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Main Idea
Discipleship is the collective pursuit of growth toward Christlikeness.
Have you ever heard of Companion Planting?
I haven’t either.
According to Madison Fields (an agricultural resource center):
“Planting a garden that utilizes the strengths of each plant to form a healthy plant community is called Companion Planting, and it is an effective and sustainable way to grow a thriving garden.
Within these plant communities, each plant plays a special role in improving the overall well-being of the neighborhood.
For example, one plant might add nutrients into the soil, another might draw helpful insects into the area, and another might ward off pests.
Native Americans applied this knowledge in the planting of their three main crops called the “Three Sisters”— corn, beans, and squash.
The beans find support as they grow up the corn stalks.
In return, the beans fix nitrogen in the soil, feeding the corn.
The broad leaves of the fast-growing squash shade out weeds that would otherwise compete for limited nutrients.
The three support each other.”
[excerpt taken from an article on companion planting written by Maddison Fields- https://madisonfields.org/2018/01/growing-together/]
This is a perfect metaphor for discipleship for a number of reasons, all of which I will unpack for you today.
Outline and Passage
I - Definition
II - Characteristics
III - Benefits
IV - Costs
V - Application
Definition
What is discipleship?
We use that word a lot, but what does it really mean?
Let’s take a look:
discipleship
The process of becoming a committed follower of Jesus Christ, with all the spiritual discipline and benefits which this brings.
First, this lists discipleship as a process and progression
Secondly, it describes a commitment (you don’t begin as a pro.
Michael Phelps trained 6 hours a day for the Olympics!)
Thirdly, it identifies to whom we are committing to
Fourthly, it shows that there are benefits and requirements
At its basic level, we could sum discipleship as the answer to Jesus’ call to “Follow me.”
But, we could build on that just a little.
Jesus also said:
So then, we also see scripturally that it is the process and commitment to become like Jesus, which will require something of us, but will also result in fruitful outcomes.
Characteristics
That definition is helpful, but it still falls flat in one key area.
How?
Because it leaves out one crucial element: community.
Not only are we committed to a process of growth to make us like our Master, but we don’t do it in isolation.
We are like the co-dependent plants in the companion planting garden.
We really should define it as the collective pursuit of growth toward Christlikeness.
And that growth has certain characteristics, which we will talk about next.
It’s Collaborative
The first thing I want to point out about this process is how it isn’t done in isolation.
The one thing discipleship isn’t is an individual venture.
And, if we are going to understand any principles about discipleship, we don’t need to look any further than the Gospel accounts of how Jesus interacted with His disciples.
For me to give you an illustration about anyone else would be an inferior illustration.
Jesus is our prime example.
Jesus lived with his disciples for over three years.
They spent every waking hour with one another, except for the times when Jesus withdrew from them to pray (or take a midnight stroll on the sea).
He taught them indirectly when he allowed them to witness His interactions with the Pharisees.
He taught them directly by explaining the parables.
He taught them by pointing out events happening during the day, like the widow and her tithe of two coins.
He showed them how to pray.
Literally everything Jesus did or said was a way to help the twelve grow in their faith and knowledge of God.
And when he sent his disciples out on mission, it was never in isolation.
He would send them out in pairs.
Why? Because, as King Solomon puts it:
So, the culture of discipleship was shared living and learning from Jesus with one another.
That is point #1.
We can all have our own individual times in devotional reading and prayer, but discipleship, by its very nature, is done with others.
According to Solomon, t takes two pieces of iron to accomplish the act of sharpening.
It’s Multi-directional Growth
Like the definition described, discipleship is a process of growing in Christlikeness, and scripture paints that picture with many different metaphors, many of which show how we grow directionally.
Upward
Seed to Tree
Downward
Rooted
So, with the agricultural metaphors, we see clearly how discipleship is slow, intentional growth over time that strengthens and matures the person.
It is an upward growth in stature, and a downward growth in stabilization, being able to withstand the storms that come your way.
Inward
In knowledge, faith, love, and thought
Away from sin and toward godliness
In keeping with the agricultural theme, you could view this as the live-giving sap that flows through the vine into the branches, and is actually something we will look at closer in just a few minutes.
All of these characteristics are internal.
They are the growth of our character, our faith, our stature, our morality, and our wisdom.
Discipleship allows us to mature in these areas and become seasoned.
We grow in Christlikeness as we expand our knowledge of who God is, as we love as He loves us, and in how we exercise our faith through daily trust in His provision and protection.
But, instead of seeing this as an individual plant, I want to encourage you as seeing this as a garden where all of the plants are working together to encourage these types of growth.
Outward
Tree bearing fruit
We don’t just grow in one way.
Spiritual maturity is multi-faceted and God has explained just how dynamic it can be.
Just like worship isn’t just about singing 4-5 songs on a Sunday morning, so discipleship isn’t just about reading your Bible.
Reading the Bible is an essential part of growing and maturing, but growth doesn’t come from just reading the Bible.
Many of you have asked about doing a series on how to grow as a Christian, or how to live godly lives.
I love that these are the questions you have and there will be times when we address this, but let me encourage you that these Core Values are how we live godly lives.
These are the pillars of Christian living here at Ashe Alliance Church and are the lenses through which we view the world and interact within it.
Scripture is our ultimate authority.
If we want to understand a particular worldview, we must go to scripture first for our answers.
Serving through your gifts is a key element to your spiritual growth.
If you aren’t serving, you aren’t growing, and the body isn’t functioning as a whole.
Building relationships with unbelievers is a command from our King and a way in which you display God’s love, grace, and compassion in your own life.
Being generous as a Steward of God’s things and giving with a joyful heart is a hallmark of Christian living.
We give because God gave and God loves a cheerful giver.
Worship is a lifestyle that we engage in daily.
Prayer should be infused into every decision we make and action we take.
And discipleship is God’s blueprint for Christian growth, being crafted and molded into the image of Christ.
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