The Basics of Discipleship

Two Key Passages

• We need to seek prayer and discernment to know the gifts we have been  given by the Holy Spirit.
• We must practice and use these gifts for the benefit of the Body of Christ, under the direction of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:1-31)
• The practice of the gifts of the Holy Spirit must be part and parcel of every worship service and gathering of the Body of Christ.
  (1 Corinthians 14:26-40)

My Salvation

 I am saved, “Born again” (John 3:1-20) when the following takes place: 

•  I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. (Rom 3:23)
• I acknowledge that I am dead in my sins and that the wages of my sins is death. (Romans 6:23)
• I acknowledge that Jesus alone can save me – without Him I am lost. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
• I turn from my sins and turn to Jesus. (Acts 2:21)
• I invite Jesus into my heart as my Saviour and Lord. (Rev 3:20)
• I put my trust in Jesus alone for my salvation. (Acts 16:31/Acts 4:12)

Water Baptism

• Baptism comes from the Greek Word, “Baptizo”, meaning ‘immersed in’, – immersed in/enveloped in Jesus life, power and presence (Rom 6:3-4)
• Jesus commands us to be baptized (Matt 28:16-20/Acts 2:38-39)
• Believers baptism is an outward and visible sign/witness of our commitment to Jesus- repenting of sin, turning to Jesus & putting our trust in Him alone for our salvation, and accepting Him into our life as Lord & Saviour.
• Believers baptism is based on the faith of the believer; children who are too young to make a decision to accept Jesus, are dedicated/presented to the Lord (Luke 2:21-32)

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

• Jesus commands us to be baptised –with water (our water baptism) and the Spirit (baptism in the Holy Spirit) (John 3:1-8)
• When we receive Jesus Christ into our life as Lord and Saviour, God comes to live in us by His Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit is within us but we can only experience His transforming power when we are baptised in the Holy Spirit – we are clothed with power from on high/immersed in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:1-8/Acts 2:1-21)
• Through baptism in the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to be Christ’s witnesses and His ambassadors.
• Through baptism in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is released in power in our lives—transforming us into Jesus’ likeness.

The Word of God

• All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17-) the Bible in its entirety is the divine inspired Word of God.
• Jesus said, Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4) – we need to read and study the Word of God daily; without this daily input from God’s Word we cannot hope to live the life that Jesus commanded us to.
• Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalms 119:105) –
  The reading and study of God’s Word must be a daily discipline in the life of every believer.
• For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of every heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
• We read the Word to grow in our knowledge of His will, ultimately to know Him better.

Prayer

• Prayer is communion with God – conversing with Him – talking to Him, most importantly, listening to His voice.
• Jesus tells us to pray; He teaches us to pray. (Matthew 6:5-15)
• Prayer is focused on God first (worship and penitence), then others (interceding for their needs) and finally on our needs (our supplications).
• Jesus prayed regularly (Mark 1:35/6:45-46) – everything that Jesus did as an example for us – that we should do as He did. We should pray regularly as Jesus did.
•  Prayer should be a daily discipline, a daily appointment with God.
• Pray continually. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
• Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…
• Keep on praying for all God’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)

The Body of Christ

• The Church is the body of Christ on earth – the extension of Christ in the world.
• We are called, as the Body of Christ, to be His hands, His feet, his smile, etc.
• When we give our lives to Christ and are baptised, we become part of the body of Christ.
• It is vital that we become part of a church as part of the body of Christ.
• We cannot live in isolation, apart from the body of Christ. We are called to be part of the Body – mutual dependence or inter-dependence and shared ministry.
• Key text: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

Worship

• The Body of Christ must meet regularly for worship
• It is vital for every believer not only to be part of this worshipping community but to regularly meet with the worshipping community in worship. (Sundayservice etc)

It is in these worship services/celebrations that the worshipping community celebrates what God is doing among them, they confess their sins, they are taught from the Word of God, they practice the gifts and ministries given them by God’s Holy Spirit, they share in the Lord’s supper together and so confirm the unity of the Body of Christ.

• Key texts: 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 / 1 Corinthians 11:17:32
• Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are in the habit of
  doing. (Hebrews 10:25)

   

   

Fellowship

•  The early church was attractive to outsiders because of the way the believers looked after one another, ministered to one another and how they lived with one another. (Acts 2:42-47/Acts 4:32-37)
• The Early Church grew out of house churches/cell groups – small groups of believers that met in someone’s home – for fellowship, ministry and worship.
• This is how the early church survived and also how they were able to impact people around them.
• New believers need to be part of a small faith sharing group within the Body of Christ (the church) – a cell group, a house church, home cell, faith sharing group.
• It is here they learn accountability, they learn to share, they learn to care, they experience Christianity community, they experience the gifs of the Holy Spirit
  and they mature in the faith, learning from others.
• No greater power – all the believers were one in heart and mind… (Acts 4:32)

Stewardship

• Every believer is called to be a good steward of the gifs the Lord has given him/her. (Luke 19:11-27)
• These gifts include – our material wealth/money, our resources, our abilities and our time.
• Every believer is asked to give a tithe (first tenth) of all he has to the Lord and His Church. (Malachi 3:16)
• We are also asked to practice generosity in our giving. (2 Corinthians 8:1-15)
• We are asked especially to give to those in need within the household of faith. (2 Corinthians 9:1-15)
• … but just you excel in everything… see also that you excel in this grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:7)

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

• Every born again, baptised in the Holy Spirit, believer has been given at least on spiritual gift. (1 Corinthians 12:7)
• These gifts are given for the benefit of the Body of Christ, that the whole Body may be built up and grow stronger. (Ephesians 4:7-13)
• We need to desire these gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:31)

• We need to seek prayer and discernment to know the gifts we have been given by the Holy Spirit.

• We must practice and use these gifts for the benefit of the Body of Christ, under the direction of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:1-31)

• The practice of the gifts of the Holy Spirit must be part and parcel of every worship service and gathering of the Body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 14:26-40)

Our Testimony

• My testimony -> my account of what I have seen and heard and experienced of the Lord Jesus in my life and the life of others.
• My testimony could include -> how I met Jesus, how Jesus saved me, what He saved me from, what the Lord has done in my life. It could also include miracles the Lord has brought into my life and the lives of others.
• We overcome him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. (Revelation 12:11)
• If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)