A sermon from October 16, 2011
Sermon, Discipleship. Hebrews 3:12-13
02 Thursday May 2019
Posted in Discipleship, Hebrews, Sermons, Uncategorized
Category Archives: Discipleship
Some Notes on the Mechanics of Discipleship in the Church
28 Friday Dec 2018
Posted in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Discipleship, Titus, Uncategorized
Tags
Primary obligation:
Create disciples: Matthew 28:18-20
1) Baptism — introduction into congregation
2) Teach them to observe
Means of instruction:
1) Propositional
A) Congregational
i) Entire congregation
ii) Smaller gatherings
iii) Personal (counseling)
iv) Other than elder
a) one – another
b) particular elements, e.g., Titus 2
2) Example
A) Right life
i) Elders
ii) Everyone in congregation does this whether good or ill
B) Exhortation/encouragement
i) Elders
ii) One-anothers
Immediate discipleship of the Spirit.
Shepherding:
- Confirming that everyone in our charge is being instructed
A) Generally
B)Specifically approriate instruction
2) Confirming that everyone is leading a godly life
Mechanism: Instruct enough men well enough so that the individual instruction, exhortation, example and confirmation can take place. [2 Timothy]
Outline of the argument in 1st Timothy
Thesis: We seek to create a godly life (1:5). This is done primarily by giving propositional instruction –which includes confronting error & selecting appropriate instructors (1:3-4; 1:18-20; 2:1; 2:12; 3:1-7, 4:1-5, 4:6-10; 4:11; 6:2b; 6:20-21). Right doctrine leads to right life (1:6-11; 1:18-20). In addition to propositional instruction, be a tangible example of proper (1 Tim. 4:15-16; 6:11).
This is implicit in the qualifications of elders: First, they must be of a godly character: their character demonstrates their fitness for office and fitness as an example. Second, they must be able to instruct.
The letter is structured around the command to teach right doctrine:
1:3-4: Initial command
3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,
4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
6:20-21: Closing command
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.
Command: Protect the doctrine delivered to you.
Enemy: those who teach a different doctrine.
Purpose: Right doctrine leads to faith.
End sought:
1:4
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Doctrine leads to life: Throughout the letter, Paul ties proper doctrine to proper conduct.
1:6-11 charts the movement from wrong doctrine to wrong life. He ends the proposition that a sinful life does not “accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted” (v. 11).
vv.12-17: Paul gives praise that God who transformed him by faith.
vv.18-20: Paul makes two argument to encourage Timothy to this work: (1) God selected him for this work (v. 18; 2 Tim. 1:6); (2) those who have swerved from the doctrine have shipwrecked (v. 19-20).
Mechanics of instruction:
Prayer for leaders/peaceful life: 2:1-7
Selection of instructors
Men, not women: 2:8-14
Only certain men: 3:1-7
Selection of deacons (men and women): 3:8-13
Encouragement and warning:
The supernatural redemptive nature of faith: 3:14-16
Warning about false teaching: 4:1-5
Train yourself: 4:6-10
Avoid needless wrangling 4:7
Train to godliness: 4:8
Remember the end: 4:9
Train others: 4:11-16
Propositional instruction: 4:11
Be an example for others to imitate: 4:12-15
Details on manner of life: 5:1-6:3
Effectively fleshes out the household codes in Ephesians and Colossians.
Notes: a defective life denies the faith (5:8).
Special rules involving widows: 5:9-16
Special rules respecting elders: 5:17-25
These rules concern the conduct and treatment of elders. Thus, this relates to the imitation basis of discipleship.
Instruction about instruction: 6:2b-5
Give these instructions: 6:2b
Those who pursue a different doctrine will be those who create division: 6:3-5
Instruction about example: 6:6-16
Warning about contentment: 6:6-10
Warning about godliness: 6:11-16
Side note for the rich :6:17-19
Guard the doctrine. Remember doctrine affects life. 6:20-21
Second Timothy
Encouragement to the work: chapter 1.
Train men to do the work: chapter 2
Train faithful men to do the work 2:1-2
Don’t get distracted from this task: 2:3-7
Content of the Gospel 2:8-13
Doing the work:
Do not permit digressive quarrels 2:14
Be competent with the Scripture 2:15
Protect doctrine! 2:16-19
Prepare for work: 2:20-21
Avoid distractions: 2:22-26
There will be false teachers: 3:1-9 [Titus 3, the “factious man”, ie. false teacher]
But Scripture is sufficient for the work: 3:10-17
Preach the word: 4:1-4
Counterpart to the encouragement of chapter 1: I am being poured out (4:6-8). Remember to encourage me (4:9-18)
closing 4:19-22
TITUS
Appoint elders to do the work: 1:5-9
Good conduct
Able to teach
Watch out for the sins of your environment 1:10-16
Instruct: 2:1
Household codes 2:2-9
Teach them to be instructors and examples of one-another
Note the conduct of the intra-congregational instruction
You be an example 2:8-9
The doctrine creates right conduct 2:11-14
Instruct: 2:15
Instruct in good works: 3:1-10
Watch out for those who cause division [i.e., teach a different doctrine]
The Unsearchable Riches of Christ.18
10 Tuesday Nov 2015
Posted in Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Forgiveness, Humility, Thomas Brooks
Tags
forgiveness, George Foxe, humility, love, Mr. Foxe, The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Thomas Brooks
The previous post in this series may be found here.
John Fox, author of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.
Brooks continues with his explanation of humility:
The fifteenth property of an humble soul is, he will rather bear wrongs than revenge wrongs offered.
There are three parts to this understanding. First, the action: the humble soul will not strike at injustice done to him: “Mr Foxe, that wrote the Book of Martyrs, would be sure to do him a kindness that had done him an injury: so that it used to be a proverb, ‘If a man would have Mr Foxe do him a kindness, let him do him an injury.’”
This behavior of the humble soul appears to be madness — until it is understood in the entire complex of Christian life. Thus, we must second understand the motivation for such a way of being. To merely be struck and bear the wrong could be stupidity or a depraved self-deprecation. But the humble soul finds motivation elsewhere:
“An humble soul is often in looking over the wrongs and injuries that he has done to God, and the sweet and tender carriage of God towards him notwithstanding those wrongs and injuries; and this wins him, and works him to be more willing and ready to bear wrongs, and forgive wrongs, than to revenge any offered wrongs.”
The sight of the majestic patience and forgiveness of Christ turns the humble soul to forgive others.
Third: the question of justice. The humble soul does not ignore justice; rather the one who is humble refers the matter to Chrst as judge: “The humble soul knows that vengeance is the Lord’s, and that he will repay, &c., Ps. 94:1. The humble soul loves not to take the sword in his own hand, Rom. 12:19; he knows the day is a-coming, wherein the Lord will give his enemies two blows for one, and here he rests.”
The matter of justice is crucial to the entire process. Humility is not contrary to justice, in fact it upholds justice. The humble soul does not think himself the perfect judge and thus refers the matter to the one judges justly. The referral to Christ is a rest for the one who trusts Christ to do the work of judge. The humble soul is free to forgive and love. If the love and forgiveness wins the enemy, then the enemy has been extinguished in love. If the enemy is not won, he is referred to Christ for judgment.
The Spiritual Chymist: Meditation 16
25 Friday Sep 2015
Posted in Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Eschatology, Meditaiton
Upon a Lamp and a Star
(From William Spurstowe’s Spiritual Chymist, 1666
Such is the disparity between a Lamp and a Star, as that happily it may not a little be wondered at, why I should make a joint meditation of them which are so greatly distant in respect of place, and far more in respect of quality: the one being an earthly, and the other a heavenly body?
What is a lamp or a star in regard of influence, duration or beauty? Haw it any quickening rays flowing from it? Or is its light immortal,s o as not become despised by expiring? Can it dazzle the beholder with its serene luster and leave such impressions of itself upon the eye, as may render it for a time blind to any other objects?
Alas! These are too high and noble effects for such a feeble and uncertain light to produce, and property only to those glorious bodies that sine in the firmament.
But yet this great inequality between the one and the other serves to make them both more meet emblems of the offering estate of believes in this and the other life, who is Scripture — while they are on this side of heaven — are compared to wise virgins with lamps burning; and when they come to heaven, to start shining, which endure for ever and ever.
Grace in the best of saints is not perfect, but must, like a lamp, be fed with new supplies that it go not out; and be often trimmed that it be not dim. Ordinances are as necessary to Christians in this life as manna to the Israelites in the wilderness (though in Canaan it ceased). And therefore, God appointed his Word and Sacraments to drop continually upon the hearts of his children, as the two olive trees upon the golden candlestick.
What mean then those fond conceits of perfectists, who dream of living above all subsidiary helps and judge ordinances as useless to them, as oil for a star or snuffing of the sun to make it shine more brightly [treating the stars and sun like oil burning lamps]?
It is true, when we come to heaven such things will be of no more use to our souls, than meat or drink will be to our bodies; but yet while we are earth, the body cannot live without the one, nor the soul without the other.
Do thou therefore, Holy God,
Preserve in me a due sense of my impotency and wants
Whose light is fading,
As well as borrowed;
That so I may daily suck supplies from thee
And acknowledge that I live not only by grace received
But by grace renewed
And while I am in this life
Have light only as a lamp in the Temple
Which must be fed and trimmed
And not as a star in Heaven
Study Guide, The Mortification of Sin, Chapter 12
17 Thursday Sep 2015
Posted in Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Glory, John Owen, Mortification, Obedience, Sanctifictation
Tags
Biblical Counseling, Christ's Glory, glory, John Owen, Mortification of Sin, Puritan, Study Guide, Vile
The previous post in this series may be found here
EIGHTHLY, Use and exercise thyself to such meditations as may serve to fill thee at all times with self-abasement and thoughts of your own vileness; as,—
Kaipic, p. 110.
Warning: This direction is easily misunderstand, and if misunderstood, will have precisely the opposite effect as intended by Owen.
When we read such a direction, we could easily begin to think about ourselves, to direct attention to ourselves. Owen is trying to push our attention out of ourselves and onto Christ.
So we will need to first unpack some of Owen’s language. First the word “vile”: there is a nuance of this word which may difficult for us to capture at this distance in time. Here is a quotation from the Authorized Version of the Bible which will help:
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Philippians 3:20–21 (AV)
“Vile” is contrasted with the glorious body will have in the future. It is the normal state of a human being on the Genesis 3 side of the Fall. It does not mean a peculiarly vile human being — it means a normal human being. The human being is “vile” in contrast to (1) what a human being should be; and (2) implicitly in contrast to the glory of God.
1 Peter 1:17: How to develop the fear of the Lord
10 Thursday Sep 2015
Posted in 1 Peter, Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Fear of the Lord, Lectures
Tags
1 Peter, 1 Peter 1, 1 Peter 1:17, Biblical Counseling, fear of the Lord, FOTS, humility, Lectures, Sermons
1 Peter 1:13–21 (ESV)
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
How We Change: 1 Peter 1
13 Thursday Aug 2015
Posted in 1 Peter, Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, Sanctification
Tags
1 Peter, 1 Peter 1, Affections, Conduct, Holiness, Lectures, Sanctification, Sermons
How do knowledge, affections and conduct work together to change our hearts and lives?
1 Peter 1:1–21 (ESV)
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Mortification of Sin, Study Guide Chapter 11c (John Owen)
08 Saturday Aug 2015
Posted in Biblical Counseling, Deuteronomy, Discipleship, John Owen, Micah, Mortification, Psalms
Tags
Affections, Conduct, Desire, Fire, Flood, Genesis 3:6, James 1, James 1:14-15, John Owen, Mortification, Mortification of Sin, Obedience, Psalm 37, Puritan, Sanctification, Sin, Study Guide, Thoughts
The previous post in this series will be found here
Seventh General:
Rise mightily against the first actings of thy distemper, its first conceptions; suffer it not to get the least ground. Do not say, “Thus far it shall go, and no farther.” If it have allowance for one step, it will take another.
- Sin in our actions begins as sin our hearts:
20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Mark 7:20–23 (ESV)
Thus, sin first begins in our thoughts and affections, it is an idea and desire before it ever becomes an action. Read James 1:14-15: What are the steps there listed for the beginning of sin?
Read Genesis 3:6: What takes place in Eve before she takes the fruit?
What about sins which seem to spring up spontaneously without any precursor, such a rage of anger: in what ways do such sins have start? Consider a recent experience of anger: What thoughts and desires had to be in place for anger to be possible? How would an increase in humility, pity, love have altered your heart in such a way that anger would not have been expressed? By way of comparison — consider other sins which you see others commit but you do follow in yourself. What is different your thoughts and affections that lead you to not following in that sin?
- We must stop sin at first actings.
It is impossible to fix bounds to sin. It is like water in a channel,—if it once break out, it will have its course. Its not acting is easier to be compassed than its bounding. Therefore doth James give that gradation and process of lust, chap. 1:14, 15, that we may stop at the entrance.
The two-fold stamp of discipleship
21 Thursday May 2015
Posted in Discipleship
To attain this goal, the die metal had to be much harder than the blank coin, so the coin’s metal conformed to the die rather than the other way around. Every single coin had the exact same image of Caesar on it. This is a picture of sanctification, for God the Father wants to conform all of us to his Son: “ for those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers ” (Romans 8:29). Amazingly, God has designed a two- fold “die system” to conform us to Christ. The Greek word for the die struck on the blank coin was tupos , and it is used in two key places in the New Testament, in both places translated by the word “pattern”:
Sound doctrine: What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:13).
Godly lifestyle: Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you (Philippians 3:17).
An Infinite Journey, Andrew Davis
A Congregation of Tassels
09 Saturday May 2015
Posted in Discipleship
Tags
congregation, Discipleship, Hebrews, Hebrews 10, Numbers, Numbers 15, Stir Up, Tassels
By Pastor Ed Wilde
In Numbers 15, we read of the Lord’s command concerning tassels:
“37 The LORD said to Moses,38 “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their gar- ments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner.39 And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the command- ments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after.40 So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”
The principle remains in the NT, yet the tassels have been replaced:
“12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitful- ness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”
Hebrews 3:12-14. It is interesting to note that this command to exhort one-another comes in the context of warning against the hardness of heart of the people in the wilderness (quoting Psalm 95).
It is for this reason that failing to congre- gate is so dangerous and thus carries such a grave warning:
“23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us con- sider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacri- fice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.”
Hebrews 10:23-27. Here is a central aspect of discipleship: Jesus has defined discipleship as teaching others to ob- serve Jesus’ commands (Matthew 28:20, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”). The OT command is to wear tassels to constantly remind oneself of the commands of God. In the New Covenant, the work pictured by the tassels becomes the command for the entire congregation: all of you ex- hort, encourage, provoke one another:
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” Hebrews 10:24. This work is a core work of discipleship—and it is given to the entire congregation. This is the mes- sage of the NT, not just of Hebrews:
“I, myself, am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another .” Romans 15:14
By way of application, we must consider being filled with the Scriptures so that we have something to say—discipleship is teaching what Jesus has commanded, not what we have invented (Matt. 28:20). Second, the power of transformation is in the Scripture:
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the en- couragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” Romans 15:4.
Third, we must realize that we each have this obligation to exhort one-another, it is not merely the duty of some pastor or overseer.
Fourth, we must pray for the wisdom and grace to perform this work.
Fifth, we must repent of failure to do so, whether for laziness or a fail- ure of love.
Sixth, we must do the work.
memoirandremains 