Matthew 4:19 ESV

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

DISCIPLE = Follow Jesus, be changed by Jesus, and join the mission of Jesus. (Matthew 4:19). HEAD, HEART, & HANDS

RELATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP

• The focus = biblical discipleship
• The method = relational environments

INTRODUCTION

Exodus 18:13-16 ESV

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God;

16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.”

Exodus 18:17-23 ESV

17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.

19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God,

20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.

21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.

23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

In the early church, we see leaders’ lives centered on relationships. They always mentioned each other in their letters. It was personal. We need more than biblical insights, leadership principles, and winning strategies. We also need a spiritual family or we will burn out. If we are going to survive this culture, or future tribulations/storms, we will need a faith life as God designed it.

SHIFT 1 — From Receiving to Fellowship

Acts 2:42a ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship,…

Fellowship = Koinōnia = to be especially close to someone because you share something in common with them.

FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

This consists of:

#1) Knowing His Will

John 17:3 (ESV)

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Job 22:21 (NLT)

“Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.

Romans 12:2 (ESV)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Conformed = fashion one’s self according to; one’s mind & character to another pattern

#2) Agreeing With His Design

Amos 3:2 (NLT)

“From among all the families on the earth, I have been intimate with you alone. That is why I must punish you for all your sins.”

#3) Mutual Affection

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

#4) Enjoyment of His Presence

Psalm 4:6 (NIV 1984)

Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.

#5) Conformity To His Image

1 John 2:6 (ESV)

whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

1 John 1:6 (ESV)

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

#6) Participation of His Joy

1 John 1:3-4 (ESV)

that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHERS

Acts 2:42-47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Three ingredients to Fellowship in the early church:

#1) They Spent Time Together

Acts 2:42, 46 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

#2) They Share A Common Foundation — Jesus

Acts 2:44, 45 ESV

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Acts 4:34-35 (ESV)

There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

#3) They Lived With Authenticity & Honesty

Acts 2:43, 47 ESV

43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Levels Of Maturity

Level 1 (Lowest) — I will take care of me.

Level 2 — I will take care of myself; you take care of yourself.

Level 3 — I will help you, but I will take care of me.

Level 4 (Highest) — There are times when I can help you & times when you can help me.

Matthew 8:18-20 (ESV)

18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Luke 8:1-3 (ESV)

1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

Matthew 26:36-38 (NLT)

36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.”37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

CONCLUSION

• If we are going to survive this culture, or future tribulations/storms, we will need a faith life as God designed it.

“True Christianity is like a group of rafters who assemble the right equipment and all work together to navigate dangerous waters.” — Jim Putman

Our church vision…

May His house be filled by bringing lives to Christ; so that they may live and serve in community in the culture of the Kingdom and of the church.

• Live & serve each other in koinonia. We must shift from “Feed Me” mentality to “Fellowship” reality.