10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484

Basic Discipleship
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

This material is copyrighted c2002 and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the Berean Baptist Church.

To order a copy of Basic Discipleship,
please visit our Publications section.

PHASE 4     GROWTH TO MATURITY

SESSION 11

FAITHFUL TILL DEATH

                This session is about faithfulness. Unfaithfulness can be the fly in the ointment that destroys trust and renders the servant of God impotent.

                This session is about faithfulness, but more. It is not merely a Bible look at the importance of faithfulness in life; it is designed to highlight the intent of God that His stewards never quit His work. The work of discipleship is not a one-time shot with one individual. No. It is an on-going work with one disciple, then another, and another. So many things in life would be easier if we could spend a few hours or months on them and complete the effort. Some things are that way, but not all. Some assignments are unending, and discipleship is one of them. Until death, there is no place to stop. As years take their toll, one may not be able to do all he once could but he can still, and always, be faithful to do what he can. That is the unmistakable message of the key verse for this session, Revelation 2:10.

                Discipleship Minister, encourage your disciple. Till now, he has been following you, leaning on you and drawing from your strength. It's time now for him/her to become the giver. Weaning time has arrived. There are only two more sessions in this course. It is time for your disciple to become a Discipleship Minister just like you. It is time for him to become the giver, the leader and the one who takes the initiative with another. Help him to see that. Help him to realize that the purpose of this course was not merely to run him through a series of Bible exercises that were an end within themselves. No! No! No! This course was a means to an end. It was designed to produce a believer with sufficient development and maturity to stand alone and pass on to others what he has received. This course was merely a vehicle to make a Discipleship Minister out of your disciple. Help him to see that God expects that of him. This is not your program; it's God's.

                Discipleship Minister, this session is for you too. It will be easy for you to quit after you finish with this disciple. Oh, you probably don't intend to quit but you will if you don't line up another disciple. First news you know, it will have been a month, then six months and then a year and you still won't have another disciple. You won't see yourself as having quit, but for all practical purposes you will have stopped. Don't let it happen dear brother, dear sister. Actively solicit a new disciple. Furthermore, stay in touch with this one. His completion of this course does not indicate that he no longer needs you. You should stay in his life, especially until you see that he is performing well on his own.  Doubtless whether or not he does will be obvious.

                "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).

                Dear disciple of Jesus Christ, the assignment to which you have been called is unending. As long as you live mortally, God expects you to be a discipler, a mentor of others. Meditate on those words "faithful till death."

FAITHFUL

                To gain a better understanding of faithfulness and its gravity, complete the following multiple choice exercise. Remember that more than one answer may be correct. 

  1.   1 Corinthians 4:2.  In God's "stewards" or servants, such as you and I are, faithfulness is:

        A.   Optional.

        B.    Not an important consideration.

        C.    Required.

        D.    Dependant upon the circumstances. 

  2.   Proverbs 25:19.   An "unfaithful man" is a great source of:

        A.    Confidence.

        B.    Trust.

        C.    Grief.

        D.    Lack of confidence. 

  3.   1 Cor. 1:9.   Deut. 7:9.   1 Kings 8:56.   2 Tim. 2:13.   God is:

        A.    Faithful.

        B.    Unfaithful.

        C.    Faithful most of the time.

        D.    Unpredictable. 

  4.   1 Cor. 10:13.   Heb. 6:18.   Heb. 10:23.   God's trustworthiness depends upon His:

        A.    Mercy.

        B.    Faithfulness.

        C.    Goodness.

        D.    Love.

  5.          Lamentations 3:22-23.   God's faithfulness is the basis for:

        A.    His mercy.

        B.    Our trust in Him.

        C.    All natural laws.

        D.    The fulfillment of all of His promises. 

  6.   Psalm 19:1-3.   God's faithfulness is seen in:

        A.    The natural world.

        B.    The Bible.

        C.    The history of the world.

        D.    The person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

  7.   Rev. 1:5. Rev. 19:11.  Because Jesus Christ is God, He too is:

        A.    Faithful.

        B.    Absolutely trustworthy.

        C.    To be watched with caution.

        D.    To be doubted. 

  8.   Luke 16:10-12.   On the issue of faithfulness, Jesus taught that:

        A.    Faithfulness in little responsibilities does not matter.

        B.    Men should be entrusted with big responsibilities only after they have proven themselves faithful in small matters.

        C.    Faithfulness is important whether the matter is large or small.

        D.    Faithfulness should be a way of life with every steward of God. 

  9.   Matthew 25:14-30.   In Jesus' teaching on stewardship:

        A.    He was very sympathetic to and tolerant of the unfaithful servant.

        B.    The issue of faithfulness is ingrained throughout.

        C.    Faithfulness pays.

        D.    Unfaithfulness doesn't pay good dividends. 

10.   Psalm 5:8-10.   Unfaithfulness is generally looked upon:

        A.    With great favor.

        B.    With great contemptuousness.

        C.    With much sympathy.

        D.    As a great virtue. 

11.   Psalm 89:1-33.   Faithfulness is generally considered:

        A.    To be a great virtue.

        B.    As a trait worthy of great honor and praise.

        C.    A characteristic to be desired and sought.

        D.    A characteristic of God that should also be found in His stewards.

12.   Proverbs 28:20.   2 Kings 12:15.   Inherent with faithfulness is:

        A.    Many curses.

        B.    Many blessings.

        C.    Trust.

        D.    Doors of opportunity that would otherwise never open. 

13.   3 John 1-6.   Any steward of God can and should be faithful in:

        A.    All things both large and small, public and private.

        B.    Only in things seen by others.

        C.    Only in big matters but not in details.

        D.    In religious activities but not in daily, secular tasks. 

14.   Genesis 39:1-6.     In the great biography of Old Testament Joseph that is found in Genesis 37-50, one of his greatest characteristics that was the basis of so much advancement and many blessings in his life was his:

        A.    Ambition.

        B.    Natural talents.

        C.    Faithfulness.

        D.    Great luck. 

15.   1 Cor. 6:19-20.   1 Pet. 4:10.   As a steward of Jesus Christ, you:

        A.    Belong to your own self and should do whatever you please.

        B.    Belong to God and should do what He wants.

        C.    Are not an owner of yourself or of any possessions in your custody.

        D.    Are the master of your own life and owner of all possessions in your custody. 

16.   Mat. 12:36.   Rom. 14:11-12.   1 Pet. 4:4-5.  The stewards of Jesus Christ:

        A.    Are accountable to no one.

        B.    Are accountable to God.

        C.    Will never have to account for their faithfulness or lack thereof.

        D.    Will ultimately account to God for their faithfulness or lack thereof. 

Food for Thought

  1.   Faithfulness does not depend upon money, talent, favorable circumstances, popular support or other resources.

  2.   Anyone can be faithful.

  3.   Would you trust someone who was dependable nine times out of ten?

  4.   Would you consider an employee who did good work to be a good employee if he failed to show up for work two or three times a month?

  5.   Would you consider your auto engine to be good if only one cylinder out of eight was not operating?

  6.   Do you consider someone faithful to church who attends only three services out of four?

  7.   Would you consider one to be a faithful steward of God who is deeply involved in church life such as music, evangelism and other ministry, but who does not tithe?

  8.   What is your opinion of unfaithful, undependable people?

  9.   Meditate on the inseparable connection between faithfulness and trust.

10.   Do you think that you can be a faithful steward of God in discipleship if you approach it spasmodically?

11.   Do people trust you? If not, why not? Could your record on faithfulness be a factor?

12.   Locate yourself on the following scale. 

Unfaithful< 1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10 >Faithful 

13.   Are you pleased with your score?

14.   Meditate on the increased blessings, open doors of opportunity, greater power with God and man, trust by others, improved self-esteem and effectiveness in ministry that greater faithfulness would bring to your life.

A NEVER-ENDING ASSIGNMENT

                Through the apostle Paul, God gave us the great discipleship assignment. "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2). For how long is this assignment in effect? How long are we to do it? When can we quit?

                Read the following verses of scripture, then answer the true/false questions.            

   Revelation 2:10.    2 Samuel 23:9-10.

        2 Timothy 4:6-8. 2 Timothy 4:10.   1 Timothy 1:18-19

  1.     F      The assignment to make disciples of others is a temporary assignment.

  2.     F      The assignment to make disciples ends at retirement age.

  3.     F      Hard-working Christians can serve their time then turn the work over to younger ones.

  4.     F      Demas was praised for quitting the work in favor of other personal interests.

  5.     F      Discipleship ministry is to be pursued only as long as it is easy & convenient.

  6.     F      Hypocrites, disillusionment & opposition constitute just reason to quit.

  7.     T     God expects His stewards to be "faithful till death."

  8.     T     Quite often old & seasoned stewards are the very best at mentoring others.

  9.     T     Older stewards often have more knowledge & experience to offer new disciples.

10.     T     Proven role models often have the greatest impact & influence on young disciples.

11.     T     The Bible abounds with cases of those who faithfully served God till they died.

12.     F      The Bible abounds with cases of God's favor on quitters & the unfaithful.

13.     T     The Bible promises great rewards to those who are faithful till death.

14.     F     Excuses for disillusionment, quitting & unfaithfulness really make a difference with God.

15.     T     You should plan on being a discipler of others, offering what you have, until you die. 

A Challenge to You

                Dear disciple, you have almost completed this course. You have seen what has been done to you. Someone has shown interest in your spiritual welfare and has led you through a structured and definitive course to growth. Would you right now make a commitment before God that you will become a discipler of others and offer to them at least the help that has been given to you? In view of this session you know that it is the right thing to do.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"