“A Church Of Fully Devoted Followers Of Christ”
Numbers 14:24, Matthew 28:18-20
Sermon Series: “Core”
True Life‟s mission is “to meet people where they are and help them become fully devoted followers of Christ.” This is really an expression of Matthew 28:18-20, which says, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, „All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age‟.” One of our core values also states, “We believe that full devotion to Jesus Christ characterizes the normal Christian life and that God deserves excellence and sacrifice in all we do for Him.”
A mission statement is important, but it is only important if it is a true guideline instead of just words on a page. With that in mind, let‟s look at what a true disciple is and some keys for developing as a disciple. Remember, that Jesus is at the center of all this. Also remember that we use the phrase, “fully devoted follower of Christ” to describe a disciple. Here is a biblical example, found in Numbers 14:24, which says, “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.”
A fully devoted follower (disciple) of Christ is:
1. A person who has received Christ by faith. We have to be born again to be a disciple (John 3, Ephesians 2:8-9).
2. A person who has been baptized as a public witness to his faith in Christ (Acts 2:41).
3. A person who is living daily in obedience to Christ (Luke 6:46) for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31) in every area of life (personal, family, work, community, etc.).
4. A person who is reproducing other disciples. 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “And the things that you have heard from me among many
witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” That is also the point of Matthew 28:18-20.
How to Grow and Develop as a Disciple of Christ: The following are some basic, but crucial ways to grow as a disciple. This is not an exhaustive list of spiritual disciplines, but I think it is an absolutely necessary starting place. Of course, this is our side of the coin as far as the actions that we need to take. That does not exclude the fact that the power of the Holy Spirit is necessary for spiritual growth (Philippians 2:12-13).
1. Daily practice of spiritual disciplines: A disciple is developed in private and then displayed in public. It is the behind the scenes work that produces the outward results. The practice of regular Bible intake, prayer, confession, personal worship, etc. is necessary for spiritual growth and becoming like Jesus.
2. Regular participation in corporate worship and the ministries of the church: Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
3. Live life together in biblical community in a small group (Acts 2:46).
4. Make a local and global impact by serving the church, community, and the world through ministry, evangelism, and missions. Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Discipleship is not just inward growth or going “deep,” but it also produces outward change and a heart that beats for a lost world like the heart of God. Ultimately, the proof of discipleship is the making of other disciples.
Conclusion: Are you a fully devoted follower of Christ? What is the next step you need to take? Are you doing your part in fulfilling True Life‟s mission of making fully devoted followers of Christ?
