Key verse: II Timothy 2:2 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."

Biblical truth: We are to immerse ourselves in learning about the Word of God, then seek out faithful people and commit to them what we learned from those that taught us. The goal is that they will then do the same thing.

We are to seek out discipleship for our own lives, make disciples and make disciple-makers. Discipleship defines so much of our Christian life that we should diligently and intentionally prepare for a life ministry of disciple making. We are ministers of God for others (Colossians 1:25-29) to fulfill the word of God and to teach and warn every man of the things we have learned in Christ.

What it Means to Disciple

Discipleship carries a lot of responsibility with it, so it is important to understand those responsibilities well. It means to commit the keeping of, to set before (one) in teaching; to set forth (from one's self), to explain, to place down (from one's self or for one's self) with any one, to deposit; to entrust, commit to one's charge.

1. Realize that discipleship will put you in a leadership relationship with the other person

   a. We are to be an example (1 Timothy 4:12). To be an example means to fashion, manner, the mark of a stroke or blow, print, a figure formed by a blow or impression; hence a figure, an example; in the technical sense, the pattern in conformity to which a thing must be made; an example to be imitated: of men worthy of imitation; pattern, for imitation, of the thing to be imitated or, of a thing to be shunned.

   b. In discipleship, we will be asking people to follow us

   i. Ye ought to follow us! (2 Thessalonians 3:7)

   ii. Paul did things not because he had to but rather to make himself an ensample for them to follow (2 Thessalonians 3:9)

   iii. Whose faith follow (Hebrews 13:7)

   iv. They were to choose who to follow (3 John 11)

   v. Paul begged them to follow him (1 Corinthians 4:16, 11:1)

   vi. They were to be followers of God (Ephesians 5:1)

   vii. They followed Paul and the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:6)

   viii. They followed the example of other churches (1 Thessalonians 2:14)

   ix. They should follow the right kind of people (Hebrews 6:12)

   a. The word follow literally means to mimic; follow, to imitate: any one, follower, an imitator

   b. Paul commanded them to follow or imitate him and not others (Philippians 3:17)

2. As a leader, you must first work on your private walk with the Lord

   a. Psalms 15 is a psalm that talks about our personal character

   i. Are you walking uprightly and working righteousness with your life?

   ii. Do you speak the truth in your heart?

   iii. Do you backbite or talk about people behind their backs in such a way as to do them harm?

   iv. Do you treat your neighbor correctly?

   v. Do you get involved in scandalous reports about your neighbor either hearing or spreading them?

   vi. Have you chosen to look at wrong as something to condemn no matter who it is?

   vii. Do you honor them that fear the Lord?

   viii. Do you keep your word?

   ix. Do you try and take advantage of innocent people?

   a. Ephesians 4:20-32 talks about living our new life in Christ.

   i. Have you put off the former way of living? (22)

   ii. Are you renewing your mind? (23)

   iii. Have you put away lying? (25)

   iv. Do you have your anger under control? (26)

   v. Do you take things that do not belong to you? (28)

   vi. Are you using your words correctly? (29)

   vii. Are you sensitive to the Holy Spirit's moving in your life? (30)

   viii. Have you put away your bitterness, wrath, anger, loud complaining, and griping, and evil speaking? (31)

   ix. Have you become kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving? (32)

   a. Colossians 3 is about setting our affections on the things of Christ.

   i. Have you set your affection on things that are above? (1-2)

   ii. Have you put to death fornication, impurity (uncleanness), wrong desires, etc.? (5)

   iii. Have you put off anger, wrath, wickedness (malice), making light of spiritual things, and filthy communication (8)

   iv. Have you quit lying? (9)

   v. Have you become a person that loves, feels mercy, kindness, longsuffering? (12)

   vi. Have you learned to deal with your brethren and the odd things about them and to forgive them? (13)

   vii. Does the peace of God rule in your heart? (15)

   viii. Does the Word of God dwell in you richly? (16)

   a. James 1:21 we are to put off filthiness and receive the word with meekness.

   i. Are you putting all your dirty wicked sin and thoughts away?

   ii. Are you replacing your old thought structures with the Word of God?

   a. We are to confess and forsake sin (1 John 1:9)

   b. Forgiving others -- no root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:15)

   c. Accepting the way God made you (Psalms 139:14-17)

   i. Are you dealing with your insecurities so that they do not hinder you from being used of God?

   ii. Do you really believe that God loves you and made you in a special way to be used of Him?

   a. Believing God to use you to help others

3. How faithful are you to your regular or everyday service to the Lord

   a. Church attendance

   b. Giving

   c. Praying

   d. Personal Bible reading

   e. Witnessing

   f. How is your personal relationship with your wife and children?

   g. Do you pay your bills on time?

   h. How do you manage your personal relationships with others?

   i. How are you serving the Lord in the church and other ways?

   j. Are you ready to make discipleship the priority ministry of your life?

   k. Do you have a Bible conviction that the way to obey God, reach the world, and build a church is through personal discipleship?

Personal study time and application:

Reading: It starts by working on you. Are you the type of person that you want to re-produce? Your disciple will look just like you. So you have to determine if that is what you want. As you learned in the lessons, most of discipleship is about your own spiritual maturity. You have to model what you want your disciple to do or he will never understand how it's supposed to look in real life.

Before I can ask someone to follow me, I need to answer the question; where am I going?

How is my own personal thought life?

What is my testimony amongst the other members of the church?

What is my testimony outside of the church?

How do I rate in terms of faithfulness to my Bible reading, church attendance and giving?

What discipleship opportunities are right in front of me?

Is Christ really first in my life?