the gospel tools for discipleship

Session Five

THEGOSPELTOOLS

FOR DISCIPLESHIP

Session Five Objectives

• To argue (again) that this seminar is not enough to make effective disciplers

• To liberate disciplers from panic

• To provide a pocketful of tools for disciplers

ONE MORE WHACKColossians 1:28 “in all wisdom”

WISDOM

wisdom: “skill for living”;“the capacity to understand and function accordingly”

Get it. Proverbs 4:7

Fear the LORD. Proverbs 9:10

Listen. Proverbs 5:7, 13; 7:24; 8:32; 13:1; 19:20; 23:22

Learn Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Proverbs 1:4-5

Ask for it. James 1:5

Fail. Epically.

The old seminary professors used to speak about a necessary trait for pastoral ministry called gravitas.

It refers to a soul that has developed enough spiritual mass to be attractive, like gravity. It makes the soul appear old, but gravitas has nothing to do with age. It has everything to do with wounds that

have healed well, failures that have been redeemed, sins that have been forgiven, and thorns that have

settled into the flesh. These severe experiences with life expand the soul until it appears larger than the

body that contains it.

Craig Barnes, The Pastor as Minor Poet, 49

FORKS AND MEATBALLSIn defense of a multi-prong approach

1. CLARITY

There is already enough ignorance,deceit, speculation, and ambiguity.

Colossians 1:5-7

2 Corinthians 4:2

Colossians 4:2-4

2. COMMON SENSE

We cannot persuade men to love Godby serving their idols (or their flesh).

Colossians 4:5-6

3. COMPASSION

Having compassion for the lost or immaturedoes not require our foolishness.

Gentle love

4. QUESTIONS

Questions keep us from being fools.

Teaching through not talking

Assumptions do not nurture relationship.

Questions (and listening) promote it.

4. QUESTIONS

How is your Bible reading? What are you learning?

What is your testimony?

How is your relationship with your spouse? Parents?

What did you think about (last Sunday’s) sermon?

How is your soul?

5. SUPPLICATION

Somewhere along the waywe’ve stopped praying for open doors

and started picking at the locks.

Colossians 4:2-4