Encarnacao Alliance

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Encarnacao Alliance

• Grass Roots Trainers Training
• Discipleship
• Creating a discipling community?
• Bryan Johnson

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The Church is a discipling Community

• The foundations of the Church are
• Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone Eph. 2v20
• The other foundations stones are
• Faith Col. 2v5
• Hope 1 Thess. 1v2,3
• Love I Cor. 13v13

• The ministry of establishing the Church is done
  through and in the grace of God Eph 2v8
• Gods grace is not only His unmerited favour
• But also His enabling power
• And His extravagant forgiving love.

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Questions about discipleship?

• 1. What is the aim of discipleship?
• 2. Who is an example of a discipler?
• 3. Who can disciple others?
• 4. How many disciples should I disciple at once?
• 5. What is the attitude of the discipler?

• 6. How can we measure progress in
  disciple-making?
• 7. Why is it important to make disciples?
• 8. What do we teach disciples?
• 9. How do we teach disciples?
• 10. What do disciples do?

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1. What is the aim of discipleship?

• For disciples to become like Jesus Christ.
• That the disciples will help extend the rule and
  reign of the Kingdom of God over all the earth.
• To multiply the number of disciplined believers
  in Jesus Christ in caring communities of
  disciples.
• To fulfill the command of God when God created
  mankind. Genesis 1 verse 28.
• God blessed them and said be fruitful
  and
• multiply, fill the earth, and rule
  over it.

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2. Who is an example of a discipler?

• Jesus Christ discipled 12 Galileans. Mark 3
  verses 13 19. 11 were successful in their
  ministry as disciples of Christ. 1 failed.
• The Apostle Paul discipled Timothy, John Mark,
  Silas, Lois, Eunice, Philemon, Apphia,
• Archippus, Artemas, Tychicus, Carpus,
  Crescens, Titus, Zenas and many others. Several
  of Pauls disciples failed as well, they were
  Hymenaeus, Philetus, Demas etc.

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3. Who can disciple others?

• Do I have to be perfect before others?
• - No, not even the Apostle Paul was not
  perfect, see Phil. 312-14
• - Grace is Gods enabling power to do what he
  has called us to do for Him. See James 46. We
  receive grace and bestow grace.
• - Always be a humble learner.

• Those who have a learning attitude!
• To disciple others you only need to be one step
  ahead of your disciples
• Be a person with the goal to be like Christ,
  Phil. 313-14
• Be a F.A.T. person, Faithful, Available, and
  Teachable. These qualities are those that make a
  great teacher and disciple-maker.

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4. How many disciples should I disciple at once?

• Jesus Christ was able to disciple 12 at once. He
  was doing this full-time. His ability was greater
  than ours. A small group/community is ideal for
  the process of discipleship.
• Timothy seems to have discipled two to four
  disciples at a time. His mobility probably
  limited the number he could disciple at any one
  time.
• The Apostle Paul discipled two to eight at any
  one time. Paul understood the need to disciple
  groups.

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5. What are the attitudes of the discipler?

• 1 Thessalonians 5 verses 11- 14.
• Therefore encourage one another, build up
  one another, just as you are also doing.
  Appreciate those who diligently labor among you,
  and have charge over you in the Lord and give you
  instruction, and that you esteem them highly in
  love because of their work. Live in peace with
  one another. We urge you brethren, admonish the
  unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the
  weak, be patient with all men.

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6. How can we measure progress in
disciple-making?

• Disciple making produces outcomes in the lives of
  the disciples. These are measured by the Apostle
  Paul as character qualities that will lead to the
  disciples becoming deacons and later elders in
  the Church. See I Tim 31-13 .
• These qualities are marriage fidelity,
  integrity, temperance, prudence, respect,
  hospitality, teachable, not a drunkard or a
  fighter, gentle, uncontentious, free from
  materialism, manages his household well,
  dignified, not conceited or proud, good
  reputation, truthful in speech, a clear
  conscience, faithful servants of Christ,
  generous, caring for people.

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7. Why is it important to make disciples?

• To fulfill the command of Jesus Christ in Matt 28
  verses 18-20.
• The disciples of Christ are the earthly agents
  the Holy Spirit uses to bring the will (kingdom)
  of God on earth. Matt 6 verse 10.
• The family of God the Church needs disciplined
  leadership for the family to function properly.
• Disciplined leadership in all areas of human
  endeavor will be a blessing to mankind and bring
  Christs rule in the hearts of mankind and over
  all creation. Genesis 128.

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8. What do we teach our disciples?

• The Great Commission gives us a clue?
• Teach them to observe all that I commanded
  Matthew 2820
• What did Jesus command search the scriptures
• Love God, love one another 2 great commands
• Preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God
• Go to all nations and peoples, baptize, heal the
  sick, cast out demons, exercise authority in
  Christs name.
• Make disciples of all converts ready to be
  taught.
• Expect signs and wonders to accompany this
  ministry.

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How do we teach disciples?The context?

• In joy-filled small groups building strong loving
  and caring relationships
• By building a joy-filled community that invites
  the presence of God into its midst
• In an oral and interactive style
• By being an example through our lives
• In informal settings, and while ministering

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What do disciples do?

• Obey the commands of the Master
• Cooperate in unity with their leader and his team
  seeking to grow in Christ
• Observe closely the ministry style and attitude
  of the leader seeking to implement that style
• Minister in the power of the Holy Spirit out of
  a servant heart with compassion for people
• Allow the leader to critique their ministry and
  take notice of their helpful suggestions
• Seek to develop as a disciplined leader

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The discipleship methods of Jesus

• Selected men willing to leave all and follow him
• Expected them to obey His commands
• Developed faith in their hearts
• Taught them the gospel of the kingdom of God
• Taught them to pray
• Taught them to suffer with grace and humility
• Spent time in informal settings telling them
  stories

• Encouraged them to minister at the earliest
  opportunity
• Evaluated their successes and failures, and
  encouraged them to keep growing strong in the
  Lord
• Prayed all the time for them to be protected from
  the enemy
• Taught the that the power of the Holy Spirit
  would dramatically change their lives

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What was the result?

• 25 of the Mediterranean world were Christians by
  300AD and part of an urban house based movement.
• Thousands of Christians had suffered and died as
  martyrs, but the Church still grew
• Thousand of Christians found that the Holy Spirit
  was the greatest person and power they had ever
  encountered and they gave their total allegiance
  to Him.
• Disciples were made in all Mediterranean nations
  and many of those disciples understood that they
  were disciples because they made disciples and
  multiplied the Church and the influence of the
  Kingdom of God bringing dramatic social reforms
  in many cultures and nations.

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Jesus implemented a unique strategy for world
evangelization

• Preach the gospel of the Kingdom
• Make disciples that would make disciples and
  multiply the preaching of the kingdom of God to
  all creation and form them into joy-filled,
  caring, informal communities.
• Teach, baptize, command, observe, obey, cast out
  demons, perform signs and wonders, heal the sick,
  and prepare them for the return of Christ by
  ensuring that every nation, tribe and tongue
  hears the gospel before Christ shall return

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The eschatological implications of making
disciples

• The disciples of Christ shall also be the Bride
  of Christ on His return. Rev 212
• The disciples of Christ are His Body on earth
  until He returns. Romans 124
• The disciples of Christ will be drawn from very
  tribe, tongue, race and nation by the time Christ
  returns. Matt 2414
• We will all live with Him in an Heavenly city for
  eternity after His return. Rev 21.
• This city will be located in a new heaven and a
  new earth. Rev 211-2

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Disciples of Christ are His Body on earth

• The Apostle Paul taught that the Body of Christ
  was
• a) Diverse, many members with many gifts
• b) Many parts making a whole
• c) Stronger the more often they met in joy-
• filled community
• d) Responsible to minister to one another

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Community life is most effective in small groups

• The Immanence of God
• is expressed in small caring groups.
• These small groups facilitate friendship,
  relationship building, community life, loving
  care for one another and a sense of Gods
  nearness.

• Key elements in this process are
• Intimate sharing of life related events
• Each ministering what God has spoken to them
• Ministering to one another
• Practical care for one another

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Small groups build community life

• Too often Christians are program focussed and
  program our Bible Study groups where the Bible is
  the focus
• People touching Gods presence needs to be the
  focus of small groups that build a strong loving,
  caring, joy-filled community life

• People attend meetings and observe a program but
  still do not make friends
• Small groups must develop a family atmosphere
  where people are ministered to and built up in
  their faith through friendship, and personal
  ministry.

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Communities are stronger social units than
individuals

• Western society has proven the destructive and
  costly nature of individualism
• God has put the solitary in families so they may
  be strong, caring for one another
• The variety of gifts in a community makes
  possible a variety of ministries

• Loving caring communities are attractive to the
  isolated and uncared for
• Human development needs immediate family and a
  wider extended family for all round health
• God bestows His blessing/joy on caring
  communities

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Discipleship is the foundation for leadership in
caring communities

• Every community is strong when it has disciplined
  leadership
• The qualities of discipleship make for excellent
  community life
• Communities based on Jesus Christs example of
  leadership are strong and cohesive

• The urban poor need to develop a strong community
  life, to break strongholds/vices in their lives,
  for their communities to function and prosper
• The needs of the whole community are more
  important than the agenda of individuals

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Encarnacao Trainers need to train and make
disciples in this context

• Trainers must train trainees or disciples in the
  context of small group communities
• The training method needs to be a reflection of
  the goal of the training
• It is easier to reproduce things you have
  experienced

• The experience of trainees in a small group
  community must be such that the trainees will
  want to, and know how to reproduce it
• Quality community life is essential to the
  training of workers among the urban poor.

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How do Trainers develop this community life?

• 1. By using the small interactive groups of 6-15
  in the training sessions that
• a) always start with greetings and the
  sharing the life experiences of the last week by
  group members
• b) include everyone in the sharing time
  this develops everyones oral communication
  skills
• c) respond to needs shared with prayer and
  ministry and practical help if possible
• d) include a game or fun activity to help
  build relationship and assist each member to get
  to know the others in the group
• e) use the customary way of creating a
  relaxed atmosphere of acceptance and friendship

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• f) accept each persons contribution with
  warmth and commendation
• g) move on to worship after each one is
  sensing acceptance and warmth in the group
• h) deliver the teaching session in an
  interactive manner allowing opportunity for
  participants to share their experience of the
  topic. Adult learning should build on experiences
  of the participants and not assume that they know
  nothing of the topic.
• i) Dont preach a sermon. Focus on one topic
  and the kingdom values that can be integrated
  into our lifestyle through the grace of God. Get
  everyone to share their life experience.

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• j) Utilise the experience of those in the group
  to share the learning experience. This builds a
  team style of learning and community life
• k) Start to delegate responsibilities for
  components of the group meeting times to others
  as soon as you observe their readiness to do so.
  Encourage this as much as possible and always
  commend people for their good work. Do not take
  people for granted.
• l) Treat others as you would want to be treated
  yourself

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• 2. By initiating community based business
  activities based around a group of 6-25 people
  that
• a) Develops the creative talents of the group
• b) Produces artifacts that are valued by the
  community
• c) Use local materials
• d) Creates wealth in the community by
  providing an above average return for their
  labour.
• e) Involves the group meeting together
  several times per week so they can start work
  with prayer and worship and have a meal together,
  and show caring love to one another and learn to
  live by kingdom values

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Remember the goal!

• A joy-filled community of disciples with evidence
  of quality caring community life among the urban
  poor
• Disciples who are becoming like Christ in their
  servant lifestyle
• A redemptive community that reproduces itself
  through the ministry of its disciples in creating
  quality, caring, multiplying urban poor
  communities
• The extension of the kingdom of God on earth
  among the urban poor as an example of Christs
  love for the poor

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Acknowledgements

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