The Persistent Disciple

Discipleship Group Questions for October 17, 2004

 

 

 

2Tim. 3:14 But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed,  , . . .  4:1  I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule,  2 so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple.

 

Luke 18:1 Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit.  Then he proceeded to tell them the story about the unjust judge who finally caved in to the persistence of a determined woman supplicant.  List 2Tim. 3:14 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of,. .  .”  In other words: “Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers.: (The Message)

 

So . . . stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers because you know those from whom you learned it,  15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  16 All Scripture is God-breathed i.e., inspired by God, influenced by God and guided by God. . . .

 

and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, - Notice here that we’re not talking about a ‘heady’ faith that’s in the head only but never quite fully in the heart.  ‘Righteousness’ is something that describes a way of life not only an internal attitude – God is calling us to incarnate – enflesh – our faith.   Let’s read on:  We must enflesh our faith our teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness . . .

 

17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2Tim. 4:1 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:  2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.  en to the closing verses:

 

Luke 18:6 Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying?  7 So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them?  8 I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”

 

Questions for Reflection:

 

  1. What is our Lord revealing to  you in these verses?  “Remember, our Lord is calling us all out of a safe “social club” Christianity or out of a stimulating “always studying” Christianity or out of a “give ‘em the gospel and move on” Christianity TO A “MAKE DISCIPLES” Christianity that focuses on the PERSISTENT LOVE  OF THE TRUE DISCIPLE.”  Please discuss.
  2. 2Tim. 3:14 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of,. .  .”  In other words: “Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers.: (The Message)

 

So . . . stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers because you know those from whom you learned it,  15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  16 All Scripture is God-breathed i.e., inspired by God, influenced by God and guided by God. . . .

 

and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, - Notice here that we’re not talking about a ‘heady’ faith that’s in the head only but never quite fully in the heart.  ‘Righteousness’ is something that describes a way of life not only an internal attitude – God is calling us to incarnate – enflesh – our faith.   Let’s read on:  We must enflesh our faith our teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness . . .

 

17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2Tim. 4:1 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:  2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.”  What do you hear our Lord saying specifically to you in these verses?

3.   Are you a persistent disciple?  This is God’s plan for your life.  What can you do today to become more and more what you were born to be?  Please discuss.