logo
Make Disciples—In Community Acts 2:1-42; Acts 1:8, Ephesians 4:1-16
Disciplemaking is both individual and communal. As individuals, we bring others along with us in the journey of following Jesus. As a church, we create environments and purposeful moments for making disciples as a faith community.
Discipleship is like the roots on the redwoods. The village is a place where groups of believers freely involve themselves in each other’s lives, and challenge each other to take those next steps of faith.
One of the themes that courses through the New Testament is that your walk with God is designed by God to be a community project. Yet many believers live their lives with a huge separation between their public church personas and the details of their private existence.
We are skilled at brief, nonpersonal conversations about the weather, sports, and politics. We are learned at giving either nonanswers or spiritually platitudinous answers to people’s questions. We live in long-term networks of terminally casual relationships. . . ( New Morning Mercies , July 12)
Jesus’ model was to call disciples to follow, teach them what they needed to know, and challenge them to replicate the process.
God’s Spirit initiates discipleship in community. (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-12) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:2-4
The faith community is designed to pass on faith to new believers through disciplemaking. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
We are told to forgive each other, regard each other more highly than yourselves. Teach and correct each other, encourage each other, pray for each other, and bear each other’s burdens. Be friends with one another, kind, compassionate, and generous in hospitality. Serve one another and submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
A biblical faith community elevates the Word of God as essential for authentic discipleship. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles
Community comes from discipleship as discipleship comes from community. (Acts 2:42-47)
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Discipleship is hindered when sin breaks our community with God and with one another. (Acts 5:1-12)
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
Unrepentance prevents resolution. Conflict between Christ-followers distracts from the mission. We must confront sin, but our way must be love.
Baptism is the public identification of a disciple.
logo
Recommend
More recommend
