Week 43 Go and Make Disciples
“The Church changes the world not by making converts but by making disciples.”
John Wesley
Passage
1Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,
2but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:1–4 (NASB95)
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Background
Quote-John Wesley 28 June 1703 – 2 March 1791 was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who was a leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The societies he founded became the dominant form of the independent Methodist movement that continues to this day. Although he was not a systematic theologian, Wesley argued for the notion of Christian perfection and against Calvinism—and, in particular, against its doctrine of predestination. His evangelicalism, firmly grounded in sacramental theology, maintained that means of grace sometimes had a role in sanctification of the believer; however, he taught that it was by faith a believer was transformed into the likeness of Christ. He held that, in this life, Christians could achieve a state where the love of God "reigned supreme in their hearts", giving them not only outward but inward holiness. Wesley's teachings, collectively known as Wesleyan theology, continue to inform the doctrine of Methodist churches.
Passage-The book of 2nd Corinthians is a Pauline Epistle (letter from Paul). The Apostle Paul wrote it about 56 A.D. The key personalities of this book are the Apostle Paul, Timothy, and Titus. Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth to defend and protect his Apostleship, and to teach and warn against false teachers who were spreading heresy.
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
Week 41 was Gather with Others. Week 42 was Grow with Others. Week 43 should have been Go with Others. The title change bothers my OCD, but if we take the title in context with the quote, the “others” part is hiddne in the word “Church” and is understood or implied in Week 43’s title. Isn’t it?
Ask: What did it mean to be a “disciple of Jesus” back when Jesus walked the Earth?
Point: It meant to walk with Him, listen to Him, and change as much in your life to do things as He said they should be done.
Ask: Is being a “disciple of Jesus” today different? Why/Why not?
Point: This is a discussion question meant to bring out the similarities and differences of what following Jesus today looks like from when the practice first began.
Re-read verse 1 of Today’s Passage
Ask: What does Paul mean when he says “…as we received mercy…?”
Point: We are all guilty of breaking God’s rules, committing things we call sin. We deserve punishment for that, but God showed us mercy by sending His Son Jesus to pay the price for our sins.
Ask: Why is it important to understand both we needed someone to show mercy and that we have received it?
Point: First Reading Acts 3:18–21 (NASB95)
Ask: People don’t like to talk about mercy in the context of them receiving it. Why is that?
Point: Saying I need mercy both acknowledges a higher power over me and the fact that I have done something wrong for which I should rightly be punished.
Ask: Did the prophets actually preach Christ coming to call us to repent of our sins?
Point: Yes.
Second Reading Isaiah 30:12–15 (NASB95)
Ask: Okay, prophets said it, but did Jesus actually say that?
Point: Yes.
Third Reading Luke 5:30–32 (NASB95)
Ask: “But I’m not a preacher and evangelism is not my gift. I can’t convince people to convert to Christianity and follow Jesus.”
Point: Re-read the quote for the lesson and then compare the definitions of the words Convert and Disciple.
Ask: What is the difference between a Convert and a Disciple?
Point: A Convert has made a different choice. A Disciple is living in a process of change to move away from the former choice and closer to the new choice.
Ask: What choice are we talking about here?
Point: Re-read Today’s Passage focusing on the fourth verse.
Ask: Who is the “…god of this world…?”
Point: Satan
Closing Statement
“I’m not a preacher. I don’t have the gift of evangelism. I can’t do that.” Something like this might be boucing around in our heads right now. On the one hand the Great Commandment calls us all to preach the gospel of Jesus to all we meet. On the other we know not everyone is gifted with the talents and calling of a pulpit preacher, orator, or evangelist to confront unbelievers. Is that an excuse that gets us out of the Great Commandment? No. What then are we to do? We are called to be disciples. We are called to study how our Lord lived, what He said to do, and what He said to avoid. We are then to order our lives in that fashion. But we are neihter called to do this alone nor was the intent that we do this alone. Gather with others. Grow with others, and go with others. It is from their presence we draw strength, encouragement, and power. In community is how we were intended to accomplish this task, not alone.
Questions for the Week
Question 1 Are you a Convert or a Disciple?
Question 2 How do you know?
Question 3 Can anyone else tell which category you’re in?
Question 4 Based on your answers to the first three questions for this week, how do you work to fulfill the Great Commandment?
Question 5 Based on your answer to Question 4, what changes do you intend to make in your life as it relates to the Great Commandment?
Scripture
First Reading
18“But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
19“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
20and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you,
21whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.
Acts 3:18–21 (NASB95)
Second Reading
12Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, “Since you have rejected this word And have put your trust in oppression and guile, and have relied on them,
13Therefore this iniquity will be to you Like a breach about to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant,
14Whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter’s jar, So ruthlessly shattered That a sherd will not be found among its pieces To take fire from a hearth Or to scoop water from a cistern.”
15For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing,
Isaiah 30:12–15 (NASB95)
Third Reading
30The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?”
31And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.
32“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 5:30–32 (NASB95)
Definitions
Convert
verb-kuhn-vurt; noun-kon-vurt
verb (used with object)
To change (something) into a different form or properties; transmute; transform.
To cause to adopt a different religion, political doctrine, opinion, etc.:to convert the heathen.
To turn to another or a particular use or purpose; divert from the original or intended use:They converted the study into a nursery for the baby.
To modify (something) so as to serve a different function:to convert an automobile factory to the manufacture of tanks.
To obtain an equivalent value for in an exchange or calculation, as money or units of measurement:to convert bank notes into gold; to convert yards into meters.
Finance. to exchange voluntarily (a bond or preferred stock) into another security, usually common stock, because of the greater value of the latter.
To change in character; cause to turn from an evil life to a righteous one:to convert a criminal.
noun
one who has been converted, as to a religion or opinion.
Disciple
[ dih-sahy-puhl ]
noun
A person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another; follower: a disciple of Freud.
Religion
One of the 12 personal followers of Christ.
One of the 70 followers sent forth by Christ. Luke 10:1.
Any other professed follower of Christ in His lifetime.
Any follower of Christ.
Disciple, a member of the Disciples of Christ.
verb (used with object), dis·ci·pled, dis·ci·pling.
Archaic. To convert into a disciple.
Obsolete. To teach; train.
The Great Commandment
16But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.
17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.
18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16–20 (NASB95)
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