The Biblical Principles of Discipleship

Allan Coppedge

Disciple means --- learner, apprentice.

Discipleship is based on personal relationships.

Introductions:
• “Promise and Fulfillment” is the structural relationship between Old and New Testament
• All Christians should be designed to glorify God:
o By a growing relationship with God
o Developing a Christ-like Character
o Fruitful Service to the Lord
Becoming God’s People:
• Genesis establishes that God desires relationships with Individuals (Adam-Joseph)
• Exodus reveals principles for people to relate to God and one another
• Exodus is the story of a People’s Covenant Relationship with God
• Discipleship can begin only with a desire to have a relationship with God and be his People
• Israel has a spiritual and physical problem
• God delivers Israel through Passover:
o God accepts a substitute for another’s life
o The blood of the lamb shed as a symbol of life for life
o A sacrificial meal as a symbol of God’s fellowship with man
o A redemption of Israel from slavery and bondage
o God’s people are saved by his grace
o This story is reflected in Jesus sacrifice and delivery in the New Testament
• God’s Provision demonstrated in Exodus:
o Giving Guidance
o Protecting from Evil and Apostasy
o Physical needs
o Spiritual Battle
o Counsel and Wisdom on priorities and Ministry
o God then calls Israel to a unique Covenant Relationship
 Key characteristics: - A Kingdom of Priests; A Holy Nation
 Restore Man to his original Holy Image
 Living Under God’s Authority --- Obedience and Faith, Trusting God
 Living in Fellowship with one another – God is social/made us social
 The Personal Presence of God --- the only means to create his Kingdom
Disciples of Jesus
o The Old Covenant – 12 Tribes; The New Covenant – 12 Disciples
o God’s Grace is available by Repentance and Faith
o Following Jesus as a Disciple requires:
 Agree to let Jesus assign your life’s work
 Investing your time and energy under His direction
 Service to Him; Taking on His Character – The image of God
 Living under Christ’s Authority --- The Word as Truth
 Living in close fellowship with other Disciples
 Developing a Personal Relationship with Christ
• Qualifications of Disciples:
o Accepting Christ and God’s Grace – Repentance and Faith (Jesus Death, Justification)
o Receiving his Holy Spirit --- Sanctification.
o Making other Disciples
• Key Characteristics of Disciples:
o Hunger for God and a relationship with Him
o Faithfulness -- Obedience to God’s Word
o Availability – prioritizing time
o Teachable – Open, enthusiastic learner
• Means to Discipleship
o Life on Life Transference – sharing wisdom, knowledge, experiences
 Easier “Caught than Taught”
 Concentrated ministry; significant time together
 Using time “on the road”; meals together
 Emotional Energy (John 4)
 People are social beings; Learning from one another
o Spiritual Disciplines (Means of Grace)
 Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount
 Time in God’s Word – understanding and obeying
 Scripture Memory – useful in preaching and teaching
 Fellowship –Spending time with other believers
 Giving – expression of gratitude; focus away from possessions
 Prayer – whole heart and mind with the Father. His Relationship, Daily
 Fasting – sacrificing essentials. Focus on Prayer; increases sensitivity
 Public Worship – Bible centered worship; Body of Christ Centered
 KEY --- not a checklist; a means to a close relationship with God and People
o Accountability
 Small Group focused
 Missions always 2 or more disciples sent
 Hold one another to account for Relationship with God; Character; Ministry
 Two types: Judgment vs. Educational/Transformational. Balance
Encourage/Rebuking
 Investment in others earn our right to hold them accountable
• Training Mission for Twelve
o Intense spiritual training; private and public ministry;
o Trains by teaching and ministry
o Vision of People’s Needs (Matt 9:36) – having compassion
o Too Few Workers – Solution: Prayer; Training Disciples
o Multiplication – need for investment in disciples who make disciples
o Living under authority, and delegated authority
o Targeting a Population
o Strategies for Training; Money; Meeting Opposition; Character Development; The Cost
• Servant Disciples
o Jesus is interested in character and SERVICE
o Serve AND make disciples
o Serve AND Love
o Release PRIDE
 o Submit to God; Remain Obedient
o The Holy Spirit makes possible transformation of the heart
• The Commission to Make Disciples
o Living in Faith; Under Authority; In Fellowship
o The commands imperative is MAKE DISCIPLES teaching is a method
o Make Disciples of Jesus –NOT Disciples of Disciples
o Jesus Dual Nature – He is Devine. We are His disciples.
o Becoming a Disciplemaker is a way of life – life long process
o Concentration: Jesus Public Ministry (5000 +); Seventy in Training; 12 Disciples; Inner
circle – Peter, James, John
o God is concerned for all people; Yet international ministries must include true disciple
making
o The Great Commission: Outreach
 Proclaim the Gospel; so people understand their sin; God’s offer of grace for
Salvation
 Bring People to a decision of Faith and commitment; their Justification
 Public Declaration of their faith (Baptism)
 Teaching those so Justified what it means to be a disciple; Obedience
 People responding as disciples in character, fellowship and service
• Spirit Filled Disciples
o The Holy Spirit is to dwell in Disciples
o We are born of the Spirit
o A personal relationship with the Holy Spirit
o This replaces the earthly relationship the Twelve had with Christ
o Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to all believers
o Without the Holy Spirit, Ministry or Service is not fully for the Kingdom
o Key to Sanctification (Putting on Christ’s Character)
o Manifests in Perfect Love, Total Obedience and Surrender
o Impact on Disciples: Witness; Disciple making; Building the Kingdom with Gifts given
• First Fulfillment of the Great Commission
o Proclamation
 Bring People to an understanding of the life, death, Resurrection and Ascension
of Jesus; and His role as Lord and Savior.
o Repentance and Faith
 Disciples must repent and seek forgiveness for their sins
o Baptism
o Training; Prayer; Worship; Fellowship; Giving
o Training must include a commitment to spiritual habits leading to relationship with God.
• Disciplemaking in the Early Church
o Barnabas
 Originally Joseph (Barnabas means “Son of Encouragement”)
 A Levite Jew; grew up in gentile Cyprus
 Barnabas was key to Paul’s entry and acceptance in the Early Church
 He displayed courage; sensitivity to God; Discernment; Close relationship with
the Apostles.
 Church leaders sent him alone on a mission (Great trust and character)
 “Good Man” --- Good as a STRONG “Godly” descriptor; Filled with the Holy Spirit
 He embraced “Multiplication” – traveled to engage Paul.
  Nephew – John Mark (author of Mark – likely Peter’s Gospel Recounting)
 Disagreed with Paul regarding John Mark’s readiness
 Likely John Mark, Paul and Luke were discipled by Barnabas
 Key: We do not need position, title, or name recognition to fully serve God’s
Kingdom.
• Discipleship in God’s Plan
o The Chief Function of Discipleship is to draw men and women to God that He might do
with them as He pleases.
o God made men for fellowship with him (Genesis)
o God’s solution to the problem of sin was a covenant relationship with individuals (Noah,
Abraham , Isaac, Jacob)
o Salvation through Christ begins with Repentance and Faith – Justification by New Birth
(God’s Grace)
o Many are Justified, but do not seek Sanctification (Discipleship)
o God’s Objectives for His People: Serve the Kingdom; Reflect God’s Holy Character
o The Personal Relationship Jesus had with the Twelve is an expression of the kind of
relationship God has always desired with every man and woman.
o Purposes of Discipleship
 Cultivate an Intimate Relationship with Jesus
 Cultivate habits and patterns that enable this relationship
 Remaining Accountable for character and ministry
• We are saved by Grace, but still fallen creatures

Additional Notes from February Seminar Given by Dr. A. Coppedge:

Baptism’s Key Symbolisms:

• Israel’s Deliverance from Egypt (Parting of the Red Sea)
• Israel’s crossing of the River Jordan (Promised Land)
• Jesus Beginning of Ministry and Filling with the Holy Spirit (John the Baptist)
• Pentecost (Filling of the Holy Spirit of the Apostles)
• Cleansing of “Self Will”; Imparting of Christ’s Likeness
Calling of the 1st Disciples (the Twelve) Jesus was more important than:
• Their possessions --- left their boats
• Their occupations --- left their jobs
• Their family ---- left their father
• (This is prioritization – not abandonment of family and responsibilities)
The Men He called:
• Working Men --- Blue collar; hard working
• Relationships – Family, relatives, knew each other; spent time, energy together
• Open to Spiritual challenge.
God Calls us in Discipleship
• To Reflect Christ’s character in righteousness and love
• To closer relationships with God and other Disciples
• To Fruitful Ministry
• To Delight in LIFE !
o Joy in relationships, experiences, learning
Interpretations of a Triune God:

• Luther: Kingly (Luther lived in Catholic Leaders/Kings close affiliation)

• Calvin: Righteous Judge (Calvin was a lawyer)
• Wesley: Father
o Illustrative of God’s Family
o We are “Children of God”
o Rebirth --- Baptism
o Assurance of Relationship with the Father
o Who raises “the baby” to spiritual maturity ? ---- we do by discipleship

Reading recommendation: John Oswalt

Summary Notes JGB February 2013