Intentional Discipleship

  SEPTEMBER   September 24 Mark 1:1a, Luke 1:1-4, John 1:1-18, Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23b-38, Luke 1:5-38    September 25 Luke 1:39-80, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-40    September 26 Matthew 2:1-23, Luke 2:41-52, Mark 1:1b-8, Matthew 3:1-12, Luke 3:1-18, Mark 1:9-11,  Matthew 3:13-17, Luke 3:21-22    September 27 Mark 1:12-13, Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-15, John 1:19–2:25    September 28 John 3:1–4:45, Luke 3:19-20    September 29 Mark 1:14-15, Matthew 4:12-17, Luke 3:23a, John 4:46-54, Luke 4:16-30, Mark 1:16-20,  Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:21-28, Luke 4:31-37, Mark 1:29-34, Matthew 8:14-17, Luke 4:38-41, Mark 1:35-39, Luke 4:42-44, Matthew 4:23-25    September 30 Luke 5:1-11, Mark 1:40-45, Matthew 8:1-4, Luke 5:12-16, Mark 2:1-12, Matthew 9:1-8, Luke 5:17-26,  Mark 2:13-17, Matthew 9:9-13, Luke 5:27-32, Mark 2:18-22, Matthew 9:14-17, Luke 5:33-39 October    October 1 John 5:1-47, Mark 2:23-28, Matthew 12:1-8, Luke 6:1-5, Mark 3:...

 Harmony of the Gospels   June Week 1:  The genealogy of Jesus   (Matthew 1:1–17, Luke 3:23–38)   Jesus’ birth and childhood   (Matthew 1:18–2:23, Luke 1:5–2:52)   John the Baptist’s ministry   (Matthew 3:1–12, Mark 1:1–8, Luke 3:1–18, John 1:19–34)    Christ’s public ministry and first Passover   (Matthew 3:13–4:12, Mark 1:9–14, Luke 3:21–4:13, John 1:35–4:42)   Christ’s ministry in Galilee   (Matthew 4:12, Mark 1:14–15, Luke 4:14–15, John 4:43–54)   His rejection at Nazareth and move to Capernaum   (Matthew 4:13–22; 8:14–17, Mark 1:16–34, Luke 4:16–41)   June Week 2:  His first ministry tour and second Passover   (Matthew 4:23–12:14, Mark 1:35–3:6, Luke 4:42–7:50, John 5:1–47)   His second ministry tour   (Matthew 12:15–13:58, Mark 3:7–6:6, Luke 8:1–56)   His third ministry tour   (Matthew 9:3...

  A disciple of Jesus is someone who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and is committed to the mission of Jesus. We find Mark 1:17 (Matthew 4:19) to be a helpful verse that can serve as a useful framework around which we can place the teachings of the New Testament on what it means to be a disciple. “And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” (ESV) Notice the three key characteristics of a disciple:      He/she follows Jesus      He/she is being changed by Jesus      He/she is committed to the mission of Jesus The diagram at the beginning of this post is a simple way that we sometimes picture how people grow as disciples:      Head – in the mind the decision to follow Jesus has been made (now he/she needs to connect in discipling relationships)      Heart – in discipling relationships we are changed by the Spirit to be more and more like Jesus (now he/she needs...

 When the angel visits Joseph to tell him that the unborn child carried by Mary is not the product of an illicit romance but rather the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, one crucial detail of this revelation is in the stated purpose of this miracle. The angel even tells Joseph what the baby’s name should be! The child will be called Jesus, a derivation of Joshua, which means “God saves.”  This is why the Son of God becomes incarnate—to save sinners.  This is the whole point of Christianity, and thus the whole point of Christmas. Jesus did not come primarily to set a good example, though he certainly did that. And he did not come to give us solid ethics teaching, though he did that too. He didn’t even come primarily to perform signs and wonders, though he undoubtedly did many.  The primary reason for the incarnation was that God might justify sinners through Christ’s sinless life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection.

In Second Peter 1:5-9, Peter addresses his readers who are already believers and encourages them to add certain virtues to their faith. These virtues serve as important steps in their spiritual growth and development. Let's look at each step in more detail: (1) Add goodness to faith (1:5): Peter emphasizes that true faith goes beyond mere intellectual belief or affirmation. It should be accompanied by genuine goodness, which involves transparent trust and ready obedience. This means that believers should actively pursue acts of kindness and righteousness, rather than being passive in their faith. (2) Add knowledge to goodness (1:5): While some knowledge is necessary for faith, Peter urges believers to go beyond the basics. He encourages them to deepen their understanding of God's Word and His ways. A growing knowledge of God's truth is stabilizing and motivating, equipping believers to live in accordance with His will. (3) Add self-control to knowledge (1:6): Knowledge a...

  BEING THANKFUL When was the last time you focused your prayer on being thankful? Often, prayer becomes a one-way conversation to God with a list of our needs. This resource is all about praying from a heart of gratitude. At the beginning of your day or at the end of your day, start the habit of thanking God for your blessings and praying these verses out loud. Invite a friend or your family to join you for 30 days of thankful prayers. Then, continue to foster a thankful heart and way of life. Create a gratitude journal—adding specific praise verses and prayers that are personal to your own life. Day 1 Father, thank you for your love for me ( John 3:16 ). Day 2 Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice and for the gift of salvation for me ( Philippians 2:6-8 ). Day 3 Father, thank you for both your mercy and your grace for my life ( Hebrews 4:15-16 ). Day 4 Father, thank you for your Word and the ways you communicate through Scripture to guide my life ( 2 Timothy 3:16 ). Day 5 Holy Spir...

  CREATED FOR HIS GLORY 10/8 - Discipleship books 11/12 - Created for His Glory units 1-4 11/26 - Small Group Followup 12/10 - Created for His Glory units 5-9 12/24 - Small Group Followup 1/14 - Created for His Glory units 10-13 1/28 - Small Group Followup 1/26 Evening activity & Dinner

  The Significance of Love 31 Days   The Preeminence of Love Day 1     The Greatest of These  ( 1 Cor 13:13) Day 2     Loving Faith (Gal 5:6) Day 3     The Fruit of Love (Gal 5:22) Day 4     Rooted in Love (Eph 3:17) Day 5     The Dimensions of Love (Eph 3:18) Day 6     Full of Love (Eph 4:16) Day 7    A Life Full of Love  ( Eph 5:2) Day 8     Love Given by the Holy Spirit (Col 1:8) Day 9     Clothe Yourselves in Love (Col 3:14) Day 10   Protected by Love (1 Thess 5:8) Day 11   Pursue Love  ( 1 Tim 6:11) Day 12   God is Love  ( 1 Jn 4:16)   The Example of Jesus Day 13   Unchangeable Love (Jn 13:1) Day 14   Divine Love  ( Jn 15:9) Day 15   Self-Sacrificing Love  ( Jn 15:13) Day 16   Inseparable Love  ( Rom 8:35,37) Day 17   Cons...

 

 BECOMING A DISCIPLE MAKER 2023 DEFINITIONS: 1. A Disciple:     Someone who is following Jesus     Someone who is being changed by Jesus     Someone who is committed to the mission of Jesus (Matt 4:19) 2. Disciple Making:     Entering into a relationship to help people trust and follow Jesus 3. Disciple Maker:     A Christian who enters into relationships with people to help them trust and follow Jesus 4. Discipleship- First:     Those who see themselves through the missional lens of being disciples who make disciples

  SECTION OUTLINE SIXTEEN (ROMANS 16) In closing, Paul greets a few specific friends and gives some final instructions. I. Paul and the People of the Gospel (16:1–16, 21–24) A. He is sending a special woman to the church in Rome (16:1–2). 1. Who she is (16:1a): She is Phoebe, a godly servant of Christ. 2. Where she is coming from (16:1b): She is from the church in Cenchrea. 3. Why she is coming (16:2): She will minister to the Roman church as she has done for many others. B. He sends a special welcome to the church in Rome (16:3–16, 21–24). 1. Paul sends greetings to 26 individuals (16:3–16). a. His friends Aquila and Priscilla (16:3–5a) b. His friend Epenetus, who was the first Christian in Asia (16:5b) c. Mary, who has worked hard for the Roman church (16:6) d. His relatives Andronicus, Junias, and Herodion (16:7, 11a) e. Other friends and coworkers: Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, the household of Aristobulus, the Christians in the household of Na...

  SECTION OUTLINE FIFTEEN (ROMANS 15) Paul talks about how Christians should live in relation to others. He writes about his travel plans and prayers for his Roman audience. I. The Prompting of Paul (15:1–4, 8–12) A. His exhortation (15:1–2): Paul urges the mature believer not to please himself but to build up the faith of weaker Christians. B. His example (15:3–4, 8–12) 1. He points to the Scriptures (15:4): Its pages are full of examples where many endured and encouraged others. 2. He points to the Savior (15:3, 8–12). a. Jesus came not to gratify himself but to give himself (15:3). b. Jesus came to guarantee God’s salvation to Jews and Gentiles (15:8–12). (1) To the Jews (15:8): He came to show that God keeps his promises to the Jews. (2) To the Gentiles (15:9–12): See also Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalm 18:49; and Isaiah 11:10. II. The Prayer of Paul (15:5–7, 13) A. He prays that God would favor the Roman church with endurance, encouragement, and unity (15:5–7...

  SECTION OUTLINE FOURTEEN (ROMANS 14) Paul discusses the believer’s responsibilities toward those Christians who are weak in the faith. I. No Believer Should Be Judged by Another Believer Down Here (14:1–8, 13–23). A. We are not to criticize others’ legalism (14:1–8). 1. The rules (14:1–6) a. Don’t judge in matters of diet (14:1–4, 6b): Some feel it is wrong to eat meat or any food that has been sacrificed to an idol. b. Don’t judge in matters of days (14:5–6a): Some feel certain days are more sacred than others. 2. The reason (14:7–8): Both the weaker and stronger believer belong to the Lord and must love each other. B. We are not to corrupt our liberty (14:13–23). 1. The mature Christian is not to become a stumbling block (14:13–18). a. He is not to permit good and lawful things to be viewed as evil and lawless (14:13–16). b. He is not to forget that love is more important than personal liberties (14:17–18). 2. The mature Christian is to become a stepping...

  SECTION OUTLINE THIRTEEN (ROMANS 13) Paul discusses the believer’s responsibilities toward society. I. Duties toward the Rulers of the State (13:1–7) A. What we are to do (13:1, 6–7) 1. We are to submit ourselves to governing authorities (13:1). 2. We are to pay our taxes (13:6). 3. We are to give honor and respect to all those to whom it is due (13:7). B. Why we are to do it (13:2–5) 1. Because of the power behind the throne (13:2): God has established human governments, so to disobey human laws is to disobey God. 2. Because of the punishment from the throne (13:3–5): God has also decreed that lawbreakers should be punished by those representing human government. II. Duties toward the Rest of the State (13:8–14) A. Continue to love (13:8–10): God’s love seeks and satisfies. 1. Love seeks the best for one’s neighbor (13:9–10). 2. Love satisfies the law of God (13:8). B. Continue to look (13:11–14). 1. The realization (13:11–12a): We need to know the ...

  SECTION OUTLINE TWELVE (ROMANS 12) Paul urges his readers to make their bodies living sacrifices for the glory of God. I. The Believer and Self (12:1–2) A. What we are to offer (12:1): Bodily dedication. 1. The reason for this (12:1b): It is to be done because we have experienced God’s mercy. 2. The results of this (12:1a): God is pleased if we offer a living and holy sacrifice. B. What we are to avoid (12:2a): Worldly contamination. C. What we are to achieve (12:2b): Godly transformation. II. The Believer and Service (12:3–21) A. The grace (12:3): Be honest in your estimate of yourselves. B. The gifts (12:4–8) 1. The illustration concerning these gifts (12:4–5): Paul likens spiritual gifts to members of the human body. 2. The identification of these gifts (12:6–8): Seven spiritual gifts are listed. a. Prophesying (12:6) b. Serving (12:7a) c. Teaching (12:7b) d. Encouraging (12:8a) e. Giving (12:8b) f. Leading (12:8c) g. Showing kindness (12:...

  SECTION OUTLINE ELEVEN (ROMANS 11) Paul overviews the wisdom of God and Israel’s future restoration. I. This Future Restoration Is Assured because Israel’s Present Rejection Is Not Total (11:1–10, 11b–24). A. The factions of Israel (11:1–10): Paul divides Israel into two groups. 1. The minority group (11:1–6) a. As represented by Paul in the New Testament (11:1): His own conversion shows that God has not rejected all Israelites. b. As represented by Elijah in the Old Testament (11:2–6): This powerful prophet, along with 7,000 other Israelites, did not bow to Baal (see also 1 Kings 19:18). 2. The majority group (11:7–10): Three Old Testament men predicted that God would harden the hearts of unbelieving Israel. a. Moses (Deut. 29:4) (11:7–8a) b. David (Ps. 69:22–23) (11:9–10) c. Isaiah (Isa. 29:10) (11:8b) B. The fullness of the Gentiles (11:11b–25): This phrase refers to a specific period of time. 1. The definition of this period (11:25): It is the time spa...

  SECTION OUTLINE TEN (ROMANS 10) Paul overviews God’s righteousness and Israel’s present rejection. I. The Prayer concerning God’s Righteousness (10:1–3) A. The prayer (10:1): Paul prays for Israel’s salvation. B. The problem (10:2–3): Israel possesses: 1. Zeal without knowledge (10:2–3a) 2. Works without faith (10:3b) II. The Source of God’s Righteousness (10:4–5) A. It is found in Christ (10:4). B. It was foretold by Moses (Lev. 18:5) (10:5).     III. The Availability of God’s Righteousness (10:6–8) A. Negative (10:6–7): One need not search the heavens or descend into the deep to find it. B. Positive (10:8): It is, through Christ, as near as one’s mouth and heart! Moses predicted this in Deuteronomy 30:12–14. IV. The Reception of God’s Righteousness (10:9–10): Both one’s heart and mouth are involved. A. It is conceived in the heart (10:9b–10a). B. It is confirmed by the mouth (10:9a, 10b). V. The Scope of God’s Righteousness (10:11–1...

  SECTION OUTLINE NINE (ROMANS 9) In the next three chapters, Paul overviews God’s threefold dealings with Israel. Here, he overviews the sovereignty of God and Israel’s selection in the past. I. The Nine Spiritual Advantages of This Sovereign Selection (9:1–5) A. Paul’s grief over Israel (9:1–3): The apostle is so burdened over Israel’s unbelief that he is willing to suffer eternal damnation if that would help them come to Christ. B. God’s gifts to Israel (9:4–5) 1. They are a special nation (9:4a). 2. They have been adopted by God (9:4b, 5). 3. They have had God’s glory revealed to them (9:4c). 4. They have been given the covenants (9:4d). 5. They have been given the law (9:4e). 6. They have the privilege of worshiping him (9:4f). 7. They have the messianic promises (9:4g). 8. They have a godly ancestry (9:5a). 9. They are the people from which Christ came (9:5b). II. The Five Personal Examples of This Sovereign Selection (9:6–29) A. The example of I...