Discipleship - Growing Up

Disciples use discipline in their lives- in response to Jesus.

3 types of love; in English we only one word but other languages have more than one word:
Romantic love
Responding love
Sacrificial love  (agape)

We want to grow up to the full stature of being a mature person.

Habits:
1.  Christ in my life; my time
2.  Put Christ first in relationships
3.  Put Christ first in financial
4.  Put Christ first in prayer.

Time:

James chapter 1:22-25

"But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. For if anyone only listens to the word without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like. But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience]."

What you do with your time is important.   Does this save me?  No.  Does it make my life better?  Yes.

If we say we have a relationship with God then we need to take time, make time and invest in the relationship.

You have to put time in to learn, to develop your life, to grow up.  If you want to grow up but don't put time aside there is no relationship.

Relationships:

Hebrews 10:25

Growing up means being part of team; committed to being in fellowship.  Loving each other; lift each other up; sharpen each other.  If we run families with laws and rules then you run with a rod.  Families are to be built on love.
Families should be safe.

Tithing

1 Corinthians 16:2

We are to set aside and give to God.  We are to use our resource to show love to the local community.
We can also support people in their mission work.

What is mine is God's.   God gives me stewardship over the resources to build His Kingdom.

Prayer:

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

Luke 14:7

God wants us to grow up and be able to look after ourselves.

Jesus - if you are my disciples you obey God and grow up.

If we sin, confess our sin and receive forgiveness from God.

1 John
James 1:21

Practice new habits to change how we live; don't get so preoccupied with life's distractions that we  live on circumstances.  We need to put time aside with God and hear him.

Don't become superficial.   God wants us to be real people- where we put our time, relationships, money, prayer.

Disciples are people who hear God's Word, become what we are committed to.

Growing up in the Lord takes discipline.   Even when you fail; God still loves you.

1 Timothy 4:7 - you have to put effort into your training.  It will cost you.