This document outlines fundamentals of discipleship according to International Bible Baptist Church in Bangkok, Thailand. It defines discipleship as teaching believers to obey all of Jesus' commands, as in the Great Commission. Effective discipleship moves people from initial salvation to commitment to service, maturity and evangelism. Hindrances like pride, riches, and cares of this life can discourage discipleship. But the results of disciplining include sweeter fellowship, speeding up evangelism, and pleasing God. The goal is helping members attain spiritual maturity and fulfill the Great Commission.

1. INTERNATIONAL BIBLE BAPTIST
CHURCH BANGKOK, THAILAND
FUNDAMENTALS OF

2. I) WHAT IS DISCIPLESHIP
A) Discipleship is a part of the task given
to every believer by God.
Matt. 21: 19-20
The Great Commission: “ Go ye therefore
and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name the Father, and of the Son, and
the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and lo, I am with you always, even
unto the end of the world. Amen.”
> Getting people saved and baptized is
only a part of the command: teach all
nations(evangelism) , baptizing
> Discipleship is: “…teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you…”
 it is only when we
disciple people that
we can truly say
that we obeyed the
Great Commission.
 > Therefore
discipleship is a
command and not a
choice.

3. B) We need to get people from
FIRST BASE ( SALVATION AND
MEMBERSHIP) to
SECOND BASE ( COMMITMENT TO
MATURITY) to
THIRD BASE (COMMITMENT TO
SERVICE) TO
FOURTH BASE (COMMITMENT TO
EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS)
> Notice the word “observe” in the
Great Commission. It means to say
that we are not only going to teach all
of God’s commands but we have to
see to it that the disciple applies the
principles in his life. If we did the
teaching but there is no application
then our teaching is not successful.
We need to follow-up on our
disciples. Or we need to
change, enhance, improve our
method of teaching.
Sometimes, the journey will be
rough and discouraging but we
need to do everything to help
the disciple to mature.
Sometimes both the discipler
and disciple will be lazy and
bored. Ask God for His grace.

4. C) We cannot say that “I taught him already
everything but it seems there is no result. It
is up to him whether to obey or not.”
Ezekiel 3:18
Teaching is not the same with teaching to
observe
Teaching to observe is TRAINING
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child the way he
should go…”
The verse did not say teach a child the way
he should go but train up a child
> This means that the discipler should keep
reminding his disciples about what should
be done. He has to encourage them, call
them, send them encouraging messages,
take care of them, pray for them until he sees
result in his teaching no matter how long it
will take .
It is a process, not a
crash course on
Christianity. It is not the
same as giving a lecture
on a topic in a class in
school. It is more like
adopting the disciple as
his own child. The
discipler functions as a
guardian, mentor,
counselor, friend,
parent, teacher, helper,
guide, leader,
intercessor, adviser, etc.

5. II) THE IMPORTANCE OF DISCIPLESHIP
A) Everyone knows that the struggle to
maintain a Bible reading schedule or
prayer time is getting to be a tough one
because of the rise of so many things
to be busy with. People are busy with
shopping, Google, Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube, Yahoo,
Blogs, Online games like Farmville,
Candy Crush, Mortal Combat, a lot of
movies, TV series, Game shows,
Flicker, Photoshop, Tumbler, etc.
Many Christians also give priority on
Sunday to occasions like birthdays,
weddings, extra curricular activities in
their jobs, travel and they do not feel
any guilt or remorse for doing so. In
return, the other members just treat it
as not a very grave sin.
The prophesy in Matthew
24:12 is being fulfilled by
present day Christians:
“Because iniquity shall
abound, the love of many
shall wax cold.”
B) When converts are not
disicpled, they will not pass
the faith to family and friends
resulting in later generations
turning away from God and
the eventual death of the local
church.

6. C) DISCIPLESHIP IS THE BEST
WAY TO LEARN
1) Disadvantages of the Sunday
School
a) People listen passively, they do not take
notes, they check their cell phones
for updates. When the members are late
they hear only ½ or ¼ of the message.
When members are absent they totally
miss the lesson. That is why even if
members attend every Sunday, there is
not much improvement because the
learning is a wishy-washy kind of
learning. There are gaps in the learning
and the pastor and members are not
very concerned about this.
b) In the case of discipleship, the learning is
active because they have to take a quiz
afterwards. The disciple has to know by
heart the doctrines being taught. He
should be able to recognize false
doctrines from the right ones. Some
members of Baptist Churches, even
though they were members of that
church for years join the cults because
they were not taught sound doctrine
during discipleship lessons. Even if the
disciple is late or absent, he has to make it
up making the learning more complete.
During Sunday School, people may ask
questions but because of time
constraints and shame, no one really asks
questions. But during discipleship, the
atmosphere is less formal and more
personal so the students will feel free to
ask questions. Also, the class can go at it’s
own pace unlike in Sunday School that the
teacher has to finish after an hour or the
next.

7. III) WHAT IS A DISCIPLE
A) The Greek word for discple is
“mathētēs” (mathayetes)
which means: student, pupil, learner,
apprentice, follower.
During Jesus’ time the disciples and
their families left their profession
and stayed with Jesus, and went with
Jesus wherever he went. Jesus took
care of their food and shelter. B) We
will see in Bible accounts that Jesus
spend much time in group Bible
Study among his twelve disciples.
They were involved in the ministries
of Jesus like in the feeding of the
four and five thousand. They were
there during the performance of
miracles and healing sessions. So
they learned by helping Jesus in his
ministries also.
C) It is important that the discipler
teaches by example and by
demonstration. If the topic is soul
winning then bring the disciple to
an actual witnessing session. If
the lesson is about prayer then the
teacher should show his prayer
journal, If the lesson is about
Bible, he should be able t show
his own Bible reading plan. He
should be able to share
testimonies of how he overcame
obstacles, the blessing of
giving,etc

8. IV) THE PURPOSE OF DISCIPLESHIP
A) The goal is not to generate Bible scholars,
evangelists, pastors, leaders, missionaries, etc.
but to become like Christ: I Cor. 2:16
B) To fulfill the Great Commission and other
commands: Matt. 28: 18-19, I Tim. 4:13
C) For the perfecting of the saints:
Ephesians 4:12
D) So that mature Christians can replicate
themselves: 2 Timothy 2:2
E) To develop people spiritually
2 Timothy 2:15
F) To equip the converts for service
Acts 18: 24-26
> Although Apollos had knowledge, he still
wanted to learn more from other
Christians. We should be eager to learn
new things for us to improve
G) To maintain doctrinal purity and unity like
the example of the Bereans: Acts 17: 11-13
H) To hasten the spirtual growth of members
by having two sessions a week.
V) THE GOAL OF DISCIPLESHIP
1) To help the members attain
perfection or maturity at the fastest
pace: Luke 6:40
2) If we do not have discipleship
the church will be filled with
immature Christians who
cause a lot of problems in the
church, so people leave the
church because they are neglected
or offended because immature
Christians do not know how to take
care of converts.
3) This program will benefit the
disicpler also because He should
be an example to his followers.

9. V) HINDRANCES THAT
DISCOURAGE DISCIPLESHIP
A) PRIDE OR AMBITION: Matt.
18:1, Luke 9:46, luke 22:24
The disciples often asked Jesus who
is the greatest in heaven. They
sought status rather than servant
hood. What Jesus did was to
wrap a towel on his waist and
washed the disciples’ feet. We
should seek servant hood and not
status.
B) SELF PITY: Luke 18:28
> Sometime we pity ourselves
because we almost have no
enjoyment like the unsaved
people. We cannot go to
discos and dance, drink
liquor, wear sexy clothes etc. We
have to understand that when we
followed Christ it is a decision to die to self
and to live for Christ. We must think that we
will have fellowship forever in heaven
but we have to work hard on earth
because whatever we do on earth is
recorded in heaven. I Cor. 3;13. The
glorious days are not here on earth, it is
in heaven. All the apostles of Jesus did
not have the good life but now they are
in heaven enjoying the fruits of their
labor on earth. Here on earth we have to
be willing to sacrifice, to be a servant,
postpone gratification. The Bible says
that the people who suffered the most
will reign with Him in heaven. Rev. 20:4

10. D) RICHES PLEASURE OF THIS LIFE
Mark 4:19
> Sometimes even if Christians are in
church their mind and hearts are still
focused on their businesses, their
costumers, their down lines, or up lines,
their rebates, their commissions, etc.
They do not want to surrender Satan’s
strongholds in their lives. There is a sin
that they are not willing to surrender to God:
it may be their wallet, or their wardrobe, their
forbidden relationship, unsaved friends or
their vices, their extravagant lifestyle. They
cannot concentrate on the Word which
makes them unfruitful.
E) CARES OF THIS LIFE: Mark 14:9
> When people come to church
and they have problems, they still think
about their problems. When we have our
lessons, we must lay aside every weight
and focus 100 percent on the
lesson or else we will become
unfruitful. God demands our
best in everything we offer
especially our attention. Lev.
22:20, Malachi 1:8
F) OUR HEARTS DO NOT
HAVE GOOD GROUND:
Matt. 13: 3-8
Matt. 13: 18-23
>TYPE A PERSON: never gets
saved
>TYPE B PERSON : Does not want
to make a commitment

11. he like listening to the Word of God
but when he sees that the Christian
life involves sacrifice, he does not
continue
TYPE C PERSON: He comes to
church regularly or occasionally but
he does not make any progress
because the things of God are not his
priority. He is more concerned with his
problems, worries, businesses, etc.
TYPE D PERSON: He is teachable,
moldable, obedient and gladly
receives the Word and gets it into
practice in his life. This person is the
fruitful Christian. He is a blessing to
others and he prospers also in his
businesses, his profession, his social
life, his career, his relationships with
other people. And God.
VI) THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
A) Love God more than anyone
else Matt. 10:37
B) We must be willing to
forsake everything we have
for Christ: Luke 14:33
C) Bear your cross: Luke 14:27
D) Deny himself and follow Christ:
Luke 9:23
E) Forsake worldly pleasure:
I John 2:15
G) Lose your life: John 12:25
F) Although it costs to obey God, it costs
more to disobey Him. Deut.28:15-68
H) Suffer persecution: John 15:18, 19

12. VII)THE RESULTS AND
REWARDS OF
DISCIPLESHIP
A) Sweeter fellowship among
brethren: Psalm 133:1
B) The burden and work is
divided among members.
it is not only the pastor and
the pastor’s wife or faithful
who are doing all the work
Gal . 6:2
C) The rate evangelism will
speed up.
D) God will bless the members
spiritually and financially
E) There will be more members
to get the work done
F) There will be more funds for
the church to use for its
programs
G) Members will have earthly rewards
as well as heavenly rewards: Matt.
19: 29, Matt. 25:21, 23
H) God is glorified;
I) God is pleased: Matt. 25:21
II) We will have a better testimony
IV) We will be very busy making more
disciples
V) We will have the feeling of fulfillment
VI) We will turn the world upside down
for Jesus! Acts 17:6