As a church family, we’ve been studying the book of Job and reading Dr. Andrew Smellie’s book, “Proven Genuine.” “Proven Genuine” is “an examination of suffering in the book of Job.“
You can purchase a paperback or Kindle copy from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Proven-Genuine…
Tonight’s lesson notes are located here: https://bit.ly/37DU0HM
Here is the INTRODUCTION:
“Discipling” is the plan of God and the call of Jesus and is tied deeply and directly to our purpose as Jesus’ disciples. (Matthew 28:19)
It is the imperfect man submitting to the perfect will of God as we allow each other to “teach and admonish” one another in Christ.
Colossians 3:16
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
The practice of discipleship is the command and expectation of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we see this command echoing in the epistles of the 1st-century apostles. Because of this, discipleship must be implemented in the 21st-century. The foundation of this practice must be based on Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Beyond the shadow of a doubt, the call to disciple one another is both commanded directly (Matthew 28:19) and exemplified in numerous scriptures. We must have the disposition to want this practice. A huge role that the “First Principles” bible studies play is to introduce discipleship to someone. Studying the First Principles trains us in submitting to the Word of God. The bible studies prepare us to practice and grow in discipleship! Remember, Jesus’s command is for us to make a disciple!
1 Timothy 4:16
16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Because we are imperfect, we sin against each other. The emphasis on the scripture and it as the standard protects us from many of the mistakes and ways we could hurt each other if we were to rely on our own understanding. That being said, we still sin and will still make mistakes in our discipling relationships. I have been hurt the most by those who I believe – they believed – had the best intentions. I have been deeply hurt by bitterness and unforgiveness, false accusations, slander, gossip, and sedition. I’ve deeply hurt people, even when I had the best intentions. I’ve deeply hurt people because I was steeped in sin and too proud to own it.
As we traverse through these six short points – I know what has helped me heal and move on is clinging to the mercy of God…and realizing I need to dispense mercy every chance I get. Being merciful and forgiving is the greatest victory and triumph of our God…and in our imitation of him, as his “dearly loved children”, it is our victory as well with one another.
James 2:12-13
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
1 Peter 4:8
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
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