The Radical Disciple: 8 Characteristics often neglected The Radical Disciple by John Stott Chapter 3 MATURITY Friends & Fellowship July 28, 2013 Jim Bechtel Chapter 1 2 3 Today 4 5 6 7 8 Characteristic Non-Conformity Christlikeness Maturity Creation-Care Simplicity Balance Dependence Death 2 Who is JOHN STOTT? (1921-2011) Outline: Chapter 3 MATURITY [in CHRIST] EVANGELICAL SCHOLAR: "I can't think of anyone who has been more effective in introducing so many people to a biblical world view. He represents a touchstone of authentic biblical scholarship that, in my opinion, has scarcely been paralleled since the days of 16th century European Reformers." (Billy Graham) Also see tributes to Stott s Influence: JohnStottMemorial.org AUTHOR of over 50 books and many documents, notably: The Cross of Christ The Incomparable Christ Lausanne Covenant of Evangelical theology & social action GENEROUS MENTOR: Book royalties & personal ministry provided evangelical theology education for pastors and missions worldwide (LanghamPartnership.org) HUMBLE CLERIC: Lifelong Rector at Anglican All Souls Church, London; refused all promotions and offers of positions SOUL GOAL, for Eternity: Stott: we see a double responsibility: Maturity in Christ is the goal both for ourselves and for our ministry to others. 4 Questions (and Answers): #1) to WHOM is this call to maturity directed? #2) HOW do Christians become mature? (or Not?) 2 obstacles interfere: poor discipleship & false Christs #3) WHERE shall we find the authentic Christ? #4) WHAT is Christian maturity? 7 PRAYERS for MATURITY and MINISTRY 3 4 1
Maturity in Christ a double responsibility SOUL GOAL, for Eternity Stott: we can see a double responsibility: Maturity in Christ is the goal both for ourselves and for our ministry to others. PRAY: for MATURITY and MINISTRY Stott: So then may God give us such a full, clear vision of Jesus Christ, first that we may grow into maturity ourselves, and secondly that, by our faithful proclamation of Christ in his fullness to others, we may present others mature as well.» (Chapter 3, last 2 paragraphs) Q #1) to WHOM is this call to maturity directed? Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:27-29) Stott asks: To interpret a Biblical text, do we identify with its reader or author? Sometimes (as here) it is reasonable to do both. 5 6 Q #1) to WHOM is this call to maturity directed? (1) Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 1) Identify with readers ( everyone = The Radical Disciple) Stott: listen attentively to the apostle, receive his admonition about growing into maturity, determine to take our Bible reading yet more seriously, and as we read Scripture, look for Christ in order to love, trust, and obey him. Q #1) to WHOM is this call to maturity directed? (2) Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:27-29) 2) Identify with the author (= The Radical Disciple maker) Stott: Like Paul, a Radical Disciple will strive: to proclaim, admonish, teach, present, mature to strenuously contend (to work as hard as a farm laborer or athletic competitor) to go beyond evangelism to discipleship, and to present everybody mature in Christ. 7 8 2
Q #2) HOW do Christians become mature? (or NOT?) Stott: 2 obstacles interfere with Christian maturity: #1) Church growth without depth due to superficiality of discipleship everywhere #2) in the world s religious supermarkets false Christs, distorted Christs, caricatures of the authentic Jesus make pygmy Christians. Q #2) HOW do Christians become mature? (2) Stott: Nothing is more important for mature Christian discipleship than a fresh, clear, true vision of the authentic Jesus. the clearer our vision of Christ, the more convinced we become that He is worthy of our commitment. 9 10 Q #3) WHERE shall we find the authentic Jesus Christ? Stott: The Bible is full of Christ. the book which could be described as the Father s portrait of the Son painted by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said the Scriptures testify about me (John 5:39) And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:11-12, 20) Exalt the authentic Jesus Christ! (1) Christ s Supremacy Colossians 1:15-17 1) God s visible image 2) Lord and Head over all 3) Creator and sustainer of everything in the universe The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 11 12 3
Exalt the authentic Jesus Christ! (2) Christ s Supremacy 4) Head of the Church 5) Resurrected, Eternal Lord 6) Fully God 7) Reconciler in peace, through his blood on the cross Colossians 1:18-20 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Q #4) WHAT is Christian maturity? (1) ( worship, trust, love, and obey ) Stott: to be in Christ is to be personally, vitally, organically related to him a mature relationship with Christ in which we worship, trust, love, and obey him. (Greek teleios verb to mature, to perfect; adj. mature, perfect) Jesus said, I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father s commands and remain in his love. (John 15:5,10) 13 14 Q #4) WHAT is Christian maturity? (2) ( the whole measure of the fullness of Christ ) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:11-16) 15 Q #4) WHAT is Christian maturity? (3) ( in Christ ) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God s possession to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14) (Also: 2 Corinthians 5:17-18,20) 16 4
Q #4) WHAT is Christian maturity? (4) ( fully mature in Christ -- ambassadors ) if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone.... God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.... We are therefore Christ s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. (2 Corinthians 5:17-18,20) (Also: Romans 8:10, 1 Corinthians 2:10,12-13) Q #4) WHAT is Christian maturity? (5) ( Christ in you, the hope of glory ) so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2) (Also: John 17:20-24; 2 Cor. 4:16-17; Col. 3:1-4; Rom. 8:17-30; Gal. 5:5) 17 18 PRAY for MATURITY and MINISTRY (1) ( a double responsibility ) SOUL GOAL, for Eternity: Stott: we can see a double responsibility: Maturity in Christ is the goal both for ourselves and for our ministry to others. PRAY: for MATURITY and MINISTRY (1) Stott: So then may God give us such a full, clear vision of Jesus Christ, first that we may grow into maturity ourselves, and secondly that, by our faithful proclamation of Christ in his fullness to others, we may present others mature as well.» (Chapter 3, last 2 paragraphs) PRAY for MATURITY and MINISTRY (2) as Jesus Christ Prays for All Believers: I pray also for those who will believe in me that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one I in them and you in me so that they may be brought to complete unity.... Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. (John 17:20-24) 19 20 5
PRAY for MATURITY and MINISTRY (3) And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11) PRAY for MATURITY and MINISTRY (4) we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12) 21 22 PRAY for MATURITY and MINISTRY (5) we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14) PRAY for MATURITY and MINISTRY (6) I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (Ephesians 1:17, 3:16-17) 23 24 6
PRAY for MATURITY and MINISTRY (7) And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:17-21) Next Week: Chapter 4 CREATION CARE The earth is the Lord s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1) Soul Work 1) Read the chapter. 2) Study and pray about scriptures referenced. 3) Write a one sentence statement: My greatest spiritual growth challenge from this chapter is. 25 26 7