Transcript How to Train a Disciple Follow-Up Disciple Making Begins with Evangelism  If we work only with Christians in disciple-making    The net gain to the kingdom.

How to Train a Disciple
Follow-Up
Disciple Making
Begins with Evangelism
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If we work only with Christians in
disciple-making
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The net gain to the kingdom of God is zero
The mark of the committed disciple aggressive evangelism
The fruit of evangelism = people to
choose your Timothy to disciple
Follow-up
Spiritual Pediatrics
1st step in disciple-making process is
evangelism
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Engage the enemy in combat and set the captives
free
2nd step is follow-up
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Spend time with a new convert to see that he grows
and matures into the likeness of Jesus Christ
Spiritual Reproduction
Spiritual Pediatrics
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The care and protection of a spiritual infant until
they grow and provide for themselves
A Father’s Heart
The Bible teaches us that God has a father’s
heart - Isaiah 40-66
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Jesus taught us to refer to God as “our Father”
Importance of Follow-up
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Relating to the young Christian the loving concern
that our God has shown toward us
A baby being left alone without proper care –
shocking!
Fear of Becoming Involved
Many are afraid to become involved in
follow-up
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Feelings of inadequacy are quite normal and
probably will never leave
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They feel inadequate
They do not think they know enough to become a
spiritual parent
No parents feel they have all the answers while
raising children
Follow-up – basic guidelines
Ensure Proper Care & Deal
with Trouble Areas
Waylon Moore’s oldest child
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Born with lung membrane disease – prevented oxygen from
mixing with the blood
Children born with this disease usually die – 10% chance of
survival
Grateful they had the most qualified pediatrician in
the city taking care of her
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Immediately put her in isolation
Took every precaution to make sure she lived
By God’s grace, she did, and today she is a healthy young
woman
The care and concern the doctor gave
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A beautiful illustration of the involvement required when
dealing with new Christians
Go over the plan of salvation
1 John 5:11-12
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“And this is the record, that God has given to us
eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that has
the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God
has not life”
Every person who has the Son has life
Ask the new Christian, “Where is Jesus Christ
tonight?”
Wherever else they say Christ is, they should also
say that Christ is in their heart
An illustration
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A pencil inside a Bible - Bible representing Jesus
Christ and the pencil, eternal life
Go over the plan of salvation
1 John 5:11-12
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Many Christians live in a fog of
uncertainty
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They do not understand what the Scriptures
teach so they lack assurance of salvation
Proper growth and development
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Only come when the new Christian knows
with assurance that he is a child of God for
all eternity
Pray for Him
Ephesians 1:15-23; 3:14-20
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2 great prayers of Paul deal with their growth and
maturity
Most NT prayers deal not with the unsaved, but
with the growth and maturity of new Christians
Prayer is the hardest work for a Christian!
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Yet, it is the most important part of follow-up
Simply pray for your new Christian the same prayers
that you find in in Ephesians
Study the New Testament prayers and use them
Pray for Him
Think through the areas in where you are
having difficulty
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Then pray for others in these matters
‘There has no temptation taken you but such as is
common to man” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
All of us fight the same temptations and have the
same basic needs
Visit soon & frequently after
their decision for Christ
Particularly important immediately following
conversion
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Satan regroups and counterattacks!
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The new Christian is particularly vulnerable
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He does not understand the nature of spiritual
warfare
He does not know the great truths in the Bible that
can help him through trials and temptations
Visit soon & frequently after
their decision for Christ
First 10 days of a child’s life - mother with him
constantly
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The older the child becomes, the less frequently she
needs to see him
Also true in the spiritual life
Most significant ministry with a new Christian
= encouragement!
Let him know
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He is now a part of the family of God
You are brothers in Christ
Ensure a Proper Diet
When a baby is born, we bear the
responsibility for feeding them regularly
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Not when we want to but when they want to be
fed
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Often at the most inconvenient times
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You do not ask them to manage for themselves!
What is the proper spiritual diet for a new
Christian?
A Consistent Quiet Time
Mark 1:35
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“And in the morning, rising up a great while before
day, He went out, and departed into a solitary
place, and there prayed.”
Begin each day
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A brief period of fellowship with the Lord
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Spiritual nourishment for the day
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Include a time of prayer and some time in the Word
A Consistent Quiet Time
Help him to be consistent with his quiet time
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Meet once a week for two months
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Begin with a short period of time with the Lord
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Better 7 minutes with the Lord every day and stay
with it, than to begin with 1 hour every morning,
and then quit in discouragement
Bible Reading
1 Peter 2:2
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“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the
Word, that you may grow thereby”
Start with a small portion from the New
Testament or Psalms
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Read a paragraph or two
Meditate on it
Circle one verse that is particularly meaningful
Do this for 6 mornings - on the 7th morning, review
the six favorite verses
Pick out the one that is the favorite among the
favorites
Write on a small card and memorize
Bible Study
Acts 20:32
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“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to
the word of His grace, which is able to build you up
and give you an inheritance among all those who
are sanctified.”
The most important goal of follow-up
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Teach them how to feed themselves from the Word
of God
Bible Study
Learning how to feed themselves from the
Word of God seems like work at first
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They will be tempted to quit trying
Work closely with them, encouraging them
In the early weeks of learning how to do Bible
study
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Prepare the lesson with the new believer
Then have them prepare a study on their own
Meet with a group who also have done the study
Share their results and learn from one another
Ensure Love and Affection
Love is the one thing it is impossible to give
people too much of
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If a child is deprived of love in the early years of
his life, they may never be able to truly
understand what it means to love and be loved
One of the basic needs in life is to be loved and
wanted
Envelop the young Christian with love!
Invite them to your home
Meals are a good event
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1 Corinthians 16:15
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Make them feel a part of the family
Make them always feel welcome in your home
“Know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first
fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted
themselves to the ministry of the saints”
Claim this verse for our own home!
Involve Them in the Warmth
and Fellowship of the Church
Hebrews 10:25
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“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is, but exhorting one
another; and so much the more, as you see the day
approaching”
The special chemistry of believer’s fellowship
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Your friends become their friends
They will observe other believers and to adopt their
lifestyle as their own
Their old life can be discarded, and a new life can
begin to form
Take Them with You
In Mark 3:14 it is written of the Lord Jesus,
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“And He ordained twelve, that they should be with
Him, and that He might send them forth to preach”
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Travel together
Take vacations together
Play sports together
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Do things together
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Proverbs 27:17
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“Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the
countenance of his friend”
Ensure an Atmosphere of
Acceptance
1 Peter 4:8, “Love covers the multitude of
sins”
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All children desire to be able to talk to their father
about any subject without fear of being
misunderstood or reprimanded
Overcoming Feelings of Inadequacy
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We all feel inadequate in our relationships
It all turns out well by adding this ingredient called
“love”
Stick close by the disciple and love him as you
would love a member of your own family
God will do the rest