The document discusses the importance of discipleship in the church. It begins by using a baseball analogy - that getting a person saved is like getting them to first base, but the goal is to help them progress all the way around to scoring, or spiritual maturity. However, many churches fail to support new believers in this growth process. The document then defines a disciple as a learner and follower of Jesus who actively applies teachings, and discusses that spiritual growth requires intentional effort, not leaving it to chance. It provides examples of practices that can help believers mature, and emphasizes the importance of God's word and accountability in growing closer to Christ.

3. At the end of the game, the fans and the
team are more concerned about the
number of people who score than they
are concerned about hits.
There have been games where a team
might have only had one hit and beat a
team with more hits.
If a baseball team does not understand
its ultimate purpose is to get people
across home plate to score, then they
will pat themselves on the back when
they just get baserunners.

4. In the church we can run into the same
problem.
We can get so excited about getting
someone to 1st base that we forget the
work is just beginning.
If we do not understand the purpose of
the church, then we will stop short of
what God wants us to do.

5. Over the last couple of weeks we have
looked at two purposes of the church,
worship and fellowship,
this week we are going to look at
discipleship.

6. ESV

7. We are commanded to make disciples.
This is a two part process.
The first part of making a disciple is to
evangelize and baptize them.
We will not talk about evangelism today.
The second part is we are to teach them
to observe all that Jesus commanded.

8. We are going to look at what we are to
do once a person has been added to the
kingdom of God.
We are called to disciple them.
What happens in a typical church when
we win a person to Jesus?
We usually leave it at that.
We are happy, we got them to first base!

9. When a person repents & accepts Jesus
as their Lord and Savior joining Him in
His death, burial & resurrection for the
forgiveness of their sins our job does not
stop there.
That is like getting a person to 1st base
and saying that our job is finished.
Our goal is to help bring that person
around the bases to score!
Too many times we get a person to first
base and then forget about them, we
leave them stranded.

10. “Discipleship is the great Omission of the
Great Commission on the part of
Churches.”
(Dallas Willard Christian Philosopher & writer)
Part of making a disciple is teaching
them all that Jesus commanded.

11. The Great commission tells us this and
the early church was committed to the
apostles’ teachings.
tells us,
Let’s look at the 3rd purpose of the
Church, Discipleship.

12. ESV

14. What is a disciple?
A disciple is a learner, or a pupil of
someone, but it’s a bit deeper than it
seems.
a learner, a pupil, one who follows the
teaching of someone else," thus, a
disciple; means "to follow the precepts
and instructions of another," (Wuest)

15. How do you “follow” precepts and
instructions if you are not actively doing
what you’re learning?
If my understanding is correct a disciple
is a doing learner, not one who learns &
files away the information never putting it
into action.
A Christian is supposed to be a disciple.
Who are we to be a disciple of?
It’s in the name, ian!

16. The word disciple is used over 250 times
in the New Testament and is only found
in the Gospels and Acts.
Christians and disciples are the same
thing.
ESV

17. There has been much dispute as to
whether this new name was given by
Barnabas and Saul under divine
authority, or by the Gentiles of Antioch,
or by the disciples themselves. It would
serve no practical purpose to decide
between the latter two suppositions, for,
with whichever party it originated, it was
subsequently accepted by the disciples
in general. (Combined Bible Commentary)

18. Discipleship is the development of
Christians.
The Characteristics of a Disciple
Love for the brethren.

19. ESV

20. .

21. .

23. The objective of discipleship is to
facilitate the spiritual growth of
Christians.
When we are immersed into Christ,
(when we become a Christian) we are
born again.
ESV

26. Jesus gives us a principle.
ESV

29. Discipleship fills our house with tools and
encouragement for growth.
Here are some spiritual growth myths.
Spiritual growth is automatic once you
are born.
Spiritual growth is mystical, and maturity
is attainable by only a few

30. Spiritual maturity can occur instantly if
you find the right key
Spiritual maturity is measured by what
you know
Spiritual growth is a personal and private
matter
All you need is the Bible to grow.

31. If we fall for these myths, then we will not
work on helping people grow.
If we fall for these myths, we will not do
what we need to do to grow.
If we fall for these myths, we will become
discouraged if we are not growing.
If we fall for these myths, we will become
lazy.

32. We need to get people to go from
1st base (membership)
to 2nd base (commitment to maturity)
to 3rd base (commitment to service)
to homeplate (committed to evangelism
or missions).
We need to intentionally do things that
help Christians become more Christ-like.
My favorite definition of discipleship is
MAKE ONE TO MAKE ONE.

33. Bible studies. Logical, the early church
was devoted to the scriptures.
Sunday school. This cannot be the only
food we eat.
Preaching. This cannot be the only food
we get.
Service opportunities.
Providing fellowship opportunities.
Mentoring programs.

34. Personal devotion time.
Prayer time.
Serving others
Bible reading
Mentoring
Giving
Fellowship with other Christians
Have a person that you are accountable
to.

35. The key to growth is commitment to the
truth of the word of God.
Notice that part of the great Commission
is teaching and the early church was
committed to the word.
If we are not putting the word in people’s
lives, then we have to ask ourselves
what are we winning people over to?

36. What we need to understand about
discipleship is that I cannot be a disciple
without being disciplined.
The more disciplined I become the more
God can use me.
The mark of a disciple is continual
growth.
I believe the main keys to being able to
make someone more Christ-like are,
desire to grow, discipline and time spent
with both God and His people.

37. So many people that have been in
church at some point in their lives will
say that God has done nothing for them.
My question to them would be what kind
of effort did you give to God?
Did you expect something
(spiritual growth and blessings)
for nothing
(no time spent trying to grow)?

38. The Church grows deeper through
discipleship.
Discipleship gives us principles to live by.
A foundation to build our lives on.
The Word of God gives us stability.
The people of the world are in turmoil
because they do not have a foundation
under them.
As we become more Christ-like, we will
experience more blessing than we can
imagine!

39. When the church stops making and
developing disciples, it is not a church.
For the church to be able to develop
disciples there has to be a great deal of
involvement in each other’s lives.
See how the first three purposes fit
together.
They are not separate from each other.

40. Our worship is an extension of the way
that we live our life.
In turn we feel a strong sense of
community and desire to strive with
others in our walk (Fellowship).
Our worship helps us to see how much
we need to grow more Christ-like
because we are in awe of God, we want
to be more like Him.
Through our fellowship a great love for
other brethren is strengthened, we then
seek to help other’s grow and develop
(discipleship).

41. When we get a person to 1st base, our
job is just beginning.
It takes time, effort and resources to
develop disciples.
As a Church we must make sure that we
are fulfilling this purpose.
As individual members of the body, we
must make sure that we are committed
to growth.
Are you willing to invest your time to help
others grow closer to Jesus?