ROLLIN' REVIEW 04
This week we completed our study on discipleship with the lesson: TRANSFORMATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP.
I think the following quote and verses sum up what is required if we are to answer, "Yes!", when Jesus says, "Follow me."
"It cost us nothing to become a Christian, it will cost us everything to live like one."
"Now great crowds accompanied him and he turned and said to them. 'If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.'" (Luke 14:25-27)
"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23)
I began this week's lesson by trying to get us to think about our most fundamental mode of orientation to the world: LOVE. I asked the question: "What are some of your great loves?"
God made us to love and there is nothing wrong with having great loves. For the believer, our great loves become a threat when they become habits that turn into addictions that consume us and take priority over our first love: Christ!
When your great loves take hold of your life you will grow cold to God's Word. You will be drawn more toward your great loves than you are to the things of God. You will begin to compromise your behavior and tolerance of sin.
Scripture defines God as Love (1 John 4:8). He is the reason that we are able to love (1 John 4:19). However, He desires to be our greatest love!
"Our wants and longings and desires are at the core of our identity, the wellspring from which our actions and behavior flow. Our wants reverberate from our heart, the epicenter of the human person." (James K.A. Smith - "You Are What You Love")
Knowing that the great loves coming from our heart have the power to derail us from following Christ, scripture warns "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23). "ABOVE ALL ELSE..."
This is where we highlight the word "TRANSFORMED." Being transformed into the image of Christ does not simply mean that we begin "acting" differently. Transformation is not about a behavior change. Transformation is defined as to change in form, appearance, or character; a metamorphosis. Think of what happens when a caterpillar "transforms" into a butterfly. When we are "transformed" we are no longer the same person. We no longer do the things we once did. We no longer continue willingly, continuously in sin. We are changed. We are new creatures, much like the caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Ultimately, it is God who transforms us, but we have to be willing. So how does God transform us? What are His tools?
God transforms us using three primary tools…
1. GOD USES HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO TRANSFORM US.
1. GOD USES HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO TRANSFORM US.
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;" (John 16:7-10)
Here are a few ways the Holy Spirit transforms us:
- The Holy Spirit comforts, encourages, and helps disciples of Jesus. (John 14:16)
- The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. (John 16:8)
- The Holy Spirit guides disciples into all truth. (John 14:26; 16:14)
- The Holy Spirit reveals truths about Jesus. (John 15:26; 1 John 2:20,27)
- The Holy Spirit illuminates God’s Word so that His people can understand it. (1 Cor. 2:9-11)
- The Holy Spirit affirms to His people that they are God’s children. (John 14:18, 21,23; Rom 8:16)
- The Holy Spirit reveals the mystery of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. (John 14:18-20; 1 Cor. 2:10,12, Ephesians 3:3-5)
- The Holy Spirit empowers the desires and abilities of His people. (John 14: 21,23,34; Phil. 2:13)
2. GOD USES HIS WORD TO TRANSFORM US.
To know God is to know His Word. In John 17:17, Jesus prayed that we would study God’s Word. He said, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Therefore, to be transformed into the image of Christ, we must regularly intake God’s Word. God mandates the need for us to be firmly grounded in biblical truth. (2 Tim. 4:3-4)
Here are a few ways God’s Word transforms us…
- The Word of God renews the minds of disciples. (Rom. 12:2)
- The Word of God teaches, reproofs, corrects, and trains disciples in righteousness. (2 Tim. 3:16-16)
- The Word of God illuminates the path of His disciples. (Psalm 119:105)
- The Word of God sustains His disciples. (Matt. 4:4)
- The Word of God discerns the thoughts and intentions of the disciples heart. (Heb. 4:12)
- The Word of God gives hope to disciples. (Rom. 15:4)
Five ways to intake God’s Word:
Hear God’s Word: (Luke 11:28; Romans 10:17), which means that listening to sermons, lectures, and audio Bibles is very beneficial.
Read God’s Word: (e.g., Revelation 1:3) as Jesus often did.
Study God’s Word: (e.g., Ezra 7:10; Acts 17:11) as Jesus often did, which caused people to be amazed at His insights (Matthew 7:28–29).
Memorize God’s Word: (Psalm 119:11; Proverbs 22:17–19) as Jesus did, which enabled Him to freely quote Scripture as needed (e.g., Matthew 4:1–11).
Meditate on God’s Word: (Psalm 1:1-2; 19:14; 119:15)
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
- The Holy Spirit comforts, encourages, and helps disciples of Jesus. (John 14:16)
- The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. (John 16:8)
- The Holy Spirit guides disciples into all truth. (John 14:26; 16:14)
- The Holy Spirit reveals truths about Jesus. (John 15:26; 1 John 2:20,27)
- The Holy Spirit illuminates God’s Word so that His people can understand it. (1 Cor. 2:9-11)
- The Holy Spirit affirms to His people that they are God’s children. (John 14:18, 21,23; Rom 8:16)
- The Holy Spirit reveals the mystery of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. (John 14:18-20; 1 Cor. 2:10,12, Ephesians 3:3-5)
- The Holy Spirit empowers the desires and abilities of His people. (John 14: 21,23,34; Phil. 2:13)
2. GOD USES HIS WORD TO TRANSFORM US.
To know God is to know His Word. In John 17:17, Jesus prayed that we would study God’s Word. He said, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Therefore, to be transformed into the image of Christ, we must regularly intake God’s Word. God mandates the need for us to be firmly grounded in biblical truth. (2 Tim. 4:3-4)
Here are a few ways God’s Word transforms us…
- The Word of God renews the minds of disciples. (Rom. 12:2)
- The Word of God teaches, reproofs, corrects, and trains disciples in righteousness. (2 Tim. 3:16-16)
- The Word of God illuminates the path of His disciples. (Psalm 119:105)
- The Word of God sustains His disciples. (Matt. 4:4)
- The Word of God discerns the thoughts and intentions of the disciples heart. (Heb. 4:12)
- The Word of God gives hope to disciples. (Rom. 15:4)
Five ways to intake God’s Word:
Hear God’s Word: (Luke 11:28; Romans 10:17), which means that listening to sermons, lectures, and audio Bibles is very beneficial.
Read God’s Word: (e.g., Revelation 1:3) as Jesus often did.
Study God’s Word: (e.g., Ezra 7:10; Acts 17:11) as Jesus often did, which caused people to be amazed at His insights (Matthew 7:28–29).
Memorize God’s Word: (Psalm 119:11; Proverbs 22:17–19) as Jesus did, which enabled Him to freely quote Scripture as needed (e.g., Matthew 4:1–11).
Meditate on God’s Word: (Psalm 1:1-2; 19:14; 119:15)
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
3. GOD USES HIS PEOPLE TO TRANSFORM US.
Throughout the biblical narrative, community is always emphasized and commanded; it is never presented as optional. A Christian’s faith may be personal, but it should never be private. In fact, the more personal the faith of the believer, the less private that faith becomes. There are 59 “one another” commands God gives to the New Testament church, and these commands cannot be lived out in isolation. Most discipleship happens not from pulpit to congregation, but from person to person.
Here are a few “one another” commands God uses to transform us:
- Love one another. (John 13:34)
- Accept one another. (Rom. 15:7)
- Instruct one another. (Rom. 15:14)
- Greet one another. (Rom. 16:16)
- Serve one another. (Gal. 5:13)
- Submit to one another out of reverence to Christ. (Eph. 5:21)
- Admonish one another with all wisdom. (Col. 3:16)
- Encourage one another and build each other up. (1 Thess. 5:11)
- Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another. (James 5:16)
- Be devoted to one another. (Rom. 12:10)
The implication is clear: God uses His people to transform us as we live out these “one anothers.” It should be noted, most people say they want community, but when that means accountability or commitment, people tend to run the other way. This should not be. We need each other in order grow. Christian community is a beautiful reflection of the gospel. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is a major statement of His intention for those who claim to be His to be united in community.
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me." (John 17:20-23:20)
So how do people spiritually grow? The Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the people of God are the three primary components God uses to bring about spiritual growth in peoples lives.
WHAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION?
Some Christians drift toward passivity in their approach to spiritual transformation. They rightly believe that God is the one who transforms, but they wrongly assume zero responsibility for their maturation. Jonathan Edwards said, “The supreme proof of a true conversion is holy affections, zeal for holy things, longings after God, longings after holiness, desire for purity.”
There is a righteousness in Christ that we already possess (Rom. 3:21-26), but there is also a righteousness we pursue. Pertaining to righteousness, from the overflow of being comes doing. The Bible is full of commands that God expects us to obey through effort.
For example, we are told to:
- Put off the old self and put on the new (Ephesians 4:22-24)
- Put to death what is earthly in us (Col. 3:5)
- Fight the good fight (1 Tim. 6:12)
- Strive to enter the narrow gate (Luke 13:24)
- Run the race (1 Cor. 9:24)
- Press on; strain forward (Phil 3:12-14)
- Toil and struggle with all His energy (Col 1:29)
- Make every effort (2 Peter 1:5)
- Be Holy (1 Peter 1:16)
- Let us not grow weary in doing good (Gal. 6:9)
- Train yourself for godliness (1 Tim 4:7)
From these verses, it is clear that we are expected to put forth effort in our spiritual growth. That word “train”, from 1 Timothy 4:7, can also be translated “discipline.” In other words, we are to “discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness.” Who is the most godly person you know? Without exception, godly people are spiritually disciplined people.
Some Christians drift toward passivity in their approach to spiritual transformation. They rightly believe that God is the one who transforms, but they wrongly assume zero responsibility for their maturation. Jonathan Edwards said, “The supreme proof of a true conversion is holy affections, zeal for holy things, longings after God, longings after holiness, desire for purity.”
There is a righteousness in Christ that we already possess (Rom. 3:21-26), but there is also a righteousness we pursue. Pertaining to righteousness, from the overflow of being comes doing. The Bible is full of commands that God expects us to obey through effort.
For example, we are told to:
- Put off the old self and put on the new (Ephesians 4:22-24)
- Put to death what is earthly in us (Col. 3:5)
- Fight the good fight (1 Tim. 6:12)
- Strive to enter the narrow gate (Luke 13:24)
- Run the race (1 Cor. 9:24)
- Press on; strain forward (Phil 3:12-14)
- Toil and struggle with all His energy (Col 1:29)
- Make every effort (2 Peter 1:5)
- Be Holy (1 Peter 1:16)
- Let us not grow weary in doing good (Gal. 6:9)
- Train yourself for godliness (1 Tim 4:7)
From these verses, it is clear that we are expected to put forth effort in our spiritual growth. That word “train”, from 1 Timothy 4:7, can also be translated “discipline.” In other words, we are to “discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness.” Who is the most godly person you know? Without exception, godly people are spiritually disciplined people.
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
While many churches in our day emphasize convenience and comfortability, one of the key ingredients to a life of lasting discipleship is discipline. In other words, like marriage, or excelling in a particular career path, being a Christian is not always fun, but often involves hard work, faithfulness, and perseverance.
Spiritual disciplines serve to lead people to the end of themselves and the beginning of Jesus. Why do we fast? So we realize Jesus is the bread of life that feeds our deep hunger. Why do we pray? So that we'll acknowledge our deep dependency on Jesus to do it by the power of the Spirit. Spiritual disciplines are not an end in themselves, but a means to an end. Spiritual disciplines put us in a position for God to change us. As we engage in spiritual disciplines, the Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ. People naturally drift into sin, not into righteousness. Therefore, the road to godliness is a road of discipline.
While many churches in our day emphasize convenience and comfortability, one of the key ingredients to a life of lasting discipleship is discipline. In other words, like marriage, or excelling in a particular career path, being a Christian is not always fun, but often involves hard work, faithfulness, and perseverance.
Spiritual disciplines serve to lead people to the end of themselves and the beginning of Jesus. Why do we fast? So we realize Jesus is the bread of life that feeds our deep hunger. Why do we pray? So that we'll acknowledge our deep dependency on Jesus to do it by the power of the Spirit. Spiritual disciplines are not an end in themselves, but a means to an end. Spiritual disciplines put us in a position for God to change us. As we engage in spiritual disciplines, the Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ. People naturally drift into sin, not into righteousness. Therefore, the road to godliness is a road of discipline.
In Acts 2:42-47, we see that the early church disciples were committed to these things in order to spiritually grow:
- Scripture Intake (Acts 2:42)
- Fellowship (Acts 2:42,44,46)
- Prayer (Acts 2:42)
- Praise and Worship (Acts 2:43,47)
- Outreach ( Acts 2:45-47)
The word “discipline” sounds restricting and binding, but it is actually a means to spiritual freedom. As physical discipline promotes strength, so spiritual discipline promotes godliness.
The goal of spiritual discipline is godliness, and when we remember this the spiritual disciplines become a delight instead of a drudgery. Jesus Christ was the most disciplined man to ever live and yet the most joyful and passionately alive. He is our example.
(I would like to thank Dan Tankersley, Discipleship Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, for giving us permission to use his book "Discipleship Foundations" as the basis for our study)
Next week we begin our study of the Book of Hebrews.
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