making disciples for the 21st century dr. g. earl knight greater new york conference of seventh-day...
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Making DisciplesFor the 21st Century
Dr. G. Earl KnightGreater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventist
EVANGELISM SEMINAREVANGELISM SEMINAR
The Great Commission :: The Great Commission :: Matthew 28:18-20Matthew 28:18-20
“All authority (power) has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all
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.”
Who is a Disciple?Who is a Disciple?
• One who forsakes all to follow Jesus. James Montgomery Boice, Christ call to Discipleship, 13.
• One who is willing to be taught, a learner.
Discipleship involves commitment. It involves identification with Christ in His shameful death. Discipleship involves renunciation of oneself… It involves sacrifice for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“It involves surrendering one’s own will and one’s own rights to his life
and acknowledging that Jesus Christ has the right to be obeyed, the right to rule. Our Lord said that if a man is not willing to forsake all that he has, he cannot be His disciple.”
J. Dwight, Design for Discipleship, 18-19
A disciple is one who responds in faith and
obedience to the gracious call of Jesus. Being a
disciple is a lifelong process of dying to self while
allowing Jesus Christ to come alive in us.”
Disciple - Mathetes Disciple - Mathetes (Greek) (Greek)
Greg Ogden, Discipleship Essentials, 24
“Discipling is an intentional relationship in which we walk
alongside other disciples in order to encourage, equip, and
challenge one another in love to grow toward maturity in Christ.
This includes equipping the disciple to teachothers as well.”
Greg Ogden, Discipleship Essential, 17
To be a disciple is to be living in relationship with the One who is
discipling you. In this relationship one is to be constantly learning more about the person, while at the same time living in subjection to Him. The word does not
suggest a rapid conversion to the person, but a slow process by which one
is made into a disciple..
Discipleship is the process by Discipleship is the process by which one is led to accept which one is led to accept
Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, fully committed to a lifelong fully committed to a lifelong
learning relationship and learning relationship and growing towards maturity in growing towards maturity in
Christ. This includes equipping Christ. This includes equipping the disciples to make disciples the disciples to make disciples
of others.of others.
The Biblical Picture of Discipleship
Make Disciples Who…
GO
TEAC
H
BAPTIZE
REPRODUCE
Qualifications of a Disciple
• Surrendered to the Lordship of Christ
• Love and Concern for people
• Holiness
• Open and Transparent
• Committed Prayer Life
God’s Plan for GrowingA Healthy Congregation
And Moses' father- in- law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people
that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself
alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou
mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and
shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
Exodus 18:17-23
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
Exodus 18:21-23
Division for Effectiveness
Groups:10001005010
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and
the same day there were added unto them about three
thousand souls.
NURTUREThe new believers
“continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrines”.
Acts 2:41
1Small Groups Four
Functions
2Small Groups Four
Functions
WORSHIPIn response to God’s creative works and in goodness towards His
people we lift up His name in praise and thanksgiving. We worship Him because
He is worthy.
3Small Groups Four
Functions
COMMUNITYA small group setting
that brings the members together will
result in a closer community within the
body of Christ.
Small Groups Four Functions
4 MISSIONA small group must guard against
becoming inward. Without outreach the group becomes stagnated and
insipid. As we reach inward to maintain our own selves and others within the fold, we must reach out to
bring others within the fold; we must reach out to save others from
the pitfalls of sin.
Ellen White on Small Ellen White on Small GroupsGroups
“The Sabbath School should be one of the greatest instrumentalities, and most
effectual in bringing souls to Christ.”
Testimonies Vol 7, p. 21
Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 11
“The formation of small companies as a basis of Christian effort has been
presented to me by One who cannot err.”
“The Sabbath School if rightly conducted, is one of
God’s great instrumentalities to bring
souls to a knowledge of the truth.”
Ellen White on Small Ellen White on Small GroupsGroups
Counsels on Stewardship, p. 115
“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the
people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their
good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their
needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them ‘Follow Me’.”
Following Christ’s MethodFollowing Christ’s Method
Welfare Ministry, p. 60
The emphasis in this group setting is on sharing experiences
of what God has done in their lives and praying for a closer
walk with God.
Types of GroupsTypes of Groups
Sharing/Prayer Group
The main focus of this group is the study of Scripture and to seek how
to apply the Scriptures to their lives. Many of the Bible study groups follow the inductive Bible study method in understanding and
applying the Scriptures.
Types of GroupsTypes of Groups
Bible Study Group
This group emphasizes fellowship. There are members in our
churches that are in need of real fellowship, especially newly-
baptized ones or those who are newly-transferred from other
churches.
Types of GroupsTypes of Groups
Nurture Group
A support group focuses on assisting individuals who have
particular needs. These individuals have felt needs and need to
receive healing, love and warmth. Examples of these needs are single
parenting, death, drug abuse, alcohol recovery and divorce.
Types of GroupsTypes of Groups
Support Group
A group of people who for various circumstances meet in a home rather than in a church
for worship and fellowship. This group may have all the
trappings of a church service.
Types of GroupsTypes of Groups
Home Fellowship Group
The emphasis of this group is employing the members’ talents or gifts in the building of the church spiritually and numerically. This group must be students of the
Word and diligent spoke-persons for Jesus Christ.
Types of GroupsTypes of Groups
Outreach Group
The EmpoweredThe Empowered
DisciplesDisciples
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
The Empowered DisciplesThe Empowered Disciples
Acts 1:8
“When Pentecost came to the Apostolic church, three thousand souls were converted in a single day, and the
assurance has been given us that the time is coming when there will be as
many converted in a day as there were on the day of Pentecost, after the
disciples had received the Holy Spirit.”
Divine Power NeededDivine Power Needed
Review and Herald, June 29, 1905
“When we bring our hearts into unity with Christ, and our lives
into harmony with His work, the Spirit that fell on the disciples
on the day of Pentecost will fall on us.”
Testimonies for the Church VIII, p. 246
“The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women
comprising our church membership rally to the
work, and unite their efforts with those of ministers and
church officers.”Gospel Workers, p. 352
Lay Involvement is Lay Involvement is EssentialEssential
“Preaching is a small part of the work to be done for the
salvation of souls. God’s Spirit convicts sinners of the truth,
and He places them in the arms of the church. The ministers
may do their part, but they can never perform the work that the
church should do.”
Testimonies IV, p. 69
“The best help ministers can give the members of our churches is not
sermonizing, but planning work for them. Give each one something to do for others.
Help all to see that as receivers of the grace of Christ, they are under obligation to work for Him. And let all be taught how to work. Especially should those who are newly come to the faith be educated to become laborers together with God.”
Lay Involvement is Lay Involvement is EssentialEssential
Testimonies IX, p. 82
“One of the most effective ways in which light can be communicated is by
private, personal effort. In the home circle, at your neighbor’s fireside, at
the bedside of the sick, in a quiet way you may read the Scriptures and speak
a word for Jesus and the truth. Thus you may sow precious seed that will
spring up and bring forth fruit.”
The EffectivenessThe Effectivenessof Personal Evangelismof Personal Evangelism
Testimonies VI, p. 428-429
1. Love for people
2. Coming close to the people
3. Making the proper approach
4. Preparation
5. Presenting the study
6. Getting the decision
Six Keys to SuccessfulSix Keys to SuccessfulPersonal EvangelismPersonal Evangelism
The Oikos Factor
How new disciples are made:How new disciples are made:
Mark 5:19“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done
for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”
OIKOS :: Immediate and extended family
“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy
house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his
house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house,
he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.”
The Oikos FactorThe Oikos FactorActs 16:31-34
• Oikos members are receptive
• Oikos relationships allows for natural sharing
• Oikos relationships effectively assimilate new converts
• Oikos relationships tend to win entire families
• Oikos relationships provide new contacts
Why the Oikos?Why the Oikos?
Natural Network
• Family relationships and responsibilities
• The influence of Christian people
• A church visit – the program, special events
• A search for community
• A personal crisis
Why People JoinWhy People JoinTHE CHURCHTHE CHURCH
The ministry of the leaders of the church must focus on equipping other Christians to serve.
Eight Quality CharacteristicsEight Quality Characteristicsin Natural Church in Natural Church
DevelopmentDevelopmentEmpowering Leadership
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ.”
Ephesians 4:11-12
1
Eight Quality CharacteristicsEight Quality Characteristicsin Natural Church in Natural Church
DevelopmentDevelopmentGift Oriented Ministry2 When Christians serve in
their area of giftedness they generally function less in their own strength and more in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Eight Quality CharacteristicsEight Quality Characteristicsin Natural Church in Natural Church
DevelopmentDevelopmentFunctional Structures3 Structures must serve
the mission of the church.
Mark 2:27“And He said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.”
Eight Quality CharacteristicsEight Quality Characteristicsin Natural Church in Natural Church
DevelopmentDevelopmentInspiring Worship Service4
1 Timothy 5:16-19
The worship service of the church must inspire the members. It is the Holy Spirit that inspires
people.
Eight Quality CharacteristicsEight Quality Characteristicsin Natural Church in Natural Church
DevelopmentDevelopmentPassionate Spirituality5 The spiritual life of the
members must be characterized by prayer, enthusiasm and boldness.
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;continuing instant in prayer.”
Romans 12:11-12
Eight Quality CharacteristicsEight Quality Characteristicsin Natural Church in Natural Church
DevelopmentDevelopmentHolistic Small Group6Acts 2:46-47
“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having
favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
The multiplication of small groups is the most
important principle in church growth.
Eight Quality CharacteristicsEight Quality Characteristicsin Natural Church in Natural Church
DevelopmentDevelopmentNeed Oriented Evangelism
71 Corinthians 9:20-22“And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”
Our evangelistic methods must address the needs of those we are seeking to
reach.
Eight Quality CharacteristicsEight Quality Characteristicsin Natural Church in Natural Church
DevelopmentDevelopmentLoving Relationship8
John 13:34-35
The relationship of the members of the church must be
characterized by love and affection.
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are
my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
The Completed CycleThe Completed Cycleof Disciple-makingof Disciple-making
• People should immediately be placed in a small caring group. The small group setting is the best place to nurture discipleship.
• People must enter the church with the understanding that Christ has called them into ministry. They must view their baptism as an ordination into ministry and not just a symbol of forgiveness for sin.
Integration of New MembersIntegration of New Members
• People must be led to discover their spiritual gifts.
• People immediately must be led to identify their extended family and begin the disciple-making process within the networks that have been opened by their coming to Christ.
• People must be taught not to depend upon the visitation or sermons from an ordained, salaried pastor as the source of their spiritual life. They must be taught to develop their own study program.
Integration of New MembersIntegration of New Members
THE END!