Only in Jesus is truth and reality. This sermon deals with removing “spiritual masks” that we put on as disciples and finding that only in Christ can we be transformed. It deals with 3 appearances that Jesus made in the Old Testament!
Archive for December, 2012
A quick overview of God’s covenants with man and the blessings we share in them today.
This sermon was given to the leadership of the Washington DC International Christian Church. Learn principles from Jesus on how to build the kingdom of God.
School of Discipleship- Session 2- “Heart Transfer Discipling”
Posted: December 16, 2012 in UncategorizedTEST
- Write down “Discipleship” study scriptures in order
- Draw the diagram from the Existence of God study with a point for each triangle
- Write yes or no if you are caught up on the reading
LESSON: “HEART TRANSFER DISCIPLING”
Introduction- Effective discipling is the ability to transfer your heart into another man. It requires trust, humility, and friendship.
1 Thessalonians 2:6-12
1. Discipling is based off relationship and not title/role (1 Thess. 2:6-8)
- It wasn’t a burden but a joy. They delighted in sharing the gospel with their disciples.
- Discipling requires mother like care. Are you gentle? Do you have this type of relationship?
- Discipling involves “sharing your life” not just the word. Openness breeds openness.
- Mark 3:13-19- Jesus defined the discipling relationship with a role, yet Jesus’ even understood family/trust is built by calling his disciples to be with him.
- Mark 3:31-35- Already, Jesus called them is family. You must strive to be closer to your disciples then even physical family. These most likely were the twelve he called to be with him and from the get go he had this deep of relationships!
- Philippians 2:19-24- Paul transferred his heart to Timothy! A selfless heart…what will you transfer?
- GO AROUND: Have everyone answer the question “would your disciples say they have this type of relationship with you, why or why not?”
2. Discipling involves daily work (1 Thess. 2:9)
- They worked a secular job as to not require money from their disciples and still cranked their discipling relationships.
- Colossians 1:28-29– Goal of discipling: Present each other perfect in Christ. How to disciple someone: a) Look at Jesus b) Look at your disciple c) See how they compare d) create a bible study on the areas they need inspired on to be like Jesus.
- It takes labor and reliance on God’s power daily.
- Daily admonishing, teaching, and laboring.
- Jeremiah 48:10– laziness curses our discipling relationships. Must know how to handle the sword (Bible). This is the reason we have all these test so you can effectively use the scalpel in your d-times.
3. Discipling requires a worthy example (1 Thess. 2:10)
- They had a confidence in their example and could make such a statement about their holiness, could you?
- 1 Timothy 4:11-16- EXAMPLE backs your discipling just like love and trust do. Are you excellent in your speech, faith, love life, purity, etc.? How can you disciple someone in these areas if you aren’t strong in them?
- Cory Blackwell would always say “your actions speak so loud that I can’t hear what your mouth is saying.”
- Discipling involves commanding and teaching. A great discipler knows when to do each.
- Must devote yourself to reading and teaching. It is the ONLY way to get better. There are no shortcuts. If you are devoted to video games more then reading or teaching you will get the results you keep getting ministry wise.
- 1 Corinthians 4:14-17– Example produces exact representation. Paul produced Timothy because he had transfered his heart into Timothy. Part of being a great disciple is imitating those who disciple you. You can’t just wait for d-times but you must watch your discipler (ie how they respond to people, how they fellowship, how they preach, how they study the bible, etc.).
- 1 Corinthians 11:1- Decide today to call your disciple to follow your example.
- Mark 1:14-18– Notice in this familiar passage that when Jesus called these guys to be his disciples, he had a plan for them…to be fishers of men. The point is, he was taking them somewhere. Making them into something. This is what moves the kingdom of God.
- DISCUSS: What are you making your disciples into and what is your plan for them?
4. Discipling moves the kingdom (1 Thess. 2:11-12)
- A good father helps his kid grow up. He moves him somewhere.
- How do you move your disciple? a) Encouraging b) Comforting c) Urging
- Jesus moved the disicples to be fishers of men.
- Matthew 11:12- Are you forcefully advancing your disciples so that the kingdom is being moved?
D-GROUP
- Honestly talk about how the discipling relationships are going.
- Disciple one-another and come up with a plan for every person in the ministry on where you are taking them.
HOMEWORK:
- Old Testament Tabernacle assignment (Tabernacle Assignment) (NOTE: I did this with the whole ministry for Bible/Real Talk and it went amazing, but I had the leaders in my discipleship d-group/class lead the groups)
- Listen to Kip lead the Kingdom study and memorize the dates/along with the passages.
Learn answers to some of the Bible’s biggest mysteries as well as how to battle in the spiritual war we are in!
School of Discipleship- Session 1 – “Introduction: Imitation and Maturity”
Posted: December 5, 2012 in Discipleship CourseIntroduction:
- This course should be rigorous and done every 3-4 days with your d-group.
- The notes here are designed as if I am teaching the class to my discipleship group and must be applied to your situation.
- Have everyone share how they did spiritually this past semester and how effective they think their leadership was.
- Take 20 minutes to take this General Knowledge Bible Test (GENERAL KNOWLEDGE BIBLE TEST). This test should be easily passed if one has a general knowledge of the bible and will give you a good idea where your group is at.
- The links and attachments are crucial to the course and the material referenced at the end of each attachment.
What will it take to be discipled by me?
- Imitation (John 3:22-23, John 4:1)
- John the Baptist (name means “baptizer”) was effective at baptizing yet his ministry was limited.
- Jesus baptized as well but taught his guys how to baptize so eventually the religious authorities of the day noticed Jesus’ ministry multiplied faster because now it wasn’t Jesus baptizing but his disciples. Jesus built a multiplying ministry.
- This came because Jesus’ disciples imitated what Jesus did. The leader must live out the example and his disciples must imitate it.
- Imitation = Multiplication
- 1 Corinthians 4:14-17 – Paul was confident that imitation was the key to fix any problem in the church. Timothy was an exact representation of Paul because Timothy could do what Paul could do.
- I need to be confident that I can send you guys into any situation and you can do what I could do.
- 1 Corinthians 11:1- Follow the Christ like qualities in me.
- Must throw away any pride to be able to imitate. (your way of doing things must be gone)
- IMITATE MY: Bible knowledge, speech, disciple making, diligence in accountability, passion, zeal, dress at church events, etc.
- Jesus had 12 disciples that became just like him, willing to die for the cause. Those 12 put that heart into the 72 (Luke 10). Those disciples put that heart into the 120 (Acts 1), those 120 put that heart into the 3000 (Acts 2), until we see the first Christian martyr Stephen died for the cause being just like Christ!
- 2 Samuel 23:8-23
- Mighty men do mighty acts of faith.
- Loyalty to the point of death in this group is an expectation.
- David believed leaders must earn the right to lead.
- Jesus taught the same concept in the parable of the minas (Luke 19:11-27)
- Notice the ones that reproduced their minas (ie. salvation) earned more cities to lead.
- Have you been fruitful? Built a Real Talk? Earned the right to lead?
2. Maturity (Hebrews 5:11-6:3, 7-8)
- Maturity is being a teacher of the first principles and bearing fruit (producing a crop of disciples!).
- First principles is just milk (can you teach about the Holy Spirit, laying on of hands, the resurrection, and eternal judgment? These are part of the first principles of Christianity as well).
- Each study must bring someone to a core conviction and decision:
- Maturity comes by “constant use”. Self training is key. It isn’t just being taught in a “d-time” or sermon, but you must imitate my walk and how I deal with others non-Christians and Christians.
DISCUSS and DISCIPLE ONE-ANOTHER on how much they have imitated. See how principles have applied or not been applied in your ministry situation.
CLASS HOMEWORK-
- Begin New Testament reading plan and memorize books of the Bible in order by next meeting. (NEW TESTAMENT IN 30 DAYS)
- Listen to Kip teach the Discipleship study online and memorize the study. (Click here)
- Read carefully the “Existence of God” study attached and you will be quizzed over this study and must be able to reproduce the diagram with a point for each triangle. (The Existence of God)
- There will be a test over the above three homework assignments next session.
Sermon: “7 Things in Hell that Need to be in God’s Church”
Posted: December 4, 2012 in Sermons, UncategorizedHell is a dreadful place prepared for those who rebel against God. Learn about the place those who don’t have go will spend an eternity in and also you will be surprised to learn there are some things in Hell that actually should be in the church!
Extraordinary Growth for Reality Ministries (OICC Campus Ministry) this Semester!
Posted: December 3, 2012 in Articles, UncategorizedIt was just a couple short months ago that we began the semester with around seven disciples in our campus ministry (not all were even enrolled in school) with a vision of having 12 baptisms for the semester (August through December) and a goal of ending the semester with 7 Real Talks (our version of “bible talks”). Today, God performed a miracle as we saw 3 students baptized into Christ putting us at 13 baptisms for the semester and tomorrow is the last day of the UCF semester! Truly we serve an amazing God and it is the fruit of new disciples that brings him glory (John 15:8). Equally exciting is that we ended the semester with 6 Real Talks: Volley Ball Real Talk on Monday Night, Dorm Real Talk on Thursday evening, Wednesday Afternoon Real Talk in the Student Union, Two Women’s Real Talks (one at UCF and one at Valencia Community College, and a Teen Real Talk on Saturdays. Special to me was the privilege to baptize a former youth minister (Middle Schoolers) and a “Timothy” to me this past Wednesday. Just a couple days after his baptism he lead the church in communion today! His name is Justin and he already dreams of leading a church in our movement one day and like Apollos was already very fervent about Jesus (Acts 18). Not only did he renounce his former church as teaching false doctrine, but broke up with his girlfriend (Airielle) of 3 and a half years who attended Florida Bible College studying Biblical Studies realizing she was not a true disciple. Airielle studied the Bible as well having the same convictions and today she was baptized into Christ. Even though she studies theology, she realized she had never known the truth. With 22 sold-out baptized disciples now in Reality Ministries (OICC Campus Ministry), God has begun a revolution on the campus’ of Orlando. Pray for us as we train our new Christians to teach others and mature. We have only seen 2 people leave the Lord this semester and are set on maturing the disciples to bear much fruit while keeping them faithful to Christ. Below are some pictures from our 4 new additions this past week! Glory be to God. Love you all.
Mike Patterson Ministries 