Basic Discipleship Phase 4 Session 12

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LOCATING YOURSELF IN THE DIVINE CYCLE TO MATURITY

This is primarily an evaluation session. The intent here is to help your Disciple locate his own development. He needs to find himself in the big scheme of God. Thus, this session deals with life's purpose, His objective for our lives. The hope is that this disciple will be challenged to move right on along the cycle and become a viable part of the program of God. Pray that this look in the mirror will motivate him.

Discipleship Minister, you too would do well to take a careful look. Where are you in this cycle? Check where you are but also check your motives. Why are you doing what you are doing? My prayer is that the force that drives you is the power of God and the single intent of your heart is His glory and praise.

No one should rush through this study. Much meditation and introspection should occur here. Look well at this cycle graphic and let the mighty concepts that are inherent in it get hold of your heart. You and your disciple will doubtless need to come back to this place many times.

After this session there is only one more in the course. You have only a couple of weeks of direct input and regular contact remaining with your disciple. Use the remaining time wisely. Seek to encourage this dear brother/sister to use what he has gained. Warn him of wily old Satan who will seek to get him to simply sit on it and allow all of this input to be nothing more than a few more wrinkles on his brain. Satan is against implementation of truth and will do all he can to prevent. This disciple should rise up and become a mentor, a teacher and discipler of other men. That has been our objective from the start. Only when he does so will he truly fit into the eternal plan of God for his life. Do all you can to lead and influence him in the way of righteousness.

Tonight as I bring this work to a close, I am praying in advance for you and for your Disciple. I am asking God to make you an active minister in this great work of His until the day you die.

Study carefully the cycle graphic below. It reflects God's desire to work through you to bring glory to Himself. This is the plan of God and only when your plans line up with His plans (not visa versa) will your life's purpose be realized. Only then will you find the joy and satisfaction that God intends for you.

After you have studied the graphic at length, turn to the next pages and work your way through the phases of the cycle. As you do, locate yourself. Where are you in the cycle?

You have learned many things about the Lord’s church, about the kind of organization it is and about its doctrine. Among other things it is God’s training station. It is the place where growth should occur, where God’s children should be nurtured and brought to a good degree of spiritual maturity.

1. Does growth failure in His children meet the approval of God? Circle one. Yes. No.

2. As time progresses after one is saved, God expects Him to graduate from spiritual "milk" to "strong meat."

3. Consider the words "by reason of use" and "exercised" as used in this passage then choose the correct multiple choice answer(s).

A. These words communicate only the idea of gaining great knowledge of God's word.

B. These words, used in proper context, communicate the idea of great experience apart from knowledge of God's word.

C. These words communicate the idea of putting to practice what one learns from God's word and of considerable experience in implemented truth.

4. "For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe."

Read 2 Peter 3:18. What are the two main areas where growth to maturity should occur in God's children?

Do you think that growth "in grace" implies increasing development in practical application of the Bible truths one learns?

Your church is the place where you should learn many things. It should help you grow in the Lord. From the list below underline areas of training you should gain from your church.

Knowledge of Bible doctrine	How to play volleyball
How to win souls to Christ	How to disciple others
How to forgive	How to get your way
How to be a good Pharisee	How to judge motives
How to love	How to serve
Kindness	Humility
Faithfulness	How to advance yourself
How to worship	Good daily habits
How to be objective	Integrity development
Character development	Leadership skills
The art of flattery	How to use your all for God
How to be critical	Pride & arrogance
How to be a giver	How to handle adversity
How to handle criticism	How to put on a big show
Unselfishness	Teamwork
Personal Discipline	Church administration
How to run a secular business	How to stand alone in the Lord
Christian fellowship	How to walk with God

Your motive? Why should you do it? What should be the over-riding purpose of your life? What should be the goal of your life from the smallest detail and act to the largest? For the correct answer, read 1 Corinthians 10:31 Then fill in the blanks.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do,
do all to the glory of God.”

In the list below, underline every area of life where you do not have to concern yourself with God

In how you treat your mate	In the quality of work you render
On your job	At a sporting event
In how you rear your children	In your love life
In areas others don't see	In how you treat your body
In your giving	In how you drive
In your personal finances	In how you say things
In what words you use	In your attitude
In business disputes	In your banking practices
Regarding habits	Your testimony
Your character	Your eating practices
With neighbors	With close family
With close friends	In your business practices
In how you dress	In personal hygiene
While grocery shopping	In personal relationships
In business relationships	In your political life
In all the service you render	In all the good you do
In how you treat strangers	In how you treat enemies
In how you behave at church	In the songs you render
In the lessons you teach	In your tithes & offerings
While dating	At school
In the victories you win	In your responses

C. Take care of business with whomever he is dealing and leave the Lord and religion out of it.

D. Realize that doing right before God is always in the best interests of the one with who he is dealing.

2. In every area of a believer's life, he should always do his very best because:

Never forget, dear discipler of Christ, that it is only by God's enabling grace that you exist or are able to do anything. The apostle Paul expressed the reality of this truth in 1 Corinthians 15:10 when he said, "But by the grace of God I am what I am."

B. Inner strength that is inherent in all who have the self will to discover it.

C. God needs to help him only in a few areas where he is unable to handle things on his own.

B. Who subject their own wills to the will of God will find that He works His plan through their lives.

D. Who are engaged in God's enterprise and not their own are guaranteed absolute success.

4. Hebrews 13:20-21. The way to be complete and truly successful in life is to:

Read again Genesis 1:28. What is God's first command to man? Is this command any less incumbent upon us spiritually than physically?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. What is the message that brings about a spiritual new birth? The gospel.

The first objective God has for you is that you reproduce yourself in the life of others especially by bringing new spiritual babies into the family of God. Remember, you were born to reproduce. You cannot complete God's purpose for your life otherwise. Completion of His divine cycle depends upon spiritual reproduction. The work of God would become extinct in one generation otherwise.

When people are saved, they are baby Christians. Just as natural babies need immediate child care, likewise spiritual babies need immediate child care. That is what they are to receive in one of the Lord's churches. Older Christians there are to watch out for their needs and help them. Apart from identification with a church a baby believer is certain to become a spiritual casualty. The first thing you should do when you win someone to Christ is lead him to follow the Lord in baptism. This will add him to a church. As his/her older brother/sister you should help him become a functional member.

The church should become the hub of a believer's life. Read again Ephesians 3:21 then fill in the blanks. "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

1. In terms of support of the Lord's ministry through His church, every believer should:

B. Be aware that his support for the church (or lack thereof) will have a direct bearing and influence on other members.

D. Admit that no believer can omit active, functional participation as a member of one of the Lord's churches and still glorify God with his life.

Note well where the arrow originates and ends. The whole cycle originates with God and ends with Him. The plan is His. It is not the plan of some church, a denomination, a preacher or some famous mortal. The idea of believers bringing others into the family of God and establishing them in a true church where they can be nurtured to maturity and as such bear fruit to the glory of God is God's idea. This is not a human plan.

Nothing of a human origin could really every honor and glorify God. It is only that which originates in heaven with God that has the potential of returning glory to Him. We have nothing of ourselves to offer, but thanks be unto God who allows us to be a part of His great plan and enterprise. The whole idea is His, but He works it out through us as we function in one of His churches. Even though the plan and power is His, He even rewards us for being a part of it. He truly is a great and gracious God.

The only way to honor Him is to get with His program. Where are you in the divine cycle? Locate yourself.