Practice: Multiply 9.5 - May 30, 2010

Practice #9 – Multiply
9.5 – Legacy

2 Timothy 4:1-8 (New International Version)
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
 
What legacy do you want to leave?  What do you want said of you? 
1.    Our legacy should be God-CenteredPhilippians 3:7-11 (New International Version)
 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
 
2.    Our legacy should be Kingdom-Centered
Ephesians 4:11-13 (New International Version)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

3.    Our legacy should be Others-Centered
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 (New International Version)
But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

Today: take some time and write down what you want to be remembered for.  Is that consistent with the values of the early church?  Is it consistent with the Bible?  How can you gain alignment with those things?

Practice: Multiply 9.4 - May 23, 2010

Practice #9 – Multiply
9.4 – Biblical Definition of a Friend

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival."                    - 

C.S. Lewis

What is Friendship?

1.    Friends are Present – Even in the Hard Times.Judges 11:29-38 (New International Version)
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites. And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD : “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into his hands. He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon. When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the LORD that I cannot break.” “My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the LORD. Do to me just as you promised, now that the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites. But grant me this one request,” she said. “Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because I will never marry.” “You may go,” he said. And he let her go for two months. She and the girls went into the hills and wept because she would never marry.
 
Romans 12:15 (New International Version)
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

2.    Friends are Loyal – Even when it Costs Them.
Proverbs 17:17 (New International Version)
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 19:6 (New International Version)
Many curry favor with a ruler, 
and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.

Matthew 5:46-48 (New International Version)
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

James 1:27 (New International Version)
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

3.    Friends are Authentic and Transparent – To Bring Out God’s Best for Both of You.Hebrews 3:12-13 (New International Version)
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Practice: Multiply 9.3 - May 16, 2010

Practice #9 – Multiply
9.3 – Back to Basics

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Everyone likes the idea of being a part of a movement of God. Few are willing to do what it takes.

What did the early church have that we need to key in on?
1. They were devoted to the right things
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…”

What were the Values of the early church?
• Kingdom Minded (This brought about a sense of urgency)
• Others Centered (This caused them to live a generous lifestyle)
• Focused on Growth (Both personally and corporately)
• Serving God Gives Life (They sold out to God’s agenda)
• Reproducing Disciples who Disciple (Constantly meeting, praising God, and growing)

Genesis 11:5-6 (NIV)
But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.”

2. The Apostles preached with power.
“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles…”

Acts 4:32-33 (NIV)
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
God intends for preaching to have power and affect:

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

3. God Added to Their Number Daily
“…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

1 Corinthians 3:5-8 (NIV)
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but
God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.

John 6:44 (NIV)
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Practice: Multiply 9.2 - May 9, 2010

Practice #9 – Multiply
9.2 – 5 Phases of Discipleship

Review last week:
• Spiritual Growth is defined by our ability to be in real, authentic, spiritual relationship.
• Discipleship has 5 parts: pastoring, accountability, modeling, a place to play, and teaching
• Discipleship must be: relational, intentional, and reproducible

How do we assess someone’s spiritual maturity?
Matthew 6:5-8 (NIV)
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Jesus’ measuring rod:
Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV)
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

5 Stages of Spiritual Development:
1. Spiritually Dead
Ephesians 2:1-3 (NIV)
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

To them, Jesus gives one call every time:
“Come follow me…”

2. Spiritual Infant
John 3:3-5 (NIV)
In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”
To them, Jesus gives this call:
“Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men…”

3. Spiritual Child
Hebrews 3:12-13 (NLT)
Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.
To them, Jesus gives this call:
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few…”

4. Spiritual Young Adult
Galatians 5:13-14 (NLT)
For you have been called to live in freedom – not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
To them, Jesus gives this call:
“I am sending you out…”

5. Spiritual Parent
2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT)
You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others.

To them, Jesus gives this call:
“You will be my witnesses…”

Practice: Multiply 9.1 - May 2, 2010

Practice #9 – Multiply
9.1 – Being Part of the Movement

John 5:17 (NIV)
Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”

John 5:19-20a (NIV)
Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.”

At the end of Jesus’ ministry, the tune changed.
 
John 17:4 (NIV)
I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
Jesus calls us to be a part of a movement of discipleship. 

What is Discipleship?
1 Corinthians 4:15-17 (NIV)
Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

What does that mean?
The parts of discipleship:
1.    Pastoring
2.    Accountability
3.    Modeling
4.    A Place to Play
5.    Teaching


How do I disciple?
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

1.    Discipleship must be relational!
1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

2.    Discipleship must be intentional!
2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

3.    Discipleship must be reproducible!
Hebrews 6:12 (NIV)
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.