Session 1 - Intro & "Defining the Goal - Mature, Equipped Followers"

Owned by David Hina
Last updated: Mar 07, 2017
2 min read

Intro

  1. Prayer
  2. General plan for each of the sessions
  3. Discuss Schedule
  4. "Spiral" approach
  5. Mo's role

Defining the Goal - Mature, Equipped Followers

  1. Prayer (Psalm 8 - "Image God")
  2. STARTING POINT:  Make disciples (Matt 28:16-20)
  3. Discuss the WHAT Question:  "WHAT is a disciple?"
    1. Read passages:  Mark 8:31-38; Luke 14:25-33; Matt 10:16-33
    2. Use:  Notes from Carl Robbins' sermon (from Eph 4:11-16)
    3. Derive:  Our concept of a mature, equipped believer 
    4. Compare:  Randy Pope (The Intentional Church) on "What is a disciple?"
  4. Output:  Develop 4-5 bullet points describing a "mature, equipped follower of Christ"
    1. A person who has submitted to the call of Christ
    2. A person who is in unity with the body and is using their gifts in service to the body
    3. A person who desires to share the Gospel as an instrument of God.
    4. A person who is continuously engaged in learning Christ and the doctrines of the faith

  5. Discuss the HOW Question:  "HOW are disciples made?"
    1. Note that the G.C. focuses primarily on the "what" rather than on the "how"
    2. Read:  Luke 24:45-49 (a separate instance of the G.C.)
    3. Discuss:  Our concept of how disciples are made
      1. What must be present?
      2. Environment for disciple-making
      3. Who makes disciples (1 Pet 2:9)
    4. Review:  Marshall & Payne (The Vine Project) on "How are disciples made?"
  6. Output: Develop 3-4 bullet points describing "How disciples are made"
    1. The Word, or Gospel of God, concerning His Son, is proclaimed and taught, both initially and continuously
    2. God works, by His Spirit, to bring conviction, changing the heart - which can be summarized as repentance and faith
    3. By God's people in speaking the Word, in modeling the Christian life, in praying for God to work by His Spirit, and by encouragement and edification
    4. Through the conflict, struggle, and suffering that attends this whole process, because it is taking place with "this present darkness"
  7. Capture:  Capture a single primary prayer request out of this Session.

Session #1 Output:

In answer to the question, "WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?":

  1. A person who has submitted to the call of Christ, forsakes ALL to follow Him, and lives consistently under the control of the Holy Spirit.
  2. Living in unity with the body, has discovered, developed, and is using his or her spiritual gifts in dependence upon the power of the Spirit.
  3. Desires, and has learned to share the Gospel, out of a heart of service to God, and with love for people.
  4. Continuously engaged in transformative learning through the Word of God, in the power of the Spirit.

In answer to the question, "HOW ARE DISCIPLES MADE?":

  1. The Word, or Gospel of God, concerning His Son, is proclaimed and taught, both initially and continuously.
  2. God works, by His Spirit, to bring conviction, changing the heart - which can be summarized as repentance & faith.
  3. By God's people speaking the Word, in modeling the Christian life, in praying for God to work by His Spirit, and by encouragement & edification.
  4. Through the conflict, struggle, and suffering that attends this whole process, because it is taking place within "this present darkness."