Discipleship ~Created to be like Christ

(Growth through childlike faith)

October 31, 2004

Grace Community Church

““He is most glorified in and He is most glorified in and through His people when we through His people when we are most satisfied in Him.”are most satisfied in Him.”

~ John Piper~ John Piper

Romans 8:29 “ “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Sonlikeness of his Son, ,

that he might be the that he might be the firstborn among many brothersfirstborn among many brothers.”.”

  My 3My 3rdrd purpose: He wants to make me like Jesus! purpose: He wants to make me like Jesus!

My third purpose is to be like Jesus

Ephesians 4:15 – The MessageEphesians 4:15 – The Message : “: “1515God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything”tell it in love—like Christ in everything”

How does he do it?How does he do it?Through a process we call Through a process we call DISCIPLESHIPDISCIPLESHIP

Debunking the process

1.1. Discipleship is not for the select fewDiscipleship is not for the select few..

2.2. Discipleship is not simply about Discipleship is not simply about more bible study, verse more bible study, verse memorization or church attendance.memorization or church attendance.

Debunking the process

1.1. Discipleship is not for the select fewDiscipleship is not for the select few..

2.2. Discipleship is not simply about more Discipleship is not simply about more bible study, verse memorization or bible study, verse memorization or church attendancechurch attendance

3.3. Discipleship is not a completed process.Discipleship is not a completed process.

Debunking the process

1.1. Discipleship is not for the select fewDiscipleship is not for the select few..

2.2. Discipleship is not simply about more Discipleship is not simply about more bible study, verse memorization or bible study, verse memorization or church attendancechurch attendance

3.3. Discipleship is not a completed process.Discipleship is not a completed process.

So HOW does He do it!?!So HOW does He do it!?!

Romans 8:28-29 ““And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called

according to his purpose. according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness likeness of his Sonof his Son, that he might be the , that he might be the firstborn among many brothersfirstborn among many brothers.”.”

  My 3My 3rdrd purpose: He wants to make me like Jesus! purpose: He wants to make me like Jesus!

Every believer can be more like Christ by responding with

childlike faith to 3 very common experiences

I. God uses temptation to teach us to obeyTemptation Pointers:Temptation Pointers:

1.1. It is not a sin to be tempted.It is not a sin to be tempted.

““You can’t keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest You can’t keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hairin your hair “ ~Martin Luther “ ~Martin Luther

I. God uses temptation to teach us to obey

Temptation Pointers:Temptation Pointers:

2.2. Remember you are no different than anyone elseRemember you are no different than anyone else

I Corinthians 10:13 I Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.up under it.””

I. God uses temptation to teach us to obeyTemptation Pointers:Temptation Pointers:

3.3. Understand temptation will not just go away – use the Word.Understand temptation will not just go away – use the Word.

I. God uses temptation to teach us to obey

Temptation Pointers:Temptation Pointers:

4.4. Apply the Word.Apply the Word.

A.A. Start Start identifyingidentifying where am I struggling where am I strugglingB.B. Start Start thinkingthinking right thoughts right thoughts C.C. Start Start makingmaking strategic relationships strategic relationships

             What temptation are you facing right now – that you could use as an opportunity to obey What temptation are you facing right now – that you could use as an opportunity to obey if you responded in a childlike faith?if you responded in a childlike faith?

II. God uses trouble to teach us to trust Him

John 16:33 :John 16:33 :

““In this world you will have trouble!”In this world you will have trouble!”

a.a.              thlip'-sisthlip'-sis PressurePressure (literally or (literally or figuratively):—afflicted, (-tion), figuratively):—afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, troubletribulation, trouble

Romans 5:3-4, The Message

33There’s more to come: We continue to shout There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know troubles, because we know how troubleshow troubles can can develop passionate patience in us, develop passionate patience in us, 44and how and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.will do next.

God is more concerned about how you live than what you do! 

II. God uses trouble to teach us to trust Him

““Trouble”shooting:Trouble”shooting: Ask Ask God for it to be taken awayGod for it to be taken away TrustTrust God’s way to be the best way God’s way to be the best way RememberRemember this is not the place for comfort this is not the place for comfort Keep Keep a spiritual journala spiritual journal

            What trouble (that you are presently experiencing) What trouble (that you are presently experiencing) could God use in your life for a deeper walk could God use in your life for a deeper walk if you if you responded with a childlike faith?responded with a childlike faith?

III. God uses trespass to teach us to forgive1.1. What are trespasses?What are trespasses?

Experiences designed by others to hurt youExperiences designed by others to hurt you2.2. How do you respond?How do you respond?

A.A. DL MOODYDL MOODYB.B. I Peter 2:23 “I Peter 2:23 “When they hurled their When they hurled their

insults at him, he did not retaliate; insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”to him who judges justly.”    

III. God uses trespass to teach us to forgiveHow do you learn to forgive?How do you learn to forgive?Two types of hurt / Two things to remember:Two types of hurt / Two things to remember:

1.1. In both cases: Forgive as God has forgiven you – Eph In both cases: Forgive as God has forgiven you – Eph 4:324:32

2.2. In both cases: Remember God is in control – Mt. In both cases: Remember God is in control – Mt. 10:2910:29

What trespass have you recently experienced that God What trespass have you recently experienced that God could use to teach you to forgive could use to teach you to forgive if you responded in a if you responded in a

child like faith?child like faith?  

My third purpose is to be like Jesus

1.1. Dessert – time of temptation – obedienceDessert – time of temptation – obedience2.2. Gethsemane – time of trouble – deeper loveGethsemane – time of trouble – deeper love3.3. Golgotha – time of trespass – forgivenessGolgotha – time of trespass – forgiveness

Every believer can grow deeper by responding to these common experiences with a childlike faith.Every believer can grow deeper by responding to these common experiences with a childlike faith.

Romans 8:17 Romans 8:17 “But if we go through the hard times with Him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with Him.”“But if we go through the hard times with Him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with Him.”

My third purpose is to be like Jesus

““Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus”Jesus”

(Phil. 2:5)(Phil. 2:5)