DEPLOYMENT
Module 12 ends the Discipleship Boot Camp and tries to answer the question, “What next?”
Jesus spends approximately 3 years with His disciples. After his resurrection, He commissions them to go and make disciples of others.
Module Bible Reading Assignment
John - Chapters 19, 20 & 21
American author Mark Twain said,“The two most important days in your life are the day that you are born and the day that you find out why.”
As you complete the last Module, do you better understand the importance of Spiritual matters?
Will you intentionally and systematically use your life to expand His Kingdom or not?
John 17: 3
“And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.”
A paraphrase states, “And this is the purpose of eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God…”. This is the ultimate purpose of all life - to know the one true God. Knowledge of this kind is not merely intellectual. It is not merely theological or doctrine. It is NOT knowing about God. It is actually knowing God Himself - knowing Him personally and intimately. It is a person-to-person relationship. It is a spiritual union. This is the goal of Discipleship.
The original Harvard University Handbook stated, “Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life.”
Ephesians 6: 10-18
This passage communicates the idea of a Christian Soldier.
The Christian must understand the struggle that lay before us. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Contemporary warfare consists of a physical battleground where opposing soldiers endeavor to kill one another and destroy their property. Soldiers die and physical destruction occurs. THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE FOR THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER.
Recall “Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good; He came to make dead people live.”
Believers are surrounded by the walking dead in our society. Jesus said, “You must be born again” in the Gospel of John Chapter 3. Many have not been born again (transformed by the power of God’s Holy Spirit). The Christian Ambassador is commissioned to expand the Kingdom of God. The well trained Christian uses the sword of the spirit (God’s word / the Bible) to pierce the soul of the spiritually dead person. Supernaturally, by the power of His Word, the dead come to life. Once the dead are raised to life, their broken and dysfunctional self and interpersonal relationships begin a reconstruction process through the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4)
SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.
John 13: 34-35
Pastor and author Tony Evans suggests that the thread that ties the entire Bible together is the theme of the kingdom. God’s goal is to see His rule and authority cover the earth through the expansion of His kingdom. This is the central theme of the Bible.
God’s kingdom resides in four distinct arenas:
The individual
Family
Church
Society / Government
We must understand our new identity. More specifically, we are a new creation and have our identity in Christ.
“What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe [or trust, pisteuo] in the one He has sent.”
John 6: 28-29
Pastor Derek Futtrell
“Life is a mission trip for the Christian.”
Every disciple of Jesus needs these three (3) essential relationships:
a “Paul” - someone to mentor you
a “Timothy” - someone for you to mentor
a “Barnabus” - someone to be your encourager
Do you have these people in your life? If not, let the search begin …….
FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP
BELIEVERS PRACTICE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
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This is an essential element of discipleship. We are in a relationship with the Lord. The Bible reveals God.
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So that the man or woman of God is equipped for every good work
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Prayer is communication with the Lord. Communication is essential in any relationship
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Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. A disciple knows their spiritual gifts. He or she uses these gifts to actively serve and looks for opportunities to serve
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A disciple tithes his time, his talents and his income. Stewardship is esteemed.
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A disciple follows the command of rest.
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A disciple worships individually and corporately.
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Prays that the Lord will place lost seekers in their path. Allows the Holy Spirit to guide their Gospel conversations.
TIME IS A UNIQUE COMMODITY. ONCE CONSUMED, IT CAN NEVER BE RETRIEVED.
A DISCIPLE USES THEIR TIME WISELY
1 Timothy 4: 7b
Train yourself for the purpose of godliness.
What are your spiritual gifts?
“Life’s most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”
— Martin Luther King
Pray
Prepare
Proclaim
Actions follow beliefs …….
Message by Pastor Joe Tanner
DECEMBER 2021
“Axonate” understood by Will Hobson. Interpretation - Acts 1: 8
What is your spiritual act of service?
Romans 12: 1-2
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
KNOW, STOW, SHOW & SOW by Pastor Joe Tanner
DECEMBER 2021
I am expendable.
I serve at your pleasure.
Your kingdom matters, mine does not.
Lord, you are God, and I am not. Please help me me keep this straight
