Discipleship Training MethodExplanation

DemonstrationAssociation

Reproduction

made2multiply.com

Contents! ! ! ! ! Introuduction

Our Language.....................................3An Example.....................................4Remember.....................................5

Explanation.....................................6Dship Explained.....................................7

Explanation in Dship...................................12Explanation Applied...................................13

Demonstration...................................14Dship Demonstrated...................................15

Demonstration in Dship...................................19Demonstration Applied...................................20

Association...................................22Discipleship in Association...................................23

Association in Dship...................................27Association Applied...................................28

Reproduction...................................29

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Our LanguageDiscipleship is teaching. It is imparting. It is modeling. It is empowering. And it is coaching another by living, learning, and laboring through the Christian life together. The saying is true: “You learn 10% of what you hear, 50% of what you see, and 90% of what you do.” The Discipleship Training Method shows that Jesus and Paul’s discipleship integrated listening, watching, and doing as part of their disciples learning process. They realized that discipleship must cater to learning styles.

This Discipleship Training Method is a grid that illustrates a holistic process for imparting truth and skill into a disciple. It involves explaining the “why’s” to a disciple, modeling the “how’s,” partnering by “doing it with them,” and then “sending them out” to reproduce convictions independently of the discipler. It is not as important where you start in the process with a disciple (you could make an argument for starting anywhere), but rather that you are incorporating all the steps into your discipleship process.

This study seeks to show the reader how Jesus and Paul viewed discipleship in terms of each of the four quadrants above. The grid is a summation of how they communicated, commissioned, and lived out discipleship. Each of the forthcoming sections has two parts. Part 1 expounds upon one of the quadrants and scripturally illustrates its need as part of the discipleship process. Part 2 shows how it can be applied in the discipleship process. Made 2 Multiply aims to show how discipleship is a process of explanation, demonstration, association, and reproduction.

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An ExampleTake anything. Anything you have learned and see how it fits the model below... Let’s take golf for instance. If you want to learn how to play golf, chances are that you cannot understand it, play it within its designed rules, or probably enjoy it until you learn about it. Until you learn more, it cannot be more than a leisurely walk interrupted by a little white ball.

How is someone introduced to golf? They either saw someone play on TV, on a course, or were told about the game, or played a round with a friend. Likely, if their first introduction to golf was an actual round then they probably wish they had not been introduced to it because it is hard to pick up and master without a first go around.

To excel at golf one must learn it from different angles. The game must be explained to them. The rules, the swing, the scoring, and the strategy must be explained before they can really learn the game of golf.

But still without seeing someone else implement these skills and knowledge it will only partially make sense. Golf becomes more easily understood when explanation is coupled with demonstation. To watch someone play golf and see them illustrate it is much more helpful and makes the game of golf much more known.

But that is not entirely enough. Some may hear about golf and watch it on TV and say, “I can do that!” But it takes actual involvement to understand the complexities and uncover the hidden parts of the game. To play a round of golf with an experienced golfer makes a world of difference as you watch them and as they give you feedback on your swing, stance, and handgrip. There is a big difference between playing and watching. Experience is often the best teacher. But properly evaluated experience from a coach is even better.

And finally they say, “You don’t really know something until you can teach it.” This is the pinnacle of learning. You have understood and learned once you can not only reproduce it for yourself (ie. play a round of golf), but when you can teach another to play a round of golf well. Reproduction and greater refinement is the final step of learning.

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Jesus in Matthew 4:19 says, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” In this phrase Jesus is asking the disciples to become holistic learners from him. To follow Jesus is to listen to his explanations, mimic his demonstrations, refine oneself through association, and then rmultiply yourself through reproduction. Jesus says that when we follow him, he will make us into the very thing that he is--fishers of men or disciplemakers. But there are no shortcuts. Learning involves a holistic process. It takes time to become a disciple and it takes time to make disciples because learning is a process.

RememberLearning is an organic and structured process. It involves personalization and structure at every level. Learning golf is never structure completley devoid of personalization or personalization devoid of structure. At some level you must always personalize (adapt things to a point to make them work for you), and always submit to structure (which is going through formalized and often foreign learning steps).

As in all things when learning, there is generally more formal structured practice steps one must take before mastering anything. In golf you must take countless swings and hit countless balls at the range until you can experience the freedom and personalization of how it best works for you. Once the structure is learned the golfer can adapt these skills to his body, skill set, and comfort level. He can gradually over time put his personal stamp upon his swing and foot stance. Then and only then can he play a round of golf in complete freedom and enjoyment that is catered to what works best for him. Structure and practice gives way to personalization and freedom.

The same is true of discipleship. You might need to incorporate more structure and practice using this Discipleship Training Method at the beginning with men or women you are investing into. But over time it will become natural and you will do it without thinking about it. But it never begins this way with anything. Give it some time, apply its structure, but then enjoy its flexiblity as you adapt it and personlize it to you ministry.

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TIME

Explanationtell them how

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Discipleship ExplainedNow the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28:16-20 ESV)

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus?(2 Timothy 2:1-3 ESV)

1) What might the timing of these two statements tell us about their importance to their speakers?

2) List the similarities between Jesus’ and Paul’s understanding of Discipleship in 2 Timothy and Matthew?

a. Audience for Discipleship

b. Command to Discipleship

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The Bible is clear that we are called, commanded, and commissioned to MAKE disciples. Jesus and Paul’s last words commend the church to create a legacy of believers that outlast themselves. Just as these verses explain our call to make

disciples so too is Explanation invaluable in making disciples. We must “Tell them [our disciples] what and why” often and explicitly.

c. Product of Discipleship

d. Power for Discipleship

e. Content of Discipleship

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Suppose “Addition” is a gifted evangelist and sees 1,000 conversions a day through his ministry = 350,000 converts a year. While “Multiplication” does not see that much fruit up

front he does faithfullly evangelize and disciple 2 men a year who are equipped to reproduce themselves into two men the

following year and so on. How many years does it take before “Multiplication” overtakes “Addition” in numbers of transformed lives? Its not mainly the power that’s in one

What is the most strategic use of one’s time?

Year! ! Addition! ! Multiplication1! ! 365,000!! ! 32! ! 720,000!! ! 94! ! 1,460,000! ! 8110! ! 3,650,000! ! 59,04915! ! 5,475,000! ! 14,348, 90720! ! 7,300,000! 3.5 Billion

3. Discipleship can often be referred to as a calling, commissioning, or a command. How do you view it? What do you think Jesus and Paul meant by their statements when uttering them?

4. Both Paul and Jesus build the command for discipleship off of grounding statements (ie. “You

then” by Paul and “Therefore” by Jesus). What are the grounds or reasons for each of their commands to disciple?

5. What is the main verb comprising each discipleship command and what is the object of each verb in Matthew and 2 Timothy? How does each verb and object contribute to a well-rounded view of discipleship?

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Is your life a canvas or a coloring book? Can God paint any picture that he wants to for your life or must he color within your predetermined lines?

6. How does Paul define a faithful man? What is true or a disciple according to Jesus?

7. How many generations comprise Paul’s idea of discipleship in 2 Timothy 2:2? Can you name them?

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8. How many ALL phrases make up Jesus’ concept of discipleship in Matthew 28:18-20? Name each one and descibe its importance.

9. What are the bookend promises surrounding Jesus’ call to discipleship and why are they needed to complete the task given to the disciples?

10. What are the bookend imperatives surrounding Paul’s command of Timothy towards discipleship? How do they set Timothy’s expectations for discipleship?

11. How do we know that discipleship is not just for Timothy or just for Jesus’ disciples? Show by the verses that this is not true?

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Explanation in DshipIt is crucial to always rotate explanation into your discipleship cycle with an individual. Any part of the Chirstian life (bible study, evangelism, prayer...) can become routine and habitual and lose real biblical meaning unless we tell disciples often “why” and “why not” we do or don’t do certain things. If we are not askng and explaining, “Why do we study the Bible?” a disciple may confuse it for earning brownie points with God or because its commmaded in the Bible (which it is not). We want them to devote themselves to study so they may know God through his revelation. If we are too quick in too much doing and not answering the reasons why we have missed a crucial step in discipleship and may be producing heretics in the process. Jesus is not mainly concerned with what a disciple does or does not do, but why they do it. The heart behind the hands really do matter.

Reflection1. Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7) and record the verses that state that

cares about inward holiness as well as outward holiness.

2. Read John 13:1-20. Where does Jesus employ the principel of Explanation in this particular teachable moment?

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Explanation Applied

The Wheel diagram is a grid for understanding the main aspects of our Christian’s relationship with God and with the world. A believer has Christ as their hub with vertical spokes that refer to his or her’s relationship with God through the Word and prayer. The horizontal spokes refer to his or her’s relationships in this world - ministry defines our relationship with unbeleivers and community defines our relationships with the body of Christ. When these spokes are present and revolving around Christ as hub then true worship results. When a life revolves around Christ it results in worship.

Take each of the aspects of the wheel below and describe why we engage them and reason why we don’t engage in them:

Belief in the Gospel

Bible Study

Prayer

Ministry (Evangelism & Discipleship)

Community

Worship

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Demonstrationshow them how

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Discipleship Demonstrated19 Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19)

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.(Philippians 4:8-9 ESV)

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved." 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.(1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 ESV)

1) Make observations about demonstration-style ministry based upon Paul’s commands of the churches to imitate him:

a. Content of Demonstration - What was demonstrated by Paul that was to be imitated by others?

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A model is necessary for true impartation to take place because most things are better “caught than taught.” Therefore, demonstration of the Christian life is crucial to

discipleship. If spirituality must be seen in another person before it can be fully replicated then discipleship must not only be verbalized, but visible by observation. The call of discipleship, according to Paul, is not to learn in a vacuum, but to learn

from a life lived before you. If Christianity is spoken, but also seen, we cannot simply “Tell disciples why,” but we must “Show them how.”

b. Purpose of Demonstration - Why is imitation contingent upon demonstration?

c. Results of Demonstration - According to Paul, what are the effects of living as he did?

d. Model of Demonstration - What mut have been true of Paul if he was to command imitation?

2) In the verses provided above, what verbs does Paul use to exhort the church to action in Philippains 4:9 and 1 Corinthians 11:1? What are the objects for each of these verbs?

" Verb " " " " " " " " Object

________________" " " " " ________________

"" Verb " " " " " " " " Object

________________ " " " " " ________________

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“it����������� ������������������  is����������� ������������������  hard����������� ������������������  to����������� ������������������  exemplify����������� ������������������  what����������� ������������������  you����������� ������������������  yourself����������� ������������������  have����������� ������������������  not����������� ������������������  experienced.”

3) Explain the relationship between the verbs and each of their corresponsing objects in the verses above. Describe how the command of imitation is linked to the necessity of demonstration (modeling life). How does this relationship provide insight into the need of demonstation in discipleship ministry?

4) What must be true of a discipler’s life if imitation is dependent upon demonstration or modeling?

5) What or who is Paul asking the Philipppians and the Corinthians to imitate? What or who is he telling them not to imitate?

6) How do we know that to model Christianity does not mean to model perfection? What does Paul specify in his command of imitation that undergirds this?

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Questions1. Are you an owner or a steward of your time?

2. Are you growing? Are you a stagnant pool or a running river?• A stagnant pool breeds disease and poisons

people.• A running river changes people and landscapes

and provides refreshment.

3. Are you making decisions to grow?• Are you feeding on God’s word daily?• Are you following the couself of God’s poeple?• Are you faithful in sharing God’s message?

7) Taking the following Discipleship definition...

Discipleship is a movement of the Holy Spirit in which a maturing believer with a life worth emulating commits himself over an extended time to a few believers with the goal of aiding their

maturity as a disciple and their making of disciples who reproduce themselves into third and future generations.

...list some ways of how a discipler can aid a disciples’ maturity and the making of disciples through the process of demonstration. (ie. what must he model before them)

" " " Maturity " " " " " " Making

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Hand DiagramThe Hand Diagram is a great way to evaluate your own intake of God’s word through a variety of ways AND a grid for teaching and modeling different ways that the Word of God can be planted and fertilized in someone’s life.

QuestionIn what areas do you need to get a better grip on God’s word and in what areas can you help your disciples to get a better grip on God’s word?

8) How does one keep Christ (and not himself) central when so much of discipleship is showing one’s life to another and modeling it continuously? What do the verses imply about the centrality of Jesus in the whole demonstration process with a disciple?

9) What is Paul calling the Philippians to imitate? What is Paul calling the Corinthians to imitate? How do the answers to these two situations give us a holistic picture of demonstration ministry?

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“You can talk about right and wrong and good and bad all day long, but ultimately people need to see it. Seeing and studying the actual lives of

people is simply the best way to communicate ideas about how to behave and how not to behave. We need heroes and role models...You may have noticed that he [Jesus] didn’t just talk. Of course he said a lot

of extraordinary things, but he also lived with his disciples for three years. They saw him eat and sleep and perform miracles. They saw him life

and suffer and die. They saw him interact with all kinds of people, including with them. That’s the main way he communicated himself to

the men who would commuincate him to the world. That’s how he made disciples - who would make disciples, who would make disciples. So, from the gospel stories of Jesus’ life, you get the idea that seeign a

person’s life is at least as important as getting a list of lessons from that person. Yes, sermons are important, but seeing the actual life of the guy

who gives the sermon might be even more powerful. And you get the idea that how you live affects others. It teaches them how to live.”

Eric Mataxas Quote 7 Men, Introduction page X

Demonstration in DshipDemonstration is often the missing step in the discipleship process. Discipleship has too oftentimes been boiled down to a lot of talk but often does not consist of a lot of walk. Disciples do not need to only hear what they should do, but shown how they can do it. They can be clear on the “what” and “whys,” but very unsure of the “hows.” The major absence in the church today is spirtual mothers and fathers who show, model, and demonstrate godliness, character, vision, and skill. Most disciples do not have access to a life worth investing in them and even fewer have a life they can watch and learn from on a regular basis. It can happen in bible studies and even in one on one meetings, but real life investment and transfer happens when the discipe has front row seats to a mentor’s daily thoughts, actions, and decisions.

Reflection1) Read John 13:1-20. Show and explain how Jesus is intentionally modeling service to his

disciples? What other observations can you make about Jesus modeling the demonstration process in his discipleship ministry?

2) Which other ways does Jesus intentionally demonstrate Christian life to his disciples in the gospels? (See Matthew 26-26:29, Luke 22:39-46, luke 11:1-13, Luke 9:10-17, Mark 9:1-13)

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Demonstration Applied

The parabola above illustrates the different types and amount of ministry time a discipler spends with one of his disciples. On the right is “Formal Time.” Formal time is anytime a discipler is spending time with disciples in a planned ministry context (ie. church, bible study, conference, 1on1, meeting, quiet time...). Hang Time is anytime a discipler is just relationally bonding with a disciple (meal, hobby, exercise, movie, studying...). Informal time is the lion’s share of a discipler’s ministry time. It exists every time the discipler is hanging out and building relationship with a disciple but takes a teachable moment to bring up something or model something spiritual in nature. Informal ministry time can happen anywhere and at any time. It just takes some initiation on the part of the discipler (sharing with the waitress after a meal, asking deeper questions after seeing a movie...”

Below, make a list of Hang Time and Formal Time activities you enjoy and could do with a disciple. Then make a list of ways that the Hang Time activities could become informal ministry time by taking teachable moments. What applications can you make?

HANG TIME INFORMAL TIME FORMAL TIME

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!HANGTIME

FORMALTIME

INFORMALTIME

Associationdo it with them

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Discipleship in Association[13] And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. [14] And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach [15] and have authority to cast out demons. [16] He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); [17] James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); [18] Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, [19] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (Mark 3:13-19 ESV)

7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.(1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 ESV)

1) Make observations about Association-style ministry from the verses above:

a. The sacrifice of Association - What does Association-style ministry require?

b. The heart of Association - What feelings were behind Jesus and Paul’s discipleship of the disciples and Thessalonians?

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Ministry is mainly time. It is that simple and that hard. The call of a discipler is to give away your most precious asset - your time. Without dying to your time and giving it to others you will never effectively disciple men. Discipleship does not mainly happen in

scheduled and planned contexts, but in the rote and routine everyday tasks. Therefore, you must live beside disciples and in front of them because your life is

your greatest pulpit.

c. The purpose of Association - Why did Jesus spend time with his disciples?

d. The limitation of Association - What is limiting about this kind of ministry with respect to the number of people you can model it for?

2) What words are used to describe Paul’s affections for the Thessalonians? How do we know that Jesus felt similarily from the passage in Mark chapter 3?

3) What word picture is given to illustrate Paul’s discipleship of the Thessalonians? List all the ways this illustration impacts your view of discipleship. What holistic ministry patterns does this word picture bring to mind?

a. In 1 Peter 5:1-5. Peter uses the word “shepherd” to describe ministry. How does this add to the reality that discipleship is just more than weekly meetings?

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Unless����������� ������������������  one����������� ������������������  narrows����������� ������������������  or����������� ������������������  limits����������� ������������������  their����������� ������������������  discipleship����������� ������������������  investment����������� ������������������  they����������� ������������������  will����������� ������������������  only����������� ������������������  invest����������� ������������������  an����������� ������������������  inch����������� ������������������  deep����������� ������������������  and����������� ������������������  a����������� ������������������  mile����������� ������������������  wide����������� ������������������  with����������� ������������������  everyone.����������� ������������������  ����������� ������������������  But����������� ������������������  if����������� ������������������  one����������� ������������������  starts����������� ������������������  small����������� ������������������  and����������� ������������������  goes����������� ������������������  deep����������� ������������������  then����������� ������������������  the����������� ������������������  future����������� ������������������  ramifications����������� ������������������  of����������� ������������������  what����������� ������������������  can����������� ������������������  be����������� ������������������  reproduced����������� ������������������  out����������� ������������������  of����������� ������������������  their����������� ������������������  life����������� ������������������  can����������� ������������������  become����������� ������������������  very����������� ������������������  great.����������� ������������������  ����������� ������������������  Greater����������� ������������������  than����������� ������������������  if����������� ������������������  they����������� ������������������  had����������� ������������������  tried����������� ������������������  to����������� ������������������  do����������� ������������������  it����������� ������������������  all����������� ������������������  themselves.����������� ������������������  ����������� ������������������  

4) According to Paul in 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, what are the two things that Paul longs to share with the Thessalonians? Which one do you model most in ministry? Why do you default to this understanding of ministry most of the time?

5) What types of things constitute gospel-sharing and self-sharing? Make a list of each below:

" Gospel Sharing" " " " " Self-Sharing or Life-Sharing

6) How can Gospel-sharing also be Self-sharing and when is it not Self-sharing? Or when is Self-sharing also Gopsel-sharing and when is it not?

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7) Discipleship is a process of both truth (Gospel-sharing) and love (Life-sharing). Paul writes in Ephesians 4:15 that we are “to speak the truth with love.” Therefore, knowing that both must be incorporated into our discipleship how does the following dialectic work best using the following words: develop, deceive, destroy?

★ Truth without Love ________________

★ Love without Truth ________________

★ Truth and Love together ________________

a. Without trust people will have a hard time hearing truthful things from you. For truth to really stick it most often happens through the context of loving and sincere relationship. Have you created these contexts with your disciples so that truth may not only be said, but heard by the other person?

b. Love devoid of truth is not love at all. Loving and sincere relationships can be built without ever really displaying love because hard conversations never occur. Why do your relationships exist? Just for you or for them too? What do you need to commuincate to them?

8) Paul and Jesus both realized that disciples are not just born, but made. Therefore, they shared the gospel and also large amounts of time with their disciples. Using the following categores, which parts of your life have your disciples not seen or been a part of:

" " Finances" " " " Devotion Times

" " Relationships or Marriage" " Confession of Sin

" " Family"" " " " Conflict

" " Hobbies" " " " Work or Homework

" " Meals"" " " " Evangelism

" " Exercise" " " " Decision-making

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Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up every way into him, who is the head,

the Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint, with which it is equipped, when

each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it

builds itself up in love.”Ephesians 4:15-16

Association in DshipTime spent with disciples is gold. Since a picture speaks louder than words a discipler must continually be about placing his living picture before his or her disciples. Without it disciples can be lost on how to put the ministry puzzle together. They need to see how their discipler walks with God and helps others walk with God. But they do not only need to see it, they need to share in a disciplers personal walk with God and serve alongside the discipler in ministry arenas. Where can your disciples more fully immerse themselves in your relationship with God and your relationships with others (believers and unbelievers)?

Reflection1) What further areas can your disciples share in your relationship with God and what areas can

they serve beside you in relationships with others? (aka, where can additional time still be leveraged with your disciples?)

2) In what other ways do you see Jesus investing time into his disciples in teh gospels? (See Mark 6:30-44, Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 2:23-28, Mark 4:33-41, Mark 9:2-13)

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Association Applied

The diagram above helps a person organize their association ministry or time with disciples. If a person wants to build a foundation of Christ in another’s life it takes two main ingredients: Spiritual Conversation and Relational Connection. Like any wall, it must have both. For a wall made exclusively of bricks has nothing to hold it together and will topple easily, but a wall made simply from mortar will have absolutely no substance. A wall needs brick and mortar. Just as a disciple need spiritual conversations and relational connection times. When does your time model bricks and when does it model mortar? Before spending time with a disciple ask 3 questions:

1) Where are they?2) Where do I want them to be?3) How can you get them there?

Use these questions to help you discern whether time with that disciple needs to be more intentionally relational (exercise or shopping) this week or more intentionally spiritual (Ask a question over a meal). There is no specific order or amount, the important thing to keep in mind is to make sure you are including both.

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SPIRITUAL MORTAR

RELATIONAL BRICKS

Reproductionsend them out

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Discipleship ReproducedThe elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.(3 John 1:1-4 ESV)

I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.(1 Corinthians 4:14-17 ESV)

1) Make observations about Reproduction-style ministry from the verses above:

a) the receipients of Reproduction - How do each of the author’s feel about Gaius and the Corinthians?

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When has discipleship really happened? Is it when one begins to labor in ministry? Is it when a laborer makes a disciple? Or when a laborer makes a disciple who makes

another disciple. True discpleship or teaching becomes consummated in a third generation. A third spiritual generation is the generation we are after. Christians are after spiritual reproduction. The church grows this way. Reproduction takes time and comes from maturing spiritual parents. Births are not done en masse, but come one

by one. This is how life is multiplied.

b) the illustration of Reproduction - How does the familial language express depth and definition about spiritual reproduction?

c) the Friendship of Reproduction - what is true friendship built upon in Discipleship relationships?

d) the product of Reproduction - what will Reproduction produce in you and through you?

2) How do we know from the passages that spiritual reproduction takes time?

3) What has been passed on to John’s spiritual children and what does Paul encourage his children to imitate?

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4) What does Paul conclude is the best method for transformation for the Corinthian church?

5) Paul wants to remind the Corinthians of his ways in Christ and so what does he do? Why is this so counter-cultural?

6) What does John say brings him maximum joy? Why does this not conflict with joy in Jesus or be labled as idolatry?

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Reproduction in DshipReproduction is the goal of discipleship. Discipleship has not happened unless we are reproducing disciples who make disciples. A third spiritual generation who has not lost a reproducing mindset is the key to creatign a movement of men and women eager to see Christ’s kingdom expand. Biologically, things that are alive are meant to reproduce. It is a sign of health. But spiritually, the same principle can apply. We have been called to reproduce ourselves and Christ is to be passed on from one generation to another one person at a time.

Reflection1) Read over Genesis chapter 1, chapter 9, and chapter 12. Where do you see references to

God filling the earth with his image and commanding his creation to multiply? (These statements are commonly referred to as the Cultural Mandate which is the physical multiplication mandates. But this is played out spiritually by Jesus in what has been called the what?

2) See John chapter 17 and make observations about how Jesus intends his people to live and why they are to live that way. (Also, see John 17:4. What do you think the work that Jesus claimed he had accomplished was?)

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Reproduction Applied

See the following diagram/grid above. Of the 5 stages above in the discipleship grid where would you place yourself? What characteristics seem to really define where you are in the process of disciplemaking.

Remember, this is not necessarily measuing maturity, but can also measure time and experience in making disciples. Evaluate yourself below.

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