6
Successful
Discipleship
The list of subjects in this section are:
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Components for Success
About Us
Vacations and Holidays
How Jesus Made Disciples
What A Few Can Do
Bringing Glory to God
Characteristics of a Spiritual Discipler
A New Commandment
TO MULTIPLY DISCIPLE MAKERS...
These are components needed for success:
1. Leadership
2. Vision
3. Start right
4. Life to life
5. Effective lessons
6. Officially in your church schedule
7. Disciples quitting
8. Stronger outreach
9. Plan for multiplication
10. Helping other churches
Want to discuss these? Email us for a phone appointment or an online meeting.
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ABOUT US
Rev. John Honeycutt is the author of Journey discipleship lessons used in over 40 countries. They were designed for his Church-Planting ministry through World in Need International.
John Honeycutt’s grandparents and parents were church planters, pastors and missionaries. John, with his wife Cathy, have been church planters since 1977 and have 3 adult children.
World in Need International began in 1972 with the vision of missionary partners John Honeycutt Jr. and Bob Hughes and their desire to make a difference. Since that time, several ministry and projects are active on each continent.
World in Need International, Inc. is an American non-denominational, non-profit ministry recognized by the IRS as a 501C(3) tax-exempt organization. U.S. Federal Tax ID #59-3048894.
Contact Information:
World in Need International, 1420 Celebration Blvd Suite 200, Celebration, FL 34747 USA
World in Need International starts and mobilizes local churches to multiply soul winning disciple makers.
Our goal: 1 million disciples.
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VACATIONS AND HOLIDAYS
One thing that can really slow down the multiplication of disciples is taking too much time off during summer breaks, holidays and vacation time. I would say that it is never good to go more than 30 days without meeting with your disciple. In other words, never take a whole summer off from meeting with your disciple or discipler.
One thing you can do after Christmas holidays or vacations is have a catch-up meeting with your disciple or discipler. You can take a whole Saturday morning, or an entire Saturday afternoon and meet to catch up and keep progressing in spiritual growth. Or even meet a couple days or nights in a row during one week to bring everything back to the right schedule.
But the most important thing is to have a constant relationship going, to have a caring connection with the disciple and discipler. Things are always happening in their life, especially for a new, young believer or disciple.
So be careful not to lose momentum because of holidays, vacations and breaks that might take place.
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HOW DID JESUS MAKE DISCIPLE MAKERS?
7 Principles
Principle #1 It was His Focus
Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
What is your focus … of your life … your ministry?
Principle #2 His Purpose was world wide Evangelism
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If your focus is on discipleship as was Jesus, then the result will be many, many more coming to Christ for salvation.
Principle #3 He Cared for His disciples Personally
Mark 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
Jesus had a one-on-one disciple among the twelve who was called “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” This is an example for us to follow and actually was commanded.
How many of your church members know the Word of God well enough that you would trust them to teach the Word of God to a new believer one-on-one?
Principle #4 Jesus tested His Disciples
Luke 14:26-27 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Journey tests the disciple by meeting together to learn the lessons and by measuring the time in the Word of God with the Daily in the Word assignments.
Even though there is a sincere caring for your disciple, they must be tested and some do not pass the test at that certain point in time in their lives.
If everyone is “getting through” your discipleship process, something is wrong.
Principle #5 Spiritual Growth
In Acts 6:1 the number of the “disciples was multiplied.”
In Acts 6:7 we see that it’s really all about the Word of God being built into the “believers” and the result is they become a disciple and disciples multiply. The disciples were so well trained that they were even able to see Jewish priest come to Christ.
Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
The proof of their maturity is seen in multiplying themselves. Children cannot give birth to children. They must mature.
Are you seeing spiritual multiplication take place through your church members?
Principle #6 Jesus challenged His Disciple to have Greater Accomplishments
Notice what Jesus says in John 14:12: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
John 15:15-16
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. [16] Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Jesus came to see every person know about salvation through Him in every generation until He returns. This was His plan.
How many are we helping to do great things for God?
Principle #7 Jesus Launched His Disciples to Multiply
Notice Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
There was a definite point in time to launch his disciples; a sending. Jesus said as the Father has sent me so send I you.
Are you graduating and approving adults to disciple and care for new believers? That’s what Jesus did. When was the last time you launched disciplers, disciples, pastors, missionaries?
Here is the key to these principles; not one of these principles may be missing to see New Testament results.
Between 33 AD, the Resurrection and 64 AD, 31 years, the whole world heard the Gospel.
Will we follow Christ or will we follow our own plans, strategies and devices?
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WHAT A FEW CAN DO
What a Few Dedicated Faithful Disciplers can do:
Journey normally takes 30 meetings/weeks to complete.
But let’s say it takes you 75 weeks to make one faithful disciple and each Discipler will share the Gospel with one person per week…starting with one Discipler (you)…
Starting with 1 discipler…
Starting with 2 disciplers…
Starting with 4 disciplers…
Starting with 10 disciplers…
Starting with 20 disciplers…
Starting with 40 disciplers…
BRINGING GLORY TO GOD
There are four specific verses in the Bible that explain what brings glory to God.
First of all we have to acknowledge that we are instructed to bring Glory to God from 1st Corinthians 6:20 because there was such a high price paid for our salvation that God asks to us to bring glory to Him in our body and spirit because they belong to Him. We have a debt of sin to pay.
We are also told in 1st Corinthians 10:31 Whatever we do, whatever we drink, whatever we eat we are to do all to the glory of God. So our lives should bring glory to God.
Of the four verses that tell us specifically what brings glory to God, one of them is the key to the others. But the first one to notice is in Mathew 5:16 where we are told to let our light to shine before men that they will see our good works, and then they will glorify our Father which is in heaven. That’s being a witness, obviously.
The second verse that is used for that is when a man is ill, Lazarus dies. The Lord told his disciples in John 11:1-14 that the sickness was unto death but for the glory of God. So there are sometimes key events in our lives that require faith and those events bring glory to God because all things work together for good to those that love God.
We are also told in 1st Peter 4:14 that when there is a trial and when there is persecution that we can understand that God is glorified in that and we would see that our trials bring glory to God.
The last verse to mention of the four, is in John 15:8 where the Bible says Herein is my Father glorified that you bear much fruit so shall ye be my disciples. It’s just one of the four that specifically tells us how to bring glory to God, and yet I think is the key. Because then we understand that the trials in our life and the persecution in the key events and even to let our light shine brings glory to God its because it’s all for bearing fruit of being His disciple. And to bear fruit is to multiply disciples.
So the question is, is your life bringing glory to God?
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CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLER
1. Spiritual Maturity - This does not mean the discipler is perfect, but that the discipler is further down the Christian life than the disciple. Also, spiritual maturity can not just be measured by time alone; there are many that have been believers for 10 years yet have never grown. A spiritually mature discipler has learned through both mistakes and successes, knows God, has experience in the Christian life and is walking in the Spirit.
2. Transparency – Disciplers must be open and honest. The spiritual discipler will share their past and present; their strengths, fears and joys. There is no place for hypocrisy or pretense in discipleship. The spiritual discipler knows that in a discipleship relationship there are two teachers and two learners at the same time.
3. Example – A spiritual discipler will guide by example first and instruction second-they live what they teach. Acts 1:1 says that the Gospel according to Luke was the beginning of all that Jesus would do and teach. The order of those two words is very important. The spiritual discipler will move their disciple into a living relationship with Christ because he or she will not always be around. The disciple needs a continuous relationship with Christ who dwells within; not a list of what a spiritual believer is. The spiritual discipler shows this by their life.
4. Unconditional love – A spiritual discipler will love their disciple because they are aware of the potential in the disciple. They know the great possibilities Christ has for their disciple and will do everything possible to help them grow.
5. Patience – Spiritual disciplers never try to rush the growth process, and they know that each disciple has individual needs and pace. The spiritual discipler knows that God has His own plans and purpose for His disciple.
6. Availability – A spiritual discipler must always be available, especially when the disciple is in trouble. The discipler knows when it is important to stay close to their disciple; which is also the reason a discipler should not have too many disciples at the same time.
7. Submission – A spiritual discipler knows that we always need accountability and leadership. They know there are blind spots, undeveloped areas and possible deceptions from our Enemy. Therefore, a spiritual discipler operates in unison with their local church.
8. Perspective – As their disciple shares the experiences of daily life, the discipler can often put these events into proper perspective. A spiritual discipler must properly interpret what is going on and why.
9. Forgiveness – A spiritual discipler helps his disciple seek God’s forgiveness and the forgivness of others who have been offended by the disciple directly.
10. Recognizing Danger – A spiritual discipler has learned the signs of approaching trouble and can help their disciple recognize what they may not see by themselves. For example, the disciple may be keeping the wrong company, neglecting their spouse or children, not properly discipling their children, living above their income and possibly more, and it is the disciplers job to illuminate and edify.
11. Encouragement – We all need consistent encouragement if we are to grow. Spiritual disciplers know how important encouragement is to their own life.
12. Instructors – A disciple needs ongoing instruction and accountability in the basic disciplines of the Christian life – how to know the Bible, how to pray effectively, how to know God, how to forgive, how to overcome sin etc. A spiritual discipler will add knowledge and assist in putting the knowledge into practice.
13. Facilitator – A spiritual discipler will not need to have a specific answer for everything, yet they can help their disciple find their own answers from the Lord.
14. Provides fellowship – A spiritual discipler will be a true companion in Christ. The discipler and disciple will not just be an assigned to one another but to a relationship centered on Christ. You will never have enough full-time workers to reach your town, city, province or country. Only as every member becomes a minister can nations be reached.
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