Discipleship
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“There is no such thing as a disciple of Christ who is not making other disciples of Christ. Disciples make disciples. The local church has an opportunity to both train and send, equip people, and commission people. Send everyone you train and train everyone you send.”
― J.T. English, Deep Discipleship: How the Church Can Make Whole Disciples of Jesus
“Discipleship, turn all people into fully mature followers of Christ.”
Until now, Jerusalem had been the center of ministry, and Peter had been the key apostle. But from this point on, Antioch in Syria would become the new center (Acts 11:19ff), The Gospel was on the move.
This church was amazingly diverse. It included Barnabas, a native of Cyprus, “Encourager” one of a different culture named Simeon, also Niger, a Latin name for black, and A converted Gentile named Lucius from Cyrene or maybe even North Africa. Also in this church was Manaen, who had been raised as part of King Herod’s household. Finally, there was Rabbi Saul. This was the church staff at Antioch Luke says in verse 1, They were “prophets and teachers.” Antioch was certainly where the action was teachers teaching, prophets speaking in boldness, the original church marching forward not backyard! The perfect profile for a missionary church. This was no accident, but rather a deliberate work of God!
Leonard Sweet "The strength of the church is not the strength of its institutions but the authenticity of its witness."
Rick Warren in his book The Purpose Driven Life shares his insight about churches in China, He wrote “in some churches in China, they welcome new believers by saying ‘Jesus now has a new pair of eyes to see with, new ears to listen with, new hands to help with, and a new heart to love others with.”
Notice that it was the work of the Holy Spirit as they worshiped and fasted! I like what John Piper wrote “God is most glorified in us when we are the most satisfied in him” “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them too! They had an urging from the Holy Spirit!
Illust: Your Lay Leadership Team, after selecting those who would serve for 2023 laid hands on the paper and prayed over it for God’s anointing on you!!!
Charles R. Swindoll "Vision is the ability to see God’s presence, perceive God’s power, and focus on God’s plan despite the obstacles."
God alone did the commissioning, he did it through the church, through the laying on of hands. It was an expression of the Church’s identification. Listen when others see you outside of the Church, they identify you with the great Ministries of Hale Center Methodist Church…. You are Marked!!!
Kent Hughes Church on Fire “They were saying in effect, “Brothers, we are with you in this great enterprise. As you go, we go. where you are we are, when you speak, we speak through the Holy Spirit, We are part of you.”
E. Stanley Jones "The early Christians did not say, in dismay, 'Look what the world has come to,' but, in delight, 'Look what has come to the world!”