👏 Great Commission Discipleship: Character, Maturity, Accountability, Community

👏 Great Commission Discipleship: Character, Maturity, Accountability, Community

Key Points

• Jesus' Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 commands believers to go and make disciples of all nations, with Jesus possessing supreme authority in heaven and earth.
• Believers must demonstrate evidence of their faith in three areas: personal life with family, public life with coworkers, and social life with all people they interact with.
• Nine signs indicate spiritual immaturity in believers: being defensive, unwilling to accept correction, having a critical and negative attitude, lacking self-control and discipline, being easily offended, focusing on personal validation, inability to handle criticism, pride and self-centeredness, and seeking human validation.
• Character protects spiritual gifts and talents, while lack of character can destroy even the most gifted individuals who use their abilities to manipulate situations.
• The word "disciple" appears 261 times in the New Testament compared to "Christian" which only appears three times, indicating God's preference for discipleship over mere Christianity.
• Pastor Jose shared a workplace confrontation where a colleague who argued for Christian identity was later exposed for visiting strip clubs, demonstrating the hypocrisy of passive Christianity.
• Spiritual immaturity stems from lack of spiritual discipline including insufficient prayer life, Bible study, and church attendance.
• Believers who avoid church attendance cannot claim to be part of the church body since accountability and growth require community participation.
• Many believers find prayer boring because they expect immediate answers, but God answers according to His will and timing, sometimes waiting years until the person is spiritually ready.
• Deliverance is needed not only from demons but also from cultural attitudes, food addictions, and other behavioral issues that don't involve demonic possession.
• Personal trauma and difficult upbringings should not be used as lifelong excuses for poor behavior or lack of achievement, as demonstrated by successful individuals who overcame severe abuse.
• Believers must develop self-control over impulses like anger and fury, taking personal accountability rather than blaming their behavior on their upbringing.
• Christians who carry trauma and hurt from past church experiences often mistreat others, but this entitled behavior will eventually be confronted by others.
• Next week the Burns family will visit to continue teaching on the difference between disciples and Christians, building on the foundation established in this session.

Summary

The Great Commission and Making Disciples

• Jesus' last command to his disciples was to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

• Authority has been given to Jesus in heaven and on earth, establishing his supreme rulership over all creation in both spiritual and physical realms
• Believers today often lack the DNA of Jesus because they don't understand their true identity, allowing the devil to keep them ignorant and bound
• Christians who simply attend church, sing songs, and hear the word without taking action are exactly what the devil wants
• Knowledge of one's identity in Christ enables believers to not only be free but also to set others free, making them dangerous to the kingdom of darkness

Definition and Characteristics of Discipleship

• Disciples are students and followers who devote themselves to teachings and put them into practice, unlike those who only hear without doing

• Evidence of discipleship must be shown in personal life with family, public life with coworkers, and social life with all interactions
• Personal accountability requires that family members can testify about one's character and behavior at home
• Public witness means coworkers should know about one's faith without the believer having separate personas for work and church
• Social interactions should demonstrate godly character in all relationships and communications

Character Over Gifts and Knowledge

• Biblical knowledge alone does not impress without corresponding character development, as deep revelation means nothing when personal life is a mess

• Responsibility and accountability must be demonstrated through paying bills, managing finances, and handling basic life matters before God promotes anyone
• Character protects gifts and talents, while lack of character will destroy even the most gifted individuals
• Believers with gifts but no character often manipulate situations and people, misrepresenting God through their actions
• Higher standards apply to those with more knowledge, as God holds people accountable according to what has been revealed to them

Biblical Usage of Christian versus Disciple Terminology

• The word "Christian" appears only three times in the Bible in Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and 1 Peter 4:16

• "Disciple" appears 261 times in the New Testament, indicating God's preference for this terminology
• The term "Christian" originated from heathens and is now used by people without genuine relationships with God
• Discipline comes from the word disciple, emphasizing the need for spiritual discipline in believers' lives

Nine Signs of Spiritual Immaturity

• Being defensive indicates spiritual immaturity, as mature believers should be open to correction and feedback

• Unwillingness to accept correction shows lack of growth, even when others point out blind spots out of love and care
• Critical and negative attitudes focus on minor imperfections rather than appreciating what is available and being grateful
• Lack of self-control and discipline manifests in poor financial management, irresponsible behavior, and misplaced priorities
• Being easily offended reveals emotional immaturity and inability to handle truth or constructive criticism
• Focusing on personal validation through seeking approval, demanding admiration, and making everything about oneself
• Inability to handle criticism shows lack of maturity when others provide feedback or point out areas for improvement
• Pride and self-centeredness create dangerous spiritual conditions where everything becomes about personal recognition and status
• Human validation seeking differs from personal validation by demanding public recognition and credit for contributions

Lack of Spiritual Discipline as Root Cause

• Spiritual immaturity stems from lack of prayer life, Bible study, and regular church attendance

• Many people claim church membership while rarely attending, making accountability and spiritual growth impossible
• Difficulty focusing on God during prayer often results from finding prayer boring or believing God doesn't answer prayers
• God answers prayers according to His will and timing, which may be years later when the person is spiritually ready
• Deliverance is needed from various issues including food addiction, cultural bondages, and attitude problems, not just demonic possession

Church Attendance and Accountability

• God established the church and commands believers to attend because they are the church collectively

• Accountability requires physical presence so others can observe spiritual growth and areas needing development
• Scripture teaches believers not to forsake assembling together, especially as the day approaches
• Individual worship in private cannot replace corporate gathering and mutual encouragement among believers

Overcoming Past Trauma and Excuses

• Personal history and trauma should not become permanent excuses for lack of achievement or spiritual growth

• Examples exist of people overcoming severe abuse and violations to become successful, productive believers
• Making peace with the past becomes necessary at some point rather than allowing childhood experiences to control adult life
• Forgiveness and letting go of grudges must happen regardless of the severity of past hurts or disappointments
• Self-control over impulses like anger and fury behaviors must be developed as believers mature spiritually

Dealing with Interpersonal Conflicts

• Believers should pray about issues with other believers and seek Holy Spirit guidance before having conversations

• Jumping to conclusions and insinuating motives without facts leads to sin and broken relationships
• The enemy wants to trap believers in ignorance and cause division within the church body
• People are naturally complicated and cannot always be pleased, requiring wisdom in relationships
• Seeing others as suspicious rather than brothers and sisters in Christ prevents receiving what God wants to give through them

Next Steps

• The Burns will visit next week to continue teaching on the difference between disciples and Christians with additional emphasis

• Further development of discipleship principles will be provided to help believers mature spiritually
• Continued focus on practical application of biblical teachings rather than just theoretical knowledge will be emphasized