Discipleship 3: Together

You can grow alone in a flower pot for only so long fruit and also the discipleship happens only in the soil of user and a portion of the upcoming together.

Pastor Avedon shot of Clearview church in Henderson with Caroline I Clearview. Our focus is creating an atmosphere of genuine worship community come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. percent or connect with us online. I Clearview VC.org or on social media now join us for this week's message Tom Rayner, who is president of Life Way, Christian resources did a twitter survey couple years ago and the sermon was about the strange reasons that people give for not attending church. I found a very interesting so I found a few of them that I thought you would find interesting, but here goes. We were out of peanut butter must be little kids.

My wife cooked bacon for breakfast and our entire family smell like bacon. The pastor stays in the Bible too much heard that before the worship leader pulls up his pants too often is distracting so we went ahead and bought John a built take that off the list. The charges to close to drive and too far to walk. And here's one I've heard. The time has been different. But I've heard this one we got burned out at church and have been taking a break for the past seven years. But you see I been pastoring this church and only charge for start for 20 years and I heard all kinds of excuses why people skip church and today's message on discipleship is about togetherness. How important is to togetherness and discipleship that you can grow alone in a flower pot for only so long. True and ultimate discipleship happens only in the soil of community, you can grind the flower part of me and Jesus just all I need me and geez I got my favorite preacher on TV. Me and him and or my favorite book you can grow only so long in the flower pot sooner or later you have to come out of it and be planted in the soil of community where you have other people. Christianity was never meant to be lived in isolation, you need others I need you just as much.

He may need me this morning we come to this message for the message in the series on discipleship and we got turned to several passages in this message typically stick with one. But this series were going to different passages and we begin with. Acts chapter 2, verse 42 and they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine which means they continued in the truth. The continued and the facts of Christianity, but something else and fellowship in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. All who believed were together and had all things in common and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among them all, as anyone had need.

So continuing daily with one accord. One accord means to gather with unity in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house means they were divided into groups going from home to home connecting with each other in the body of Christ. The eight their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people as they are doing that staying to the word but also fellow shipping being together, going from house to house something began to happen in the world. The began to see this group of people whose Savior, whose leader had just died, and according to them had risen, but the began to see them with favor and what happens in the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Something is missing in Christianity were trying to drum up charge growth. We need more people in the church. We need more people getting saved, and yet were missing an element that is given to us right before our eyes in the scene is in this message which is they were taking care of each other and that impressed the lost world how to use each other to just tolerate them. Do you hate them. Can you live without him or do you believe do you believe that they are vital for your spiritual growth. If we go according to this book right here you need me just as much as I need you. If you are saved. None of this will make sense. The first step you need to take his receive Christ as your Savior.

And when the Holy Spirit comes inside of you. He begins to tell you this is the truth. Now for those of you who are here for the first time or haven't been here for a few weeks when our series on discipleship on what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ and became a but this acronym that gives us the goal of discipleship.

Every letter stands for something about being a disciple. W is witnesses. A disciple is a witness to Christ, something you were before you met Christ you met Christ and then who you are. Since you met Christ. That's a witness. You have a testimony a is accountability last week and we looked at accountability where you should have some godly people in your life of your same gender who hold you accountable who ask you the tough questions and who encourage you to take the right steps don't get up all in your business and ask if I would did you and your husband fight about or or how much money having a bank account. None of that, but it's a godly way of spurring each other disciples have accountability in their lives TV to look at today is togetherness disciples understand that you need me as much as I need you E is established in the world you look at the next weekend how much we need this book.

This is our guide and then the following weekend will be all or which is reproducing a disciple should be reproducing other disciples. And that's much more than evangelism.

That's much more than telling people about Jesus. It's it's making people more like Christ. So you gotta be more like Christ. But this morning with a focus on tea which is togetherness.

Three basic things I want to point out to you. The first is this the early church we just read about the early church in acts chapter 2 the early church was trained in togetherness by Jesus that when you read this passage with me when we were looking at the screen on your Bibles. What many people falsely assume is that all this happened somehow organically. Next thing you know they are in charge. Jesus has risen he has ascended in the church comes together to begin to take care of each other's knee matters is amazing how this sold their possessions and help each other. It did not happen organically is like when you go to watch your favorite ball team play and they do a great job man them that they do steal the ball the rebound.

They make great plays dear walk of equipment that that was so organic you know better. You know men the coach has been working with them for some time somebody trained them really well. So also, when you see the early church. Working together and loving one another's because coach Jesus had been training them for 3 1/2 years and they were simply putting into practice what they had learned now will introduce to you a major training session that Jesus had with his disciples before he went to the cross is found in the Gospel of John chapter 13 now if you remember how Jesus celebrated the last supper with his disciples at the Last Supper Windows everything was ended. He did something very and usually did something very odd number. What he did. He took off his cloak girded himself with a towel, took a basin filled with water and began to wash the disciples feet.

It was very strange because I'm master does not wash the feet of his disciples and Peter even possessions that you can do that to me and Jesus said unless I do this to you.

You have no part with me. You are not my disciple. Let me do this and I'll explain to you later. And then when all was done. Listen to what Jesus said to them, starting in verse 12 he said, do you know what I have done to you. If I then, your Lord, meaning your master and your teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done now, don't misunderstand Jesus was not telling his disciples. Hey guys I got ago and I got a got down the cross and all the stuff I want to get along well I'm going if you have will get you know exactly what I'm talking about when you leaving the house is a okay play nice be nice to each other.

Don't fight in Iraq find out even fighting him want to get you when I get to know that's not what Jesus was doing here. Please play nice until I get back. He explains why he did what he did in verse 34.

Listen to this a new commandment I give to you that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for you see what Jesus was telling there was something very profound is not just you be nice to each other play nice. Put each other first, to the point of wash know what he was saying is this because you will be nice to one another and humble in servant, like the world is going to see you and know that you belong to me. I can wash my own feet and my favorite preachers I got my podcast I got my book, TV stand liaison man is it what were good.

That's washing my own feet. That doesn't impress the watching world. We are getting this I can even go across town in feed the hungry, help the homeless take care of those who are needy but that doesn't prove what Jesus said here. It doesn't impress the world that you came out there and give two hours of the day to feed the hungry, and Randall) because that it ended, that's great, wonderful, need to do those things. But that's not what this is about. I can't even go and wash the feet of my enemy somebody who's hurt me and I'm going to go and be nice to them.

In Jesus name is still is not proving this is easy to wash your enemies feet is hard to wash your family members feet is hard to love those who are close to you who have offended you know you have to love them to the point of willing to wash their feet and arrest you know the early church was doing there were simply following what Jesus had told them to do so as the day of Pentecost comes the Holy Spirit comes in all power, they begin to serve one another and in the process. The world is saying this is crazy. I didn't leader just die.

The other talk about him being resurrected and all that stuff he heard about that aren't being persecuted. Yeah, yeah, but is amazing how to take care of each other mainly to go and check them out and daily, the Lord added to the church. Those who were being saved. My question still stands. How do you see each other in the body of Christ, you just tolerate them. Do you despise them, can you live without him or do you believe that they are final for you for your discipleship in the process to show the world that you are a follower of Christ, the early church was trained in discipleship and togetherness by Jesus himself. Now here's a second point, it is natural for disciples to neglect togetherness in a very early in the churches life. Christians stopped getting together very early on it now in a sometimes Monday morning I'm a little down as I can see some people and haven't seen them for weeks and I'm a little down, man. I can't believe they're not coming or they haven't been here for a while that I read a passage like about to read to you and it just lifts me up because people stop getting together 30 years after Jesus ascended, how to read to you from the book of Hebrews.

By the way, a key phrase in this book is let us in this were a reason. He says let us because he wants them to come together to gather and not just let you all that I is S so let's do again what we did just a few moments ago by one another. Let's do about let us in this passage. Are you ready Hebrews chapter 10 starting in verse 22. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts is not having my heart, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. It was another one let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful and let us consider one another. He begins the lettuce with let us stick to the truth that is understand are sure that he says let us consider one another means.

Look around and see others who are part of the family of God.

Why in order to stir up love and good works, not listen to this one, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together means don't stop attending church is amazing to me that 30 years of 40 years. Whatever it is, at the time of the writing of Hebrews that people stop getting together, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, even so much more as you see the day approaching. So let's stop there for a moment.

Why did these early Christians stopped attending and assembling together, I believe, for the same reason that Christians today stop attending church.

As I mentioned to you pastoring for 20 some years is my personally church I have are all kinds of reasons within there some that rise to the top.

Here's one that I often hear I don't have to be in church in order to be a Christian and all heard that is not true.

Actually it is true. You don't have to be in church to be a Christian you can get saved anywhere you want to arm you can be at a ballgame and get saved. You can be on the pond and get saved. What people imply about that is this. I love Jesus Christ I just don't like the church.

I just don't like the people the apostle Paul describes the church in three different metaphors he he explains what the church is in three different ways.

One way he does is by saying that the church is the body of Christ. I want you here in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 22 and he gave him meaning Christ's to be head over all things to the church which is is body, the church is not a building is the body of Christ. But what if you were to come to me and say pastor Shaw or Avedon were you call me I really like you. I really think the world of you. You are such a good guy you been great. I just don't like your body I would be very self-conscious at that moment it all his like get behind something I'm in the heart. You'll find me in the fetal position somewhere crying why don't you like my body. I just don't like it. I mean, I like certain things about you, but your nose I'm in your ears me.

I don't know I just take it or leave it.

How would you feel and yet that's what you are saying when you say I love Jesus just don't like the church, which means you don't like the body of Christ is another one. Paul says that we are the charges the family of Jesus. Listen to Ephesians 219. Your longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members, and members of the household of God. If someone were to come to you or come to you or come to you and say man you're my great friend I love you that I just hate your family.

I mean, I would say we have some nuts hanging on our family to become all you cannot hate is all over him all that you and I were cool.

Paul gives us one more metaphor, which is the church as a bride of Christ.

Ephesians 525 husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her, which means the church is the wife or the bride of Christ. If you come to me and say pastor.

We love you. I belong you my best friend. I just hate Nicole you better run if you're bigger than me. I'll try to push you at least I'll do something I were not going to be getting along. Tell me you hate my wife say when we say I don't have to be in charge in order to be a Christian were implying that we love Christ, but hate his body or hate his family or hate his bride. How unthinkable.

Here's another one. I'm very busy, and Sunday is my only day off. My question to you what you believe about the church.

We believe that this is a place where there are people who stir you up for good works, and for love because something is wrong with the understanding I need to come to Georgia so you you need to because you you get paid here know I need to come to church because, listen, you may not believe it but there are many here in this place. You may not know it but you inspire me in how you love your wife.

You inspire me in how you are leading your children you inspire me as an owner I made a lot of mistakes yeah I'm learning from them to come all your inspiring me. So it is essential for me to be here, which means this when somebody says all is my day off. How much is that a priority for you to come here and be a better man a better woman wherever you are. I teach you the Bible you teaching me life there a lot of hypocrites in church. My question is, what's new. What better place for hypocrites to be then to be in charge. Here's one more is so me.

I can go through. I'm just giving you the ones that I have encountered the most, and is this one I did go to church until something bad happened to me and others in the joke about this one because it really happens. People do crazy things people hurt and you feel like I want to go there and be heard again when I came here this is back in 1991 I grew up in a Christian home. I grew up in a pastor's home, I was on the streets doing street evangelism with my family and church family at the age of six and seven handing tracks in neighborhoods where you could get beat up done all that I came here as a 17-year-old went to a good Bible believing church and people walk past me and did not shake my hand.

Don't tell me it doesn't happen for people to judge you based on who you are what you look like.

It is not just about skin tone is also if you dress a certain way or if you have tattoos or this and that we would off or they're doing here it happens. And it hurts but here's my point to you. I start going to church for a year and 1/2 because it happened to me. Yes, who suffered. I did those people didn't even care didn't know that it didn't bother. They do the same. I should've said it well, it's in the back row and leave before the offering to put anything in there but I'm going in for me, but I did go in and suffer for your have made some very poor choices.

What is an appointed all of this. It is this that it is natural for disciples to neglect togetherness.

We have to keep in mind that coming to church brings blessing when when you participate when you spur each other on when you encourage one another. There is a sense of accountability when I know when I know that I have to get up here and preach. I think twice about taking another look on that picture that just flashed on my phone when there is no accountability that some people keep on keep on keep on running your homes, your marriages, your life, here's the last togetherness is a measuring stick for discipleship not told you three points already in the early church was trained in togetherness by Jesus.

He is the one who taught them what it was to serve one another and prove to the world that they were his disciples.

We talked about how natural it is for disciples neglect togetherness same weight was 2000 years ago is same way today it's easy to walk away and not come. But here's the point I want to close with togetherness is a measuring stick for discipleship.

It means that if you want to know where you are on the discipleship paradigm. Look at how you connect with others in the first message I explained to you how Jesus moved people through three circles your number then three circles, three concentric circles outside the circle was the crown. These were people who are not following Jesus. They were just living and then counter Jesus. The first circle is the congregation which is the multitudes that followed Jesus. The heart is messages. They ate the food he provided in this, all the miracles. This is the congregation from the congregation.

He called the community which were his disciples.

12 and 70 inside the disciples or or the community. There was the inner circle. The circle of Peter, James and John were want you to understand is that each of this groups Jesus had a different call.

Pay attention to this for the crowd.

The call was repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Translated get saved for the congregation the multitudes it was did not yourself, pick up your cross and follow me. Which means commit to me to the disciples, which is the community using the circle community. His commandment was what he because looked at love one another as I have loved you and so prove that you are my disciples. You see, there is no community there is no togetherness in the congregation.

When you get to the community. There is togetherness love one another and then out of the community. He goes even closer to the circle and what did he tell the circle but until those disciples. He said watch and pray, lest you enter into them is it's more than just love me and spur me on its watch my back.

Where are you are you the crowd Re: the congregation who comes and listens.

Are you the community who goes past those doors and goes to Sunday school and Bible study. What you really need to get to the circle ladies with other ladies. You should have godly, mature, and trustworthy women in your life who will do the same for you, man. You should have godly, mature, trustworthy men in your life who will spur you on the understand the value of togetherness and being a disciple this morning. I hope there will be some movement not movement in here, necessarily, but movement in your mind that I am sitting in the congregation, but I've never gone to community and never move past that to a circle, you cannot skip over to say give me no accountability without going to community.

This is how Christ moved people is to be a change needs to be a shift in accountability the circle doesn't happen here is that another nine judge know where you are. Start praying is a God 325 ladies and five men that will help me help. Thank you so much for joining early church stream self importance never made us grow spiritually.

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