Redefined: MVC

Redefined: MVC
Matt 28:18-20 November 18, 2018
I. Introduction:
A. When it comes to preaching you could say that today’s message is the end of the
series on discipleship and it’s time to move onto something else.
1. But I do not see today’s message as the conclusion to the series but rather as
the launching pad to a discipleship movement at MVC.
2. My prayer, my hope, my dream is that discipleship will become part of the
DNA at MVC, it will become part of the environment of MVC, it will
become part of the culture of MVC over the next five years.
B. I want to launch us today by reviewing what we have learned so far and then talk
about next steps from here in order to start building discipleship into the DNA of
MVC.
• Let’s start with our …
II. Review
A. My hope of this review on one hand is so that we can better crystalize in our
minds the things we have learned together about discipleship, but even more so to
stir up our hearts in being disciples.
B. We called this series Redefined! The reason for that is that we wanted to strip
away all the current day thinking in North America about what a disciple is and
go back to the Bible to allow the Word of God to once again define what a
disciple is. – Thus redefined!
C. So we learned in our introductory message two foundational things!
1. First the mission that Jesus gave to the church was to make disciples and we
do that by going, baptizing and teaching
a) Turn and read Mt 28:18-20
b) Going to the lost with the gospel message, baptizing those who respond
to the message of Jesus’ salvation by faith, then finally spending the rest
of our lives teaching and learning what it means to live by the word of
God
2. We also learned in that message that disciples are not a subclass of
Christians, superstar or all-star Christians, but rather that the word disciple is
synonymous with being a believer in Jesus Christ.
a) So the real question as a believer is not am I a disciple or not but rather
am I living like a disciple or not because that is who I really am.
D. So in light of the first week our next job was to redefine a disciple. That week we
also learned two major lessons.
1. First, the word disciple means learner or pupil.
a) In addition, we learned that when a pupil or disciple is fully trained he
will be like his teacher. Read Lk 6:40
b) Since we are disciples of Jesus the end goal of our growth is becoming
more like Jesus. – Thus the mission of MVC includes becoming like
Jesus!
2. The second thing we learned that morning was from the call of Jesus to the
disciples in Matt 4:19-20 Read
a) We ended up that day by saying the definition of a disciple summarized
in four words is, Following Jesus, impacting others!
E. Then we spent a week looking at the third way of making a disciple – this is
teaching
1. Read v20a
2. We learned that week that being a disciple is not just studying the Bible more
and learning more truth but actually, while it does require studying the Bible,
the end goal is not knowledge but obedience. Living our lives under the
direction of God’s word
3. Thus we have adapted in many different places here the importance of the
language “next step of obedience” and we have even created a ”next steps
table” where you could discuss this personally with someone.
F. Then we redefined growing as a disciple
1. We learned the valuable lesson that each one of us is at different places in our
journey with Jesus thus each one of us needs something different for us to
continue to grow as a disciple.
2. We learned one size does not fit all when it comes to Christian growth and
that some people need to get to keep growing and some people need to give
to keep growing
3. This Power Point summarized that morning.
G. Then we learned there is a cost to impacting others for Jesus.
1. We learned in 2 Timothy 2 about the self-imposed suffering or hardship in
order to impact others.
2. We learned that we are called to be like a
a) Soldier that sets aside his own agenda to carry out the agenda and
mission of our commanding officer Jesus.
b) Athlete who must follow the rules in order to win the prize – we must set
aside our ideas and ways and follow the way God says to do it
c) And like the farmer we must work hard
H. Then we redefine the method of discipleship.
1. We learned in this message that we must not only buy into the mission of
discipleship and the message of discipleship – which is the Bible, but also
into the method of discipleship which is not just adding disciples but
multiplying disciples – making disciples who make disciples.
2. We saw that Paul bought into Jesus’ method of making disciples, which was
to go deeply with a few and give priority time to those who would learn to
give it away to others!
I. Then we looked at obstacles that keep us back from following Jesus and
impacting others. We saw two primary ones
1. First, living for today rather than eternity. We are so caught up in the
problems and opportunities of this world, the two-second life, that we give no
thought to the part of our lives that will last forever – the big one!
2. The second obstacle is that people are in the driver’s seat of their own car
rather than letting Jesus take control and ownership of their lives.
J. Then we looked at the problem of inadequacy, that feeling that everyone of us has
that we are just not enough to be the disciple Jesus wants us to be and we do not
have enough to impact others.
1. Read Matt 28:20b
2. We learned that Jesus being with us is not just a matter of Him being in the
same room but also Him working along with us in what we are doing. He
puts his fingerprints all over our lives and work for him.
K. Then we learned from Pastor Mike Locke the importance of God’s word in this
journey of discipleship
1. We learned that God’s word it reliable and can be trusted
2. We learned the value of God’s word in that it leads our lives!
3. Jesus said in John 8:31
L. Mike also taught us as a disciple why we should follow Jesus! – Simply because
our call as disciples is higher than we can achieve but Jesus has reached down in
love to be what we need to live for Him!
• That is the heart of what we learned in this series. Now what are
III. The next steps in making discipleship part of the DNA of MVC
A. Let look at a simple chart.
1. PP
2. All four of these can in one way or another be considered discipleship but the
bottom two were the most intense and most effective ways Jesus discipled
people.
3. So those are the two we are going to try to strengthen over the next five years
at MVC.
B. First, let’s talk about the twelve –
1. The small group of men that Jesus selected.
a) This was an important decision for Jesus because they are the ones to
whom He was entrusting His life work!
b) It was so important that He spent an entire night away on the mountain
praying about it. And when morning came, He called those who were
following Him, probably the seventy, and out of them he choose twelve
that he called apostles.
c) These twelve are the people Jesus primarily invested in and took with
him everywhere teaching and modeling for them God’s way of life and
ministry. Simply how to follow Jesus and impact others!
2. To us at MVC the twelve is our small group ministry
a) This ministry has become very important to us as we seek to make small
groups part of the DNA of MVC that we have refocused part of Tami
Reyna’s responsibilities to include being our director of small groups so
we can give more intentionality and time to this important discipleship
structure.
b) Small groups are the perfect place to grow with others as disciples of
Jesus Christ as we deeply connect with God and with one another
through our small group ministry.
(1) Remember the means of discipleship is really all about people
rubbing off on people.
(2) And continuing in God’s Word
(3) And seeking our next step of obedience and helping each other
reach our next step of obedience as we grow as disciples
(4) So we need to be committed to some people to do this.
c) In addition, a proper view of small groups is not adding another thing to
our already busy schedules but rather putting something in busy
schedules where I can regain my bearings in Christ with other disciples
in the midst of our busy schedules!
d) Here are some details about small groups at MVC
(1) We are hoping for group sizes of around 10-12 people
(2) We are going to have two small group sessions a year, one in fall
and one in winter and spring where you will meet every other
week. We will be taking the summers off.
(3) So by signing up you are not signing up for a lifetime but rather at
least one semester but hopefully two to find out if that group is a
good fit for you or not.
(4) A new element to our groups as well will be that the staff will be
providing materials for the groups to go through that will be based
on the current series – thus allowing a greater oneness within the
church as we are all wrestling through, talking about, and praying
about the same things at the same time.
e) For many here today I would guess that this is probably your next step of
obedience to put yourself in a place where you can continue to grow as a
disciple!
(1) We are very excited to be kicking off some new small groups at
the beginning of the year!
(2) You can sign up for a small group starting today after the service
for the next 3 weeks, or sign up on line or by calling the office.
B. Next, let’s talk about the three.
1. The three were the ones that Jesus spent most of His time with.
a) Peter, James, and John were at everything else the seventy and twelve
were at, but these three had experiences and had discussions with Jesus
that no one else did.
b) In addition, these three became key leaders in the early church as we saw
in the book of Acts.
2. Here at MVC our desire is to begin a Spirit led movement which is more
about mystery than management when it comes to investing deeply in a few
at a time.
a) The key strategy of this movement is buying into the method that Jesus
used of it multiplication – giving priority to investing deeply in a few
who have the desire to give away to others!
b) I think you will remember from our sermon this is not just an exclusive
group of a few but also ultimately our attempt to touch many in a deep
way to be followers of Jesus who are impacting others.
3. We are going to be jump starting this in January as well as we have a core
team of six men and women who said they want to see this movement happen
at MVC.
a) This fall these six will be contacting individuals they sense God is
leading them to, to be part of a small group for six months where they
will be receiving a greater vision for discipleship the way Jesus did.
b) If you say, “Hey I really have a heart the beats for that and want to be a
part of this movement” please go to the next steps table and let them
know your desire for this and give them your contact info and someone
will reach out and talk to you about this.
C. Finally, discipleship being part of MVC’s DNA means that discipleship has
become a mindset of the people of MVC that naturally fills their hearts is part of
their natural conversations and their normal way of life. I actually saw glimpses
of this as I was in normal conversations with two different women during this
series.
1. One told me that she wants to walk better with Jesus and there was a woman
whom she admires for her passion for the Lord and said that she is going to
ask her to mentor her.
2. Another woman who is walking well with the Lord and she told me she is
praying regarding who she can invest her life in!
D. May God that multiply 500 fold here at MVC and if He does in five years we will
need three services to hold all the people who are following Jesus and impacting
others!