Disciples In the 21 st Century Brad

Disciples In the 21 st Century © Brad Stewart 2005

Session One – st Century Living 21 The Need for Godly Men © Brad Stewart 2005

21 st Century USA Statistics • Nearly 40% of children in our country will go to bed each night without their biological father in the home. • 25% of America's children live in mother-only families. • Approximately 29% of white and 66% of black children do not live with their biological father. • The United States is now the world's leader in fatherless families.

21 st Century Crime Statistics • Men commit: – 90% of all crimes – 99% of all rapes – 91% of all violent acts within a family – 94% of all drunk driving – 95% of all burglaries

21 st Century Conversion Statistics • Child first person to become a Christian, 3. 5 % probability the household will follow. • Mother first person to become Christian, 17% probability the household will follow. • Father first person to become a Christian, 93% probability the household will follow. • Out of 94 million men in the United States, 68 million don't attend any church, but 85% of those say they grew up with some church background

Where does that leave us? • For our world to change, we need to change the hearts of men. • Do you want to become a godly man?

Biblical Manhood • • • Disciple – being a committed follower of Christ Brother – relating with members of God’s family Friend – caring for those close to you Lover – loving with intimacy Warrior – waging spiritual battles King – enforcing righteousness

Biblical Manhood • • • Prophet – speaking God’s truth Priest – representing others to God Master – living God’s will Mission – completing your work Mate – serving with your woman Mentor – making disciples

Group Challenge • Break into your small groups • Remember it takes: – Courage to share – Concern to hear – Care to minister – Commitment to grow – Confidentiality to trust

Session Two - Disciple Being a follower of Christ © Brad Stewart 2005

All Discipleship begins with the Gospel

God’s Plan • Man was created to have a relationship with God and other men (Genesis 1: 27) • God wants all men to be His friend and know His love (Psalms 100: 5)

Man’s Problem Sinful Man Rm 3: 23 All Sin 1 Tim 2: 3 -4 God wants all men to be saved Holy God

God’s Remedy God shows His love Rm 5: 8 Sinful Man Rm 3: 23 All Sin 1 Tim 2: 3 -4 God wants all men to be saved Christ died for sins 1 Ptr 3: 18 Holy God

Man’s Response Which side are you on? Rm 5: 8 Sinful Man Rm 3: 23 All Sin 1 Tim 2: 3 -4 God wants all men to be saved Confess and believe Rm 10: 9 1 Ptr 3: 18 Holy God Acts 10: 38 Healing Acts 10: 43 Forgiveness

The Gospel 1 Corinthians 15: 3, 4 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.

Those Who Don’t Follow • Have a wrong perspective of who He is (Luke 9: 57 -62) • Do not properly calculate the cost (Luke 14: 25 -35) • Think “I know what is in my best interest” (Matthew 16: 24 -28) • Reject Him as their Lord and Savior (John 1: 10 -11)

Wrong Perspective Luke 9: 57 -62 • First Man – unable to deny himself • Second Man – loves others more than Christ • Third Man – is double minded and unable to focus on the task at hand

Calculate the Cost Luke 14: 15 -35 • “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. – The cost of expense – The cost of effort

I Know What’s Best Matthew 16: 24 -28 • Denies himself for the sake of others vs seeking his own sake at others expense • Puts Kingdome work first vs does whatever it takes to get ahead • Consider worldly items as rubbish vs tries to grow in power, position, and possessions

Reject Him As Lord He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

Those Who Do Follow • • Desire to do God’s will (Matthew 12: 49 -50) Obey God’s word (John 14: 21) Work at loving God’s people (John 13: 34 -35) Get involved in God’s work (Matthew 28: 1820)

Group Challenge • Break into your small groups • Remember it takes: – Courage to share – Concern to hear – Care to minister – Commitment to grow – Confidentiality to trust

Session Three - Brother Relating to God’s family © Brad Stewart 2005

What Is a Christian Brother? • Sons of God the Father (Romans 8: 15) • Fellow heirs of a common spiritual inheritance (Galatians 4: 7) • Men who apply the “one another’s” to members of God’s family. – – – Accept one another (Romans 15: 7) Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians. 5: 11) Admonish one another (Colossians. 3: 16) Love one another (John 13: 34 -35) Serve one another (Mark 10: 45) Forgive one another (Ephesians 4: 32)

How Does Brotherhood Grow? • Brotherhood grows when men care for others within the local body of Christ (Acts 2: 42) • They were devoted to the – – Apostles teaching The fellowship Breaking bread Prayer

What Does Brotherhood Produce? • Brotherhood produces Spiritual fruit when men are governed by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 43 -47) • They were living under the Spirit of God – – – Men filled with awe Generous giving Breaking bread with glad hearts God’s praise More converts

When Brothers Have Conflict? • Pray, prepare, and plan to meet in an effort to bring about reconciliation: – Discuss one problem at a time – Focus on the problem, not the person – State specifics, avoid generalities – Speak “I” statements, not “You” – Listen twice as much as you speak – Communicate to understand instead of trying to win

Group Challenge • Break into your small groups • Remember it takes: – Courage to share – Concern to hear – Care to minister – Commitment to grow – Confidentiality to trust

Session Four – Friend Caring for men close to you. © Brad Stewart 2005

Attributes of Un-Godly Friendships Men weaken and destroy their friendships by: • • Abandonment (Proverbs 27: 10) Unfaithfulness (Proverbs 25: 19) Gossip (Proverbs 11: 13) Betrayal (Psalms 41: 9)

Two Great Warriors Jonathan (1 Samuel 14: 1 -23) David (1 Samuel 17: 1 -54)

Jonathan • 1 Samuel 14: 1 -23 – Defies the odds

1 Samuel 14: 6 -7 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few. ” “Do all that you have in mind, ” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul. ”

Jonathan • 1 Samuel 14: 1 -23 – Defies the odds – Inspires an army

David • 1 Samuel 17: 1 -54 – Defies a giant

1 Samuel 17: 45 -47 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give all of you into our hands. ”

David • 1 Samuel 17: 1 -54 – Defies a giant – Revives the troops

One Great Friendship 1 Samuel 18: 1 -5 • One in spirit 1 Samuel 20: 1 -42 • • • Expressed honesty Demonstrated concern Kept promises Maintained loyalty Conveyed emotion Honored God

Group Challenge • Break into your small groups • Remember it takes: – Courage to share – Concern to hear – Care to minister – Commitment to grow – Confidentiality to trust

Session Five - Warrior Waging spiritual battles © Brad Stewart 2005

Know Your Enemy • Where did he come from? – Created by God (Ezekiel 28: 11 -15) – Served as a guardian cherub (Ezekial 28: 16 -17) • Why was he expelled from heaven? – Five “I Wills” (Isiaha 14: 12 -14) • • • I will ascend to heaven I will raise my throne I will sit enthroned I will ascend to the tops of clouds I will make myself like the Most High – I is the center of pride and sin.

Know His Strategy • Where does he focus? – Blinds the minds of unbelievers (II Corinthians 4: 3 -4) – Assaults believers to get them to fall from God's grace (Zechariah 3: 1; Galatians 3: 1 -2) – Provides temptation for men to sin (Genesis 3: 1 -6; I Chronicles 21: 1; Matthew 4: 1 -4) – Twists the word of God (Matthew 4: 5 -7) – Robs God of glory that rightfully belongs to Him (Matthew 4: 8 -11)

Live Ready for Battle • Put on God’s Armor (Eph 6: 10 -18) – – – – Belt of truth buckled on your waist Breastplate of righteousness over your chest Feet fitted with the gospel of peace Shield of faith to extinguish flaming arrows Helmet of salvation Sword of the Spirit which is God’s Word Keep on praying • Memorize Scripture (Mt 4: 4, 7, 10)

Group Challenge • Break into your small groups • Remember it takes: – Courage to share – Concern to hear – Care to minister – Commitment to grow – Confidentiality to trust

Session Six - Lover Loving with intimacy © Brad Stewart 2005

God Commands All men • To take care of their household – Love his wife (Gen 3) • Leave and cleave • Become one flesh – Father his children (Ps 78: 5, 6)

Love Your Wife • Directions for a godly husband: – As Christ loved the church (Eph 5: 25 -33) • Sacrifice for her • Demonstrate to her – With understanding (1 Peter 3: 7) • • • Listen to her words Learn to speak her love language Give her respect and honor Nourish her welfare Cherish her being

Love Your Children • Directions for a godly father: – Raise them in the instruction of God (Eph 6: 4) – Teach them God’s Word (Duet. 6: 6 -9) – Spend quality time with them (Mal 4: 5, 6) – End any sin cycles toward them (Ex 34: 7) – Discipline them with a Fathers love (Heb

Group Challenge • Break into your small groups • Remember it takes: – Courage to share – Concern to hear – Care to minister – Commitment to grow – Confidentiality to trust

Session Seven - Prophet Speaking God’s Word © Brad Stewart 2005

A Prophet’s Life • Prophets are put into service: – Ushered into God’s presence – Concerned for God’s people – Truthful about God’s word.

A Prophets Focus • He works at being: – strong on knowing and applying God’s word – responsible for accurately delivering God’s word to man – concerned about social change in line with God’s delivered word

A Prophets Guidance • God: – gives him the message to speak. – provides the time and place for delivery. – governs the reaction and response of those who receive.

Every Christian Is A Prophet • All godly men are: – empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 18) – able to share a message of sin, salvation, wrath, and grace (1 Cor. 15: 1, 2) – expounders of God’s truth as it has already been revealed (2 Tim 4: 2) – Desirous of prophetic truth (1 Cor 14: 1)

All Prophets Know God’s Word • Five ways to grow deeper in God’s word: – – – Hear (Rm 10: 17) Read (Rev 1: 3) Study (2 Tim 2: 15) Memorize (Ps 119: 9, 11) Meditate (Ps 1: 2, 3)

Group Challenge • Break into your small groups • Remember it takes: – Courage to share – Concern to hear – Care to minister – Commitment to grow – Confidentiality to trust

Session Eight - Priest Representing others to God © Brad Stewart 2005

Priests in the Old Testament • Started with men representing themselves (Adam, Cain, Able) • Developed into headship of families (Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Job) • Became limited to the tribe of Levi • Was a foreshadow of Christ

Priests In the Body of Christ • Applies to all true Christians: – Kingdom of Priests who serve God (Rev 1: 6) – Royal priesthood who declare God’s praises (1 Ptr 2: 5, 9) – Worshipers who enter into God’s presence (Heb 4: 16) • Fulfills a covenant God made to Moses (Ex 19: 6)

Pattern for Personal Worship • ACTS – Adoration (Ps 145) – Confession (1 John 1: 9) – Thanksgiving (1 Thes 5: 16 -18) – Supplication • Intercession (Eph 6: 18) • Petition (John 16: 24)

Group Challenge • Break into your small groups • Remember it takes: – Courage to share – Concern to hear – Care to minister – Commitment to grow – Confidentiality to trust

Session Nine - King Righteous Rule and Dominion © Brad Stewart 2005

The Definition of a King • Easton’s Bible Dictionary – generally used to denote a person invested with authority, whether extensive or limited – This title is applied to • God (1 Timothy 1: 17) • The Son of God (1 Timothy 6: 15, 16; Matt 27: 110 • The people of God (Daniel 7: 22, 27; Matt 19: 28; Rev 1: 6)

The Example of a Godly King • David – Support your leaders (1 Sam 26: 22 -24) – Rule with righteousness (2 Sam 23: 3 -4) – Confront all known sin (2 Sam 13 -15) – Support God’s kingdom (1 Chrn 29: 1 -9) – Ensure justice for wrong doing (1 Ki 2: 1 -9)

The Heart of a Godly King • Create rules for governing the home (1 Tim 3: 5) • Seeks to lead by love (Eph 5: 21 -6: 9) • Ensures sustenance for his subjects (1 Tim 5: 8) • Provides spiritual guidance (Deut 6: 6 -9) • Lives under God’s authority (Rev 5: 9 -10)

Group Challenge • Break into your small groups • Remember it takes: – Courage to share – Concern to hear – Care to minister – Commitment to grow – Confidentiality to trust

Session Ten - Master Living God’s Will © Brad Stewart 2005

Truths About God’s Will • He is more concerned about who you are then where you live or what career you fulfill (Boast passage) • We are more concerned about programs, God is more concerned about people (Mt 19: 14) • All things work together for your good (Rom 8: 28) • His will is good, perfect and pleasing (Rom 12: 2)

Adam Clearly Knew God’s Will • Placed in Eden to work the garden and live God’s will • Told one command: – Do not eat from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For the day you eat of it, you will surely die (Gen 2: 17)

Willingness To Obey Will • 90% of understanding God’s will is the willingness to obey. • Commit yourself to doing what His word says – “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” (John 7: 17)

Study God’s Word • Obedience is the hallmark of a Christian disciple? (John 14: 21) • Has God already addressed this or a similar situation? • What does Scripture teach as an example to live, command to obey or lifestyle to forsake?

Speak to God in Prayer Pray • Ask, seek, and knock – Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened (Matthew 7: 2, 8) • Check your motives – When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures (James 4: 3).

Research the Situation Research Description of decision Pro’s Con’s • Use your brain • Write down the problem or decision • Create a list of all the pro’s and con’s

Get Wise Counsel • Meet with someone you trust who has been in a similar situation • Ensure they are not emotionally involved – Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed (Proverbs 15: 22)

Evaluate Your Circumstances • God’s will is often revealed by circumstances • Satan also works circumstances for deception • God’s will is unpredictable – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3: 5, 6)

Stop Going Any Further Stop • Never push the situation or manipulate your circumstances • Acknowledge the sovereignty of God over your life • Thank Him for watching over you

Anticipate Crisis In Your Faith Obey Crisis • Open doors lead to a crisis of belief • Being obedient requires action • You can not stay where you are and go with God

The Decision Making Process Prayer Will Counsel Word Research Obey Stop Crisis Door Closed Door Open Circumstances

Group Challenge • Break into your small groups • Remember it takes: – Courage to share – Concern to hear – Care to minister – Commitment to grow – Confidentiality to trust

Session Eleven - Mission Completing Your Work © Brad Stewart 2005

God’s Mission • The example of Christ – John 4: 34 – John 17: 4 • Some revelations take years • If its God’s will it will happen

God’s Servant • God’s Man – has a love for God’s people – Is moldable – Is available – Is faithful

God’s Purpose • God knows you and has created you for a special purpose • God has give you special gifts toward the satisfaction of His purpose • God wants you to discover what His purpose is

Group Challenge • Break into your small groups • Remember it takes: – Courage to share – Concern to hear – Care to minister – Commitment to grow – Confidentiality to trust

Session Twelve - Mate Serving With Your Woman © Brad Stewart 2005

The First Man/Woman Team Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man and he brought her to the man.

The Teams First Assignment The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman, ’ for she was taken out of man. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked and they felt no shame.

She Is a Lover • She is the object of your physical and emotional love – They are to marry – They are to be one flesh

She is a Companion • She is the perfect companion to help you with God’s mission – – To stand alongside To share a personal life To build a home To work in God’s kingdom

She is a Support • Men connect with women who help them to complete their work • Ways a wife is to encourage a husband (see when beliefs collide)

Group Challenge • Break into your small groups • Remember it takes: – Courage to share – Concern to hear – Care to minister – Commitment to grow – Confidentiality to trust

Session Thirteen - Mentor Making Disciples © Brad Stewart 2005

The Great Commission • Go Make Disciples (Matthew 28: 18 -20) – Baptize in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit – Teach them to observe all Christ’s commandments – Trust in God’s guidance and presence

Spiritual Reproduction Follow up New Christians Grow In Godly Character Learn to Fish For men Witness and love people into God’s kingdom

The Basics Worship God Serve Others Make Disciples Witness Exercise Gifts Mature Disciple Learn God’s Word Fellowship Give Generously

Discipleship Channels One-on-One Preaching Worship God Serve Make Others Disciples Small Groups Witness Congregational Events Exercise Gifts Teaching Mature Disciple Fellowship Give Generously Learn God’s Word Seminars Conferences Special Events

Being a Disciple Maker • • Harvest in plentiful, laborers are few FAT Men Develops godly character Fishes for men (Matt 4: 19)

Group Challenge • Break into your small groups • Remember it takes: – Courage to share – Concern to hear – Care to minister – Commitment to grow – Confidentiality to trust

Session Fourteen - Wrap Up Living as a Man of God © Brad Stewart

Biblical Manhood • • • Disciple – being a committed follower of Christ Brother – relating with members of God’s family Friend – caring for those close to you Lover – loving with intimacy Warrior – waging spiritual battles King – enforcing righteousness

Biblical Manhood • • • Prophet – speaking God’s truth Priest – representing others to God Master – living God’s will Mission – completing your work Mate – serving with your woman Mentor – making disciples

Being a Disciple • • • Assured of Salvation Has a consistent Quiet Time Engages a relationship with God through Prayer Applies God’s Word Grows in Spiritual victory over sin Confesses Sin and receives God’s Forgiveness Works at abiding in Christ Seeks God’s Kingdom Gives Time, Talents and Treasure Expresses their faith

Do you want to live like this?

Or like this?