Disicpler Dinner Teaching Notes. Jan 2016: Reclaiming Jesus’ Discipleship Pattern 

Relationship: The foundation for Jesus’ Discipleship Pattern

Illustration:  Chore list & Training our kids. 

Jesus’ relationship with the Father and disciples formed the foundation for discipleship.  The pattern or intentional step by step structure (Invitation, Observation, Teaching, Team, Experimentation, Empower, Release) to see His disciples move to maturity served the relationship.  Jesus wasn’t all about business, checking off the 7 steps to maturity.  He was first a son to His Father and a master and friend (John 15:15) to his disciples.  He genuinely loved His Father and his disciples and had a daily fluid relationship with them.  He experienced the joys, hurts and pains of real life with them.   Upon these relationships Jesus was intentional to apply a pattern to be repeated to see them and future generations of followers move to maturity in Christlikeness.  But this pattern came out of and was rooted in a genuine relationship of love and trust. 

Relationship with the Father:  Did Life Together (defining doing life together) 

Shared Average Common Moments  

Mark 1:35 – Jesus enjoyed alone time with His Father, being with Him in intimacy.  

Luke 6:12 – Went to His Father for help with great decisions in His life, such as choosing the disciples. 

Matthew 14:23 – When Jesus’ day was unusually busy with many competing claims for His energy and attention He got alone with His Father. 

Shared Significant Moments of Joy & Hardship

Luke 3:21 – Jesus’ baptism

Luke 9:28-31 – Transfiguration

Matthew 26:42 – Garden of Gethsemane   

Luke 23:34, 46 – The Cross 

Worked Together on Father's Mission 

John 4:34-38 – Jesus describes the work of His Father and His joy from serving with His Father. 

John 5:35-40 – Not about doing His own thing, about doing the will of the Father.  Not a burden. 

John 8:29 – The Father is always with Him. 

John 5:17, 19 – To know the Father’s will, Jesus said He watched to see what the Father was doing.  Then Jesus joined Him in that work. 

Relationship with the Disciples: Did Life Together

Jesus literally spent 3 years doing everyday things with His disciples.  He would have spent many common and significant moments with His disciples in addition to inviting them to share in the work of His Father.   His Father instructed Him to choose a particular 12.  But again it’s not like Jesus was all about the program, He genuinely loved and enjoyed being with His disciples.   I’ve chosen to highlight Peter.   

Shared Average Common Moments

Peter.  Luke 5:1-11 – Jesus joins Peter in sitting in a boat to fish. 

Shared Significant Moments of Joy and Hardship

Peter.  Luke 9:28-36 – Jesus takes Peter along to witness an incredible experience, to learn about the coming fulfillment of God’s plan.   It must have been a bit embarrassing too.   

Worked Together on the Father's Mission 

Peter.  John 21:12-19 – Peter in addition to all the time spent serving alongside Jesus was invited to give the rest of his life working alongside him, feeding His sheep. 

Summary:  Jesus modeled and continues to model for us the foundation of discipleship is genuine, loving stick with it relationships.  Matthew 28:20 reminds us that Jesus said I will continue to be with you every single day until the end of the age.   Relationships like the one Jesus had with His Father and with His disciples take time, discipline, emotional energy and are not always convenient.  It costs us something.  Likely the main reason I feel God has called us to “reclaim Jesus’ pattern of discipleship”, is that it has been lost because it’s hard work, not glamorous, takes a long time, results vary, dependent fully on the Father.  Each of you have committed to be a Discipler.  Thank you.   Some of you may be happy with your current relationship with God and your disciple, some may not.  Tonight is about encouraging and challenging one another towards deeper relationships with God and with your disciple.  

Round Table Discussion

Relationship with the Father

1.      Describe what your mountain is like, the place or ways you get alone with God?

2.      What joys or hardships have you shared with God lately? 

3.      What things is the Father doing in your life or in the lives of people around you?  What things does the Father want to see happen in your life?   How are you partnering with God? 

Relationship with your Disciple

1.      What average everyday things have you done with your disciple? 

2.      What joys or hardships have you shared with your disciple?  Be sure to maintain confidentiality where necessary.

3.      How have you partnered to serve God in His mission together?  What opportunities has God put before your disciple?