environment and discipleship drawn from the complete book of discipleship by bill hull

Environment and Environment and DiscipleshipDiscipleship

Drawn fromDrawn fromThe Complete Book of DiscipleshipThe Complete Book of Discipleship

bybyBill HullBill Hull

What role might What role might environment play in the environment play in the discipleship process?discipleship process?

What hinders growth?What hinders growth?

What engenders growth?What engenders growth?

People can grow in spite of horrendous People can grow in spite of horrendous

situations or environmentssituations or environments

The Optimum Environment for The Optimum Environment for Spiritual Formation Spiritual Formation

Parable of the TurtleParable of the Turtle

– What brings disciples out of their shells?What brings disciples out of their shells?

TrustTrust: environment of relational security: environment of relational security

GraceGrace: environment of undeserved favor: environment of undeserved favor

HumilityHumility: environment of submission: environment of submission

A Look at Humility and PrideA Look at Humility and Pride

1.1. Matthew 11:29-30Matthew 11:29-30

– Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for

I am gentle and I am gentle and humblehumble in heart, and you will in heart, and you will

find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy

and my burden is light." and my burden is light."

2.2. Numbers 12:3Numbers 12:3

– Now Moses was a very Now Moses was a very humblehumble man, more man, more

humble than anyone else on the face of the humble than anyone else on the face of the

earth. earth.


3.3. 2 Samuel 22:282 Samuel 22:28

– You save the You save the humblehumble, but your eyes are on , but your eyes are on

the haughty to bring them low. the haughty to bring them low.

4.4. 2 Chronicles 7:142 Chronicles 7:14

– If my people, who are called by my name, will If my people, who are called by my name, will

humblehumble themselves and pray and seek my themselves and pray and seek my

face and turn from their wicked ways, then face and turn from their wicked ways, then

will I hear from heaven and will forgive their will I hear from heaven and will forgive their

sin and will heal their land. sin and will heal their land.


5.5. Psalm 18:27Psalm 18:27

– You save the You save the humblehumble but bring low those but bring low those

whose eyes are haughty.whose eyes are haughty.

6.6. Psalm 25:9Psalm 25:9

– He guides the He guides the humblehumble in what is right and in what is right and

teaches them his way.teaches them his way.

7.7. Psalm 147:6Psalm 147:6

– The LORD sustains the The LORD sustains the humblehumble but casts the but casts the

wicked to the ground.wicked to the ground.


8.8. Psalm 149:4Psalm 149:4– For the LORD takes delight in his people; he For the LORD takes delight in his people; he

crowns the crowns the humblehumble with salvation. with salvation.

9.9. Proverbs 3:34Proverbs 3:34– He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to

the the humblehumble..

10.10. Isaiah 66:2Isaiah 66:2– Has not my hand made all these things, and Has not my hand made all these things, and

so they came into being?" declares the LORD. so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is "This is the one I esteem: he who is humblehumble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.word.


11.11. Ephesians 4:1-3Ephesians 4:1-3

– As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to

live a life worthy of the calling you have live a life worthy of the calling you have

received. Be completely received. Be completely humblehumble and gentle; be and gentle; be

patient, bearing with one another in love. Make patient, bearing with one another in love. Make

every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit

through the bond of peace.through the bond of peace.

12.12. James 4:10James 4:10

– HumbleHumble yourselves before the Lord, and he will yourselves before the Lord, and he will

lift you up.lift you up.


13.13. 1 Peter 3:81 Peter 3:8

– Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one

another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be

compassionate and compassionate and humble.humble.

14.14. 1 Peter 5:61 Peter 5:6

– HumbleHumble yourselves, therefore, under God's yourselves, therefore, under God's

mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due

time.time.


15.15. Proverbs 11:2Proverbs 11:2

– When When pridepride comes, then comes disgrace, but comes, then comes disgrace, but

with with humilityhumility comes wisdom. comes wisdom.


– The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom,

and and humilityhumility comes before honor. comes before honor.


– Before his downfall a man's heart is Before his downfall a man's heart is proudproud, ,

but but humilityhumility comes before honor. comes before honor.



– HumilityHumility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and the fear of the LORD bring wealth

and honor and life.and honor and life.

19.19. Philippians 2:3-4Philippians 2:3-4

– Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain

conceit, but in conceit, but in humilityhumility consider others better consider others better

than yourselves. Each of you should look not than yourselves. Each of you should look not

only to your own interests, but also to the only to your own interests, but also to the

interests of others.interests of others.


20.20. Philippians 2:5-7Philippians 2:5-7

– Your attitude should be the same as that of Your attitude should be the same as that of

Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something did not consider equality with God something

to be grasped, but made himself nothing, to be grasped, but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant, being taking the very nature of a servant, being

made in human likeness. And being found in made in human likeness. And being found in

appearance as a man, he appearance as a man, he humbledhumbled himself himself

and became obedient to death--even death and became obedient to death--even death

on a cross!on a cross!


21.21. Colossians 3:12-14Colossians 3:12-14

– Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and

dearly loved, clothe yourselves with dearly loved, clothe yourselves with

compassion, kindness, compassion, kindness, humilityhumility, gentleness , gentleness

and patience. Bear with each other and forgive and patience. Bear with each other and forgive

whatever grievances you may have against whatever grievances you may have against

one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

And over all these virtues put on love, which And over all these virtues put on love, which

binds them all together in perfect unity.binds them all together in perfect unity.


22.22. Titus 3:1-2Titus 3:1-2– Remind the people to be subject to rulers and Remind the people to be subject to rulers and

authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do

whatever is good, to slander no one, to be whatever is good, to slander no one, to be

peaceable and considerate, and to show true peaceable and considerate, and to show true

humilityhumility toward all men. toward all men.

23.23. James 3:13James 3:13– Who is wise and understanding among you? Who is wise and understanding among you?

Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done

in the in the humilityhumility that comes from wisdom. that comes from wisdom.


24.24. 1 Peter 5:51 Peter 5:5

– Young men, in the same way be submissive to Young men, in the same way be submissive to

those who are older. All of you, clothe those who are older. All of you, clothe

yourselves with yourselves with humilityhumility toward one another, toward one another,

because, "God opposes the proud but gives because, "God opposes the proud but gives

grace to the grace to the humblehumble.“.“

25.25. 1 Peter 5:61 Peter 5:6

– HumbleHumble yourselves, therefore, under God's yourselves, therefore, under God's

mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due

time.time.


26.26. Proverbs 29:23Proverbs 29:23– A man's A man's pridepride brings him low, but a man of brings him low, but a man of

lowly spirit gains honor.lowly spirit gains honor.

27.27. Proverbs 11:2Proverbs 11:2– When When pridepride comes, then comes disgrace, but comes, then comes disgrace, but

with humility comes wisdom.with humility comes wisdom.

28.28. Proverbs 13:10Proverbs 13:10– PridePride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is

found in those who take advice.found in those who take advice.



– To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pridepride and and

arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.


– PridePride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit goes before destruction, a haughty spirit

before a fall.before a fall.

31.31. Ephesians 5:21Ephesians 5:21

– SubmitSubmit to one another out of reverence for to one another out of reverence for

Christ.Christ.


32.32. Hebrews 13:17Hebrews 13:17

– Obey your leaders and Obey your leaders and submitsubmit to their to their

authority. They keep watch over you as men authority. They keep watch over you as men

who must give an account. Obey them so who must give an account. Obey them so

that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for

that would be of no advantage to you.that would be of no advantage to you.

The Optimum Environment for The Optimum Environment for Spiritual Formation Spiritual Formation

TrustTrust environment of environment of relational securityrelational security

GraceGrace environment of environment of undeserved favorundeserved favor

HumilityHumility environment of environment of submissionsubmission

AffirmationAffirmation environment of environment of confidenceconfidence

2 Timothy 1:3-72 Timothy 1:3-7 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did,

with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Powerful AffirmationsPowerful Affirmations I thank God for youI thank God for you I pray for you night and dayI pray for you night and day I think about you all the timeI think about you all the time I remember your tearsI remember your tears I long to see youI long to see you I am filled with joy when I am around youI am filled with joy when I am around you I am reminded of your sincere faithI am reminded of your sincere faith I know God has given you a spirit of power, I know God has given you a spirit of power,

love and self-disciplinelove and self-discipline

Trust Trust && Grace Grace && Humility/Submission Humility/Submission &&

AffirmationAffirmation What kind of environment does/did your church What kind of environment does/did your church

provide you for discipleship?provide you for discipleship?

– What could they start doing to improve it?What could they start doing to improve it?

– What must they stop doing to improve it?What must they stop doing to improve it?

– What is your role in being a part of the solution?What is your role in being a part of the solution?

What kind of environment does V.C. provide you What kind of environment does V.C. provide you

for discipleship?for discipleship?

– How could it be improved?How could it be improved?

– What do you need to do to be part of the solution?What do you need to do to be part of the solution?

environment and discipleship drawn from the complete book of discipleship by bill hull

Documents

humble man

optimum environment

environment of submissiona

man wisdom

discipleship process

proud mockers

life worthy

pride1 peter