
the
47:30
same
47:30
repent
47:30
and
47:30
believe
47:31
repent
47:31
and
47:32
believe
47:32
repent
47:33
and
47:34
believe
47:34
let's
47:35
pray
47:35
together