THE HEART OF A DISCIPLING CHURCH (5 OF 13)
by Drew Hunter
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:17, 1 Thessalonians 3:13
This content is part of a series.
The Heart of a Discipling Church (5 of 13)
Series: Until He Comes
Drew Hunter
1 Thessalonians 2: 17- 3:13
This is one of the most emotionally expressive texts in the Bible.
This is the apostle Paul opening up his heart to a church. We may have some misconceptions about Paul. As if he was stoic, or harsh, or overly rationalistic, or cold. Sometimes we think of Pastors and theologians as needing to be emotionally detached. This wasn't Paul. He was one the greatest pastors and theologians and missionaries in world history. And he wrote this.
This text shows us the dynamics of the soul of someone who is committed to making disciples.
When I say, ''someone who is committed to making disciples,'' I'm referring to what all Christians are called to be.
And so, it may be helpful to clarify what I mean by discipleship. Discipleship is one of the ideas that the New Testament uses to refer to the whole of the Christian life. A disciple is a follower of Jesus. It is another way of referring to a Christian. All Christians are disciples.
And every disciple is called to make more disciples. Every follower of Jesus is called to help other people follow Jesus. Every Christian is called to help other Christians grow.
Here's my simple definition of discipling: helping others to better follow Jesus. Or, to expand on that: It is helping others to submit all of life under the authority and grace of Jesus.
Now, sometimes we use the word in a more narrow way.
We use it to refer to a formalize process of growing disciples. Or we use it to refer to a specific aspect of discipleship, like evangelism or mentor relationships or theological study.
That can be very good.
?But the predominant way the Bible uses it, and the predominant way we use it as a church, is in a broader sense: We use it to refer to the whole of a Christian's life as a life of discipleship.
This is reflected in our purpose statement: ''Our purpose is to glorify God by being an ...
Series: Until He Comes
Drew Hunter
1 Thessalonians 2: 17- 3:13
This is one of the most emotionally expressive texts in the Bible.
This is the apostle Paul opening up his heart to a church. We may have some misconceptions about Paul. As if he was stoic, or harsh, or overly rationalistic, or cold. Sometimes we think of Pastors and theologians as needing to be emotionally detached. This wasn't Paul. He was one the greatest pastors and theologians and missionaries in world history. And he wrote this.
This text shows us the dynamics of the soul of someone who is committed to making disciples.
When I say, ''someone who is committed to making disciples,'' I'm referring to what all Christians are called to be.
And so, it may be helpful to clarify what I mean by discipleship. Discipleship is one of the ideas that the New Testament uses to refer to the whole of the Christian life. A disciple is a follower of Jesus. It is another way of referring to a Christian. All Christians are disciples.
And every disciple is called to make more disciples. Every follower of Jesus is called to help other people follow Jesus. Every Christian is called to help other Christians grow.
Here's my simple definition of discipling: helping others to better follow Jesus. Or, to expand on that: It is helping others to submit all of life under the authority and grace of Jesus.
Now, sometimes we use the word in a more narrow way.
We use it to refer to a formalize process of growing disciples. Or we use it to refer to a specific aspect of discipleship, like evangelism or mentor relationships or theological study.
That can be very good.
?But the predominant way the Bible uses it, and the predominant way we use it as a church, is in a broader sense: We use it to refer to the whole of a Christian's life as a life of discipleship.
This is reflected in our purpose statement: ''Our purpose is to glorify God by being an ...
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