Discipleship (Part 4) Laying A Strong Foundation

Review
Matthew 28:19,20

1, We are called to be disciples
2, Disciples are "made"
3, Jesus intends for disciples to make more disciples:

Part 1: The Marks of A Disciple
What did the Lord Jesus say would be the "identifying marks" that would characterize those who would be His disciples?
1, As a disciple, I obey (remain in) His Word
2, As a disciple, I walk in love, just as I am loved
3, As a disciple, I pursue fruitfulness in life
4, As a disciple, I endeavor to be Like Jesus
5, As a disciple, I carry my cross (sacrifice, separation, suffering)

Part-2: The Process - How one becomes/makes disciples
How Jesus made His disciples  (Disciplines of a disciple)
1, He had them be with Him – He taught them personally

So we too must take time to “be” with Jesus

2, They were together as a team

We must learn to walk in fellowship with other believers.

3, He sent them out to do whatever He taught them

We must serve the Lord – share our faith, serve in His Kingdom

4, They learnt through their experiences/mistakes

We follow God through all of life’s situations

5, He never gave up on them

He never gives up on us.

We apply this same “process” as we work with other people and help them develop into disciples of Jesus.

Review Part-3 : Growth Path - Believer, Disciple, Minister, Leader

Believer  Disciple  Minister  Leader

TODAY Part-4 : Laying A Strong Foundation

Becoming a disciple is a process – and it begins with laying a strong foundation in your faith and walk with God.

The importance of laying a strong foundation

1, How high you can go (grow), depends on how strong (deep) your foundation is

2, Develop the ability to stand alone if needed

We cannot always be dependent on a “support system” provided by the Church. We must come to a place where we are able to stand on our own – alone if needed.

It is true we need to be part of a community – but the community is to be a place where we give (bless others, impart) and receive strength – and not make it a “crutch” we lean on, or a “bandwagon” that we get a free ride on.

Life Groups, Mentors, etc. etc. which the Church provides are good useful “support systems” that are intended to help us come to a place where we dig our roots deep in God and are able to stand along. If these “support systems” become “crutches” we lean on and cannot do without, or if we have not come to a place where we have not strengthened our own personal walk and relationship with God – then these “support systems” are actually being detrimental to our spiritual lives.

3, Remain strong in difficult times

Times of temptation, testing, disappointments, tragedies, etc.

Matthew 7:24-27
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

4, Not easily swayed by “winds of doctrine”

Colossians 2:6-8
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Ephesians 4:14,15

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

How do we lay a strong foundation?

Strong foundations are laid by developing the right spiritual habits/disciples and being consistent with these.

Being rooted in our relationship with the Lord

No one else can do this for you. You have to make a choice to follow Jesus and live for Him at all times.

John 15:4  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

You have to choose to abide in Him.

John 6:66-69
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Some people follow the Lord only in times of convenience. But we must make a choice to be committed to Him at all times – no matter what. You have to be personally convinced that Jesus is your Lord and Saviour and you are going to be committed, bold, unashamed and strong about this.

Being rooted in the Word

1 John 2:14  I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.

Being established in a personal worship and prayer life

Isaiah 40:31  But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Others can pray for you, but no one else can “wait upon the Lord” in proxy for you. You have to be personally there in His Presence in worship and prayer.

We as a church ministry team, can only help you along this way. We can provide the right teaching, ministry, resources, etc. to help you lay a strong foundation – but at the end of the day – you have to do something about it, yourself.