08-14-11 AM - Reproducing: The Final Frontier

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1 Cor. 11:1
-Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. NIV
-Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. NASB
-Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. KJV

Remember; having Christ in you is where the hope of glory rests.

Col.1:27 To them (The saints) God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

For too long churches have been attractional and not transformational. They have done a great job of drawing people but a terrible job at discipling people.

We looked at three aspects of being a disciple up to this point.
1.    What does it mean to personally pursue Christ?
2.    The importance of relationships/living in community.
3.    Serving out of our passions.

Today we want to look at the final aspect and that is reproducing.

The tell-tale sign of a “true disciple” is that they understand and have been changed by what they have learned, and in turn take others on the journey with them.

1.    IT’S NOT A PROGRAM BUT A PROCESS

Programs are formal, informational and time oriented. The process of discipleship is casual, relational, and open ended as far as time goes.

1 Cor. 4:15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians (tutors) in Christ, you do not have many fathers, (parents) for in Christ Jesus I became your father (procreate, to regenerate, concieve) through the gospel.

2.    IT’S ABOUT MAKING PEOPLE LIKE JESUS NOT US

John 15:1-17  "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

3.    THE PRINCIPLES IN THE PROCESS STAY THE SAME

A.    Forgiveness- Matt. 6:14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you

Mk.11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Lk. 17:4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

Lk. 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

B.    Humility- Prov. 22:4 Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.

Phil.2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Col.3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

1Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

C.    Servant hood- Gal. 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Phil. 2:7 …but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

D.    Love- In the New Testament there are 202 verses concerning love.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Christian maturity is best forged in the crucible of relationships.