The Biblical Model Dreaming the Impossible Dream l

The Biblical Model

Dreaming the Impossible Dream l “What is it impossible to do in your business (read church or ministry) but if it could be done, would fundamentally change it? ” (Joel Barker, Future Edge: Discovering the New Paradigms of Success) l Paradigm Shift Question: How can people be motivated to become selfinitiating and reproducing disciples of Jesus Christ?

Disciple-Making Seminar Focus Problem: How can people be motivated to become self initiating and reproducing disciples of Jesus Christ? Solution: Follow the Biblical pattern for disciplemaking.

Personal Motivation for Disciple-Making Negative Experience: Not assisted in my growth after conversion Positive Experience: Discipled and given responsibility for ministry

Reflection Exercise Who has had the major motivating or shaping influence on your Christian life? What was it about them that you admired and wanted to be like? Have you had someone who has intentionally guided you, like Don, into a deeper relationship with the Lord? If so, describe that relationship.

The Biblical Model of Disciple-Making Jesus called his disciples (Luke 6: 12 -13) What were the strategic reasons for the selection of the twelve in the light of… • • Why would Jesus risk the dynamics of jealousy? Why not just expand the crowd?

Reasons for Focus on a Few: Internalization Distrust of the populace John 2: 23 -25 • Palm Sunday to Good Friday • “But for the twelve, the doctrine, the works, the image of Jesus might have perished from human resemblance, nothing remaining but a vague mythical tradition, of historical value, of little practical importance. ”--A. B. Bruce

Reasons for Focus on a Few: Internalization b. Disciples not mass produced “This careful, painstaking education of the disciples secured the teacher’s influence on this world should be permanent; that His kingdom should be founded on the rock of deep and indestructible convictions in the minds of a few, not on the shifting sands of superficial impressions in the minds of the many. ” -- A. B. Bruce

Reasons for Focus on a Few: Internalization c. Causes of Superficiality • Diverted leaders from equipping • Focus on programs • Unwillingly to call people to discipleship • People have not been discipled

Reasons for Focus on a Few: Internalization Characteristics of Programs: q Content or knowledge based q One preparing for the many q Regimentation or synchronization q Low Accountability

Reasons for Focus on a Few: Internalization “Disciples cannot be massed produced. We cannot drop people into a program and see disciples emerge at the end of a production line. It takes time to make disciples. It takes individual personal attention. ” (Leroy Eims, The Lost Art of Disciplemaking)

Reasons for Focus on a Few: Multiplication Have Enough Vision to Think Small A. Jesus had a heart for the multitudes “Jesus it must be remembered, restricted 9/10 of His ministry to 12 Jews because it was the only way to reach all Americans. ” --Eugene Peterson

Three Years of Ministry “Perhaps today’s pastor should imagine that they are going to have three more years in their parish as pastor--and that there will be no replacement for them when they leave. If they acted as if this were going to happen, they would then put the highest priority on selecting, motivating, and training lay leaders that could carry on the mission. The results of three sustained years of such an approach would be quite significant. Even revolutionary. ” --George Martin

Reflection Exercise If you were to advise your pastor and/or staff how to prioritize the next three years of their ministry, what would you tell them?

Reasons for Focus on a Few: Multiplication B. Jesus Gave His Ministry to His Disciples • His ministry became their ministry • Leadership base expanded • “Jesus concern was not with programs to reach the multitudes but with men the multitudes would follow. ” (Robert Coleman)

Jesus’ Manner of Making Disciples • How did Jesus train the disciples? • What was His curriculum? • What was the nature of the school in which the disciples enrolled? …life on life

The Challenge of the Twelve Lack of credibility because of social status “They were poor men of humble birth, low station and mean occupations, who never felt the stimulating influence of a liberal education or the social intercourse with persons of cultivated minds. ”--Bruce Came with the prejudices of the day “They were exceedingly ignorant, narrowminded, superstitious, full of Jewish prejudices, misconceptions and animosities. ”

The Difference Jesus Made “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered, and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. ” (Acts 4: 13)

Rabbinical Model • The rabbis were considered the living Torah • Became like his teacher (Luke 6: 40) • Modeling is the most important factor in education

Four Generations II Timothy 2: 2 Paul Faithful ones Timothy Teach others

The Conclusion “Jesus plan has not been disavowed; it has been ignored. ”--Coleman

Reflection Exercise • What does Jesus’ model of forming disciples teach us about how disciples are made? • How does this differ from the common church practices?

TRANSFORMING DISCIPLESHIP Companion book to Discipleship Essentials Dramatizes the need and causes of the low state of discipleship Lays out Jesus’ and Paul’s strategy of disciplemaking Lays the foundation for effective disciple-making strategy in your ministry