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Welcome to Let's Talk, a podcast about life, leadership, and making disciples.
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Let's Talk is brought to you by the North Central Region of the Missionary Church, where we want to empower everyday people to love like Jesus and live like missionaries.
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To find out more about our events and ministries, go to mcncr.org.
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Welcome, welcome, welcome.
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Hey, I'm so glad that you are joining me today here at the Missionary Church North Central Region.
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We want to help you.
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We want to help leaders.
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We want to help churches.
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We want to help everyday people love like Jesus and live like missionaries.
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And there's a couple ways that we do that.
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There's a bunch of ways that we do that.
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But here's here's two main ones.
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One is this podcast.
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This this Let's Talk podcast is designed to help you.
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We want to help you live better.
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We want to help you lead better.
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We want to help you make more disciples.
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And so we put this podcast together on the weekly basis with a myriad of topics and conversations and interviews.
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We've talked about leadership development thus far.
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We've talked about how do you how do you lead change from the second chair.
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We've talked about assimilation and connection.
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We talked about Bethel University.
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And we've got some real, we have some really, really great podcasts coming up.
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We're going to be talking with the directors and leaders at the national level of healthy church development, of church planting, discipleship pathways, leadership development.
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There's so many things that we're going to be talking about.
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We've got some special guests coming up in the next few weeks.
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This podcast is designed to help you.
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So here's what I'd invite you to do is subscribe to the podcast, download the podcast weekly, and then here's a big one.
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Don't only don't just listen to it, share it.
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Share it.
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Don't be a stingy leader.
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Share this with your team.
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Yes, these are the these podcasts are designed and filtered and focused through the lens of church ministry and Christian living.
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However, they are going to be applicable and usable to anyone that you know, especially if you have some friends who don't know Christ.
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There's going to be some podcasts that we do that they are going to be very interested in.
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The leadership development, the hope that's found that we're going to be talking about.
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Share these podcasts with your leadership team.
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Share these podcasts with your people and share these podcasts with friends that both know Jesus and maybe even that don't.
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Use this as an opportunity to share your faith.
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This podcast is designed to help you.
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So listen to it and share it.
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But then also we do we do conferences and training events and two events that we have coming up very, very quickly are our Elevate conference and our Timothy project.
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Elevate, we've got Carrie Newhoff coming in, is going to be doing two main sessions, one on leading through change, which is a very needed conversation for us.
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And then also is AI.
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He's going to be talking about how the future is here.
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And as a church and as church leaders, there's three main shifts that we really need to make to be proactive as leaders in the AI era that we are already in.
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We also have uh, I believe it's 12 different breakouts that are wrapped around the keynotes of Carrie.
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This is going to be an incredible conference.
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Also, we have a conference for youth leaders, for youth pastors, youth directors, uh, adult volunteers, as well as student leaders and potential leaders called the Timothy Project.
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It's based off of 2 Timothy 2.2.
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We with these things that you've heard from me give to faithful people who shall be able to teach and reach others also.
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We want to help the people that are in the trenches working with the next generation teenagers on how they can begin to pour into those students so that they can be raised up as Christ followers and begin to pour into others as well.
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The Timothy Project and the Elevate Conference are all found on mcncr.org.
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If you are part of the North Central Region Missionary Church, you are invited to be a part.
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If you're part of the National Missionary Church, you are invited to be a part.
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If you are a church that's just in the area and you're not part of the missionary church, you know what?
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You are invited to be a part.
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We would love to have you come and join us.
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So check out mcncr.org and register your team and your leaders and potential leaders today, here at the North Central Region, through this podcast and through our conferences.
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We want to help everyday people love like Jesus and live like missionaries.
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Hey, I'm glad you're with us.
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Grab a notebook, grab a pen, and listen to this week's content.
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Get ready to grow.
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Well, hey, thanks so much for joining me today.
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Over the course of the last couple podcasts, anyway.
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You've been stuck with me.
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I've had some things on my heart that I wanted to share.
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And this week and next week are the same.
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We're doing a little mini-series, but trust me, we have some different voices that are coming onto this podcast that podcasts have been recorded and they're in the Rolo decks.
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They're in the file to be shared very soon.
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We've got some great interviews that are coming up.
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We have some great content from guest speakers coming up.
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So get ready for what's coming up right here at the Let's Talk podcast.
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But for today, here's what we want to do.
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We want to start a two, a two-session series, a two-episode series on making disciples and planting churches.
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We're going to talk about how you can be a church, how to be a church that makes disciples and plants churches.
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Make disciples and plant churches.
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Jesus said that he's going to build his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
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And then Jesus told us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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He has invited us to be a part of the building of the kingdom of God.
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So how do we do that as individuals?
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How do we do that as ministries?
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And how do we do that corporately as a church?
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Over the course of the next two episodes, I want to break down just some principles.
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These are, listen, there's no such thing as a silver bullet.
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There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all program, but there are principles.
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And what I want to do is I want to give you some principles as a church that you can focus on that are going to help you be a church that regularly makes disciples that makes disciples.
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And then in the next episode, I want to talk with you about some principles, some thoughts, some things to walk out that are going to help you be a church that raises up leaders so that you then can plant more churches through those leaders.
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How could you be a church that makes disciples and plants churches?
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That's what we're going to be talking about over our next two episodes.
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But today we're going to focus on making disciples.
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Now, there is a PDF that we have created for this podcast that will help you take these principles and not just hear them on the podcast, but now you're going to see them in writing.
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And then also I'd encourage you to take this podcast, listen to it as a team, and then also take those that PDF and go through it as a team and apply it in your own way.
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I'm we're going to walk it out how we're walking it out at the church that I pastor, Noble County Community Church.
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But again, there's no silver bullet, there's no one size fits all program.
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But these principles that we're going to talk about, you can take and you can use and prayerfully consider how you walk these things out in your own context in your community, because here's the truth of the matter.
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Don't want to get my preach on too much, but here's the truth of the matter.
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We live in a world where we are surrounded by individuals that need Jesus.
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They need what we have, they need the hope, they need the peace, they need the forgiveness, they need salvation.
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And it is imperative that we as individuals and we as church members and we as leaders in the church that we know how to raise up people to become disciples of Jesus, not just church attendees, disciples.
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And not just disciples, but disciples that make disciples, people that walk out Matthew chapter 28.
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That's what we are about.
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Making disciples that make disciples.
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So how do we do that?
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I'm going to give you four thoughts today.
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So grab the PDF and let's get to work.
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Grab the PDF and let's get to work.
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Here we go.
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Number one, if you're going to be a church that makes disciples, number one, you need to make disciple making your goal.
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You need to make disciple making your goal.
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Now I know.
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Hey, hey, Kevin, I listen, I already know that, Kevin.
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Listen, I know you know that, but do you know it?
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Do you know it so much that that's actually your goal?
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Because sometimes what can happen is I call it the tail wagging the dog.
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The tail can wag the dog in church world.
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Is yes, we want to make disciples, but we also we got to make sure that we've got the three songs and the band set up and the lights are good and the transitions well, and we got to pay the bills, and the room was only three-quarter full, it wasn't full, uh, the lawn needs done.
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You know, we need to make sure we have our website and our marketing strategy.
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And yes and amen, all those things are important, but they're not the goal, man.
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Those things are not the goal.
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The goal has got to be making disciples.
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And the truth of the matter is you can make a disciple without a church building.
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You can make a disciple without a light show.
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You can make a disciple with without a cool kids' room.
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Now, is a cool kids' room good and can you use it as a tool?
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Yes.
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Is the stage a good tool?
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Yes.
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But it's not the goal.
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And sometimes what can happen is we spend so much time focusing on, we spend so much time dialing in on things that are good tools, but they're not the goal.
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They're a means to an end, but they're not the end result that we're looking for.
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If you're going to be a church that makes disciples, that makes disciples, you have to make disciple making your goal.
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It's your mission.
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Why are we doing kids men to make disciples?
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Why are we doing youth group to make disciples?
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Why are we doing small group to make disciples?
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Why are we doing a gathering on Sunday?
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Make disciples.
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Why are we mowing the yard at the church?
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Make disciples.
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Everything you do has to be designed with one goal in mind.
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Make disciples of Jesus Christ.
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That's what Jesus told us to do, Matthew 28.
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You know this passage.
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Good night nursery school.
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You know this passage, man.
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All power and all authority has been given unto me.
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Now go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to do all that I've commanded you to do.
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And I will be with you always, even until the end of the age.
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We need to make making disciples our goal.
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And I don't know what that looks like for you, but I I would ask you, is is is making disciples your goal?
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Is making disciples the thing that you are most focused on?
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What is it?
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Let me ask you a question.
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What is it that you have been distracted in a little bit?
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What what where where's the tail kind of wagging wagging the dog for you?
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What are you focusing on that you know what?
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This is taking me away from my from my actual from my actual things that God is calling me to do.
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What is that?
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Be honest about it.
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And I want to encourage you to get focused again.
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Get focused again.
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Make making disciples your goal.
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The second principle that I would give you is I would say have a clear definition of what a disciple is.
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If Jesus has called us to go and make disciples, we need to clearly know what it is that we're making.
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And the problem is many times when it comes to making disciples, is we if I was to ask 12 different people what a disciple is, is I'd probably get 12 different answers.
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You if someone comes up to me and asks me, hey, Kevin, can you make me a table?
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I need to clearly know what it is that I am making.
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I need to know what a table is.
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If I don't know what a table is, I can't make a table.
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Well, Jesus says, go and make disciples.
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If you don't have a clear definition of what it is a disciple, what a disciple is, you can't make one.
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So let me ask you this: what's a disciple?
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What is this thing?
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What are the characteristics?
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What are the things that you were trying to make, that you are trying to build?
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That's something that before we planted our church, our church is about five years old.
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And before we planted our church, we really wrestle with this.
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Jesus said, Go and make disciples.
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What is it that we are supposed to be making?
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What is a disciple?
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And this is where, again, there's no silver bullet, there's no one program that fits all.
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This is a this is a principle.
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You need to decide, you need to biblically look at what a disciple is and give a clear definition.
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Now, when it comes to the definition of a disciple, we're all going to be in some regard in the same realm.
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But how we, where we landed on this, where the Holy Spirit guided us, was to John 15.
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So in John chapter 15, Jesus says these words.
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And as we looked at that, showing yourself to be my disciples.
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There there's something there that's stuck.
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And as you look at your your PDF that you downloaded, what you'll see is you'll see a triangle.
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And in this triangle, you'll see three different words trust, know, and do.
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When we look at what is it that we are trying to make, what is it that God wants from us as people?
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What is a disciple of Jesus Christ?
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Who is a disciple of Jesus Christ?
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We looked at this passage of scripture.
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If you abide in me, if you abide in me, if you, what does abide mean?
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It means to plug into, it means to lean in, it means to be tied to in a very modern way of English of speaking, it would be to trust.
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If you trust in me, if you trust in me and not your works, if you trust in me and not your money, you trust in me and not your position, you trust in me and not your political party, you trust in me and not your feelings.
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If you trust in me and the finished work of Jesus on the cross, that's the first step.
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If you abide in me, that Jesus is looking for, a disciple of Jesus Christ, is somebody who has put their faith and their trust in the finished work of Jesus.
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I am right with God, not because of what I do, but because of what Jesus has done.
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I am good, not because of what I do, but because of what Jesus Christ has done.
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Yes, now I go do good works, but I'm not saved by my works.
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I'm not trusting in my works.
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I'm not abiding in my works.
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I'm not leaning on my works.
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I'm leaning on the finished work of Jesus.
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A disciple of Jesus Christ is someone who trusts in the finished work of Jesus.
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So for us at Noble County Community Church, as we're looking to define a disciple, a disciple is someone who, number one, trusts in the finished work of Jesus.
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Secondly, it says, if you abide in me and my words abide in you, if you abide in me and my words abide in you.
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That's if my words abide in you, that would that would mean if my words are in you.
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If you trust me and you know my word.
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If you trust me and you know my word.
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For us, as we look at what a disciple is, his disciple is someone who's put their trust in the finished work of Jesus and someone who knows his word, someone who studies his word, someone who is getting the word of God into their heart, someone who gets into the Bible so much that the Bible actually gets into them.
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Someone who's on a journey of knowing God's word.
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What does God say?
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And living, what does God say?
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They know his word.
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They know God's word.
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So a disciple is someone who is on this journey and has trusted in the finished work of Jesus.
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They know and are knowing his word.
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And thirdly, it goes on and says, If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask what you wish, this shall be given unto you.
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Ask whatever you wish, and it shall be given unto you.
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This is for my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit showing yourself.
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That would be actions, showing yourself to be my disciples, that you bear much fruit showing yourself.
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There's something that we do.
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We do things that bear fruit of a Christian.
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So as we look at that triangle, what you're going to see for us, how we define a disciple as someone who trusts in the finished work of Jesus, someone who knows his word, and someone who is doing his work.
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Trust, know, and do.
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They are living the way Jesus says to live.
00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:37.599
They are talking the way Jesus says to talk.
00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:41.839
They are sharing the faith of Jesus because Jesus has asked them to do so.
00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:46.000
They've trusted in Jesus, they know his word, they are doing his work.
00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:48.079
That's what we're trying to make.
00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:51.200
When we do kids' ministry, what are we trying to do?
00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:58.319
We're trying to get children to fully trust in Jesus, to begin to know his word and then go out and do his work.
00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:06.720
When we do teen with youth ministry, we're working with teenagers to help them trust in Jesus, know his word, and go out and do his work.
00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:11.680
When we do small groups, it's trust in Jesus, know his word and do his work.
00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:17.119
When we gather on Sundays, it's not about how many people we have, it's not about how much offering came in.
00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:19.359
It's not about did the transitions work well?
00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.400
You know what it's about?
00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:31.359
It's about helping people through our worship, through our messages, through our prayer times to trust in Jesus, know his word, and do his work.
00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:42.000
If you're going to be a church that makes disciples, number one, you have to be a church that makes disciple making your mission.
00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:45.440
Making disciples is your mission.
00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:51.839
And in order for that to happen, number two, is you have to have a clear definition of what a disciple is.
00:19:52.240 --> 00:20:00.079
For us at our church, as we look at this passage, trust in Jesus, know his word, do his work.
00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:03.200
That's what we're trying to make.
00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:06.960
The third thing is, in order to make that now, not so case, that's what we're trying to make.
00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:08.559
Now, how do you how do you make that?
00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:13.680
Number three is you have to have a mechanism on how to make disciples.
00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:16.079
There has to be some sort of a pathway.
00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:19.279
There has to be a framework, there has to be a mechanism.
00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:22.079
However, you would want to word that or or write that.
00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:24.079
We've got it in our PDF there.
00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:33.599
But there has to, you have to have a way that you are actually helping someone begin to trust in Jesus, helping someone know his word, and helping someone do his work.
00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:46.240
And for us, that that that happens, not just for us in general, that happens by spending something that is probably our most prized possession.
00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.839
Spending our time.
00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:52.480
To help somebody trust in Jesus know his word and do his work, you know what that takes?
00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.599
That takes time.
00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:54.720
It takes time.
00:20:54.880 --> 00:21:01.440
It takes time doing the right things on a regular basis to help people trust in Jesus know his word and do his work.
00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:07.759
And before we started planting the church, we really started searching the scriptures of okay, how how do we do this?
00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:11.119
How do Christians make disciples?
00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:14.319
How do Christians trust in Jesus, know his word and do his work?
00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:15.200
How does this happen?
00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:17.440
What's the mechanism for this?
00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:20.000
Is it just coming on Sunday?
00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:22.960
Is it is it is it just reading the Bible?
00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.079
How do how do we do this?
00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:31.920
And so we started to look at scriptures and we looked at the first church and the first Christians, and we came across in our studies a very popular passage.
00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:34.799
It's Acts chapter 2, verses 42 through 47.
00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:41.599
If you have a Bible, you can turn to it, but it's also the the the con the title and the address, I mean, is is in your PDF.
00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:43.279
This is what it says.
00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:52.880
It says, They, the the the first Christians, the believers, they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship and to breaking of bread and prayer.
00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:56.720
Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:59.279
All the believers were together and had everything in common.
00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:03.519
They Sold property and possessions to give anyone who had need.
00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:06.880
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.
00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:18.079
They broke bread in their homes, and they ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God, enjoying the favor of all the people, and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:21.440
And as we looked at this passage, we said, Aha, there it is.
00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.480
There it is.
00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:29.920
How did the church, how did the first church begin to trust in Jesus, know his his word, and do his works?
00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.839
How did they do that?
00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:34.720
Well, as we're looking at this, they spent time.
00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:36.480
They spent time doing what?
00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:40.079
They spent time, number one, around the word and prayer.
00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:44.240
They devoted themselves to the apostles' doctrine and to prayer.
00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:48.000
Time around the word and prayer.
00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:50.240
Secondly, is they broke bread together.
00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:52.160
That's time around the table.
00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:56.880
Thirdly, they they met house to house and they had favor one with another.
00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:58.079
They got to know each other.
00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:00.240
That's time living life.
00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:03.359
And then lastly, is time serving.
00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:06.480
It says every day people were coming to Christ.
00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:10.480
Every day someone's going out and they're serving their neighbor by sharing Jesus.
00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:14.079
Every day someone in some regard was opening their home.
00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.440
That's serving.
00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:17.279
What was making a meal?
00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.240
That's serving.
00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:20.880
They were giving money so that no one had need.
00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:21.920
That's serving.
00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:38.160
The first disciples, they became disciples of Jesus, trusting in Jesus, knowing his word and doing his work by number one, spending time around the word and prayer, spending time around the table, spending time living life together, and spending time serving.
00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:44.880
Word and prayer, the table, living life and serving.
00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:47.200
That's how people became disciples.
00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:49.599
And that's also how they discipled people.
00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:59.359
When you look through the book of Acts, there's other frameworks, there's other things obviously that Christians did, but it was based out of this meeting at the temple and then meeting house to house.
00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:01.200
Meeting at the temple, meeting house to house.
00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:07.200
And obviously their temple gathering was different contextually than what ours is today, but they met at the temple and they met house to house.
00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.079
And what did they do?
00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:09.920
They spent time around the word in prayer.
00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:17.440
They spent time around the table, eating meals together, they spent time getting to know each other, and they spent time rolling up their sleeves and saying, Who can we help?
00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:19.599
So how do we make disciples?
00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:23.279
Time around the word, time around the table, time living life, and time serving.
00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.319
That's it.
00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:31.599
And as we begin to walk this out, and as we begin to see people come to Christ, we begin to think, it can't be this easy, man.
00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:33.599
It can't be this simple.
00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:35.359
It can't be this simple.
00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.559
There has to be something more.
00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:38.480
There has to be more bells and whistles.
00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:47.119
There has to be more than just gathering around and reading the word together and praying together around a meal and doing that regularly so we know each other.
00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:48.799
And then at some point going out.
00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:51.440
And it's got, it's gotta be, there's gotta be more than this.
00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.079
But you know what?
00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:53.119
There's not.
00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.720
There's not.
00:24:55.200 --> 00:25:02.000
And as a church, you need to, with all the different things that you do, you need to make sure that you have a mechanism, you have a framework.
00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:10.000
You have a framework, a mechanism that you walk out that helps you help people trust in Jesus, know his word, and do his work.
00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:17.119
And for us at Noble County Community Church, it is there obviously there's rows, there's circles, and there's chairs.
00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:19.920
But discipleship happens in the circles and the chairs.
00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:23.599
It happens in small groups and it happens in one-on-ones.
00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:26.400
We do small groups and we do one-on-ones.
00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:30.400
If we recorded this, I think we have a total of, I think it's 13.
00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:32.960
We have 13 small groups that meet together.
00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:39.680
But also throughout the course of the week, our leadership team, as well as people of our church, we we meet together one-on-one.
00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:45.200
We meet together one-on-two and we and we break bread together and we read the word together.
00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:47.680
And I just got to tell you, this works.
00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.200
This works.
00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:51.839
This is how disciples are made.
00:25:52.960 --> 00:26:08.720
We have an event that we did at our church outside a few months ago, and and one of our guys in our church who who leads a small group came and said, Hey, hey, Pastor Kevin, I have a friend down there in the lawn area, is an outside area.
00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:13.440
Got a a friend down in the lawn area that he's ready to give his heart to the Lord.
00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.400
And I said, What?
00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:16.640
And he said, Yeah, he's ready to give his heart to the Lord.
00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:18.000
You want to come down leading by Jesus?
00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:19.680
And I'm like, Well, sure, let's go.
00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:26.480
So I walked down there and as I'm as I introduced myself to the young man, I'd seen him in our church before, but I'd never really spoken to him before.
00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.680
And I introduced myself.
00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:30.960
He introduced himself to me and I said, Hey man, tell me your story.
00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:37.279
And he said, Well, I've just been, I've been, I've been going to his to his um to his small group.
00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:39.200
And I'm not really into church.
00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:41.440
I haven't really been into church much, but I like him.
00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:46.799
And he invited me to come to his his men's meeting, and we've just been reading the Bible together.
00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:48.079
I said, So what do you do?
00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:49.599
He said, Yeah, we'll just we just read the Bible.
00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:53.519
And as I've been reading the Bible, I'm like, man, I gotta, there's something about this.
00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:55.359
I I need this in my heart.
00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:59.200
I I want to follow Jesus after reading the Bible.
00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:06.640
And I asked him, I said, have you ever made a profession of faith and actually crossed the line of faith to surrender fully to Jesus and receive his grace?
00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.920
And he said, No, I haven't.
00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:09.200
I said, Would you like to?
00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:10.319
He said, Yes, I would.
00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.680
I said, You want to right now?
00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:12.559
He said, Absolutely.
00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:14.880
He put his hands out and we prayed together.
00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:17.599
We prayed Romans 10, 9, and 10 together.
00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.640
You know what?
00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:25.680
That young man, he began to follow Jesus and now continues to follow Jesus.
00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.400
Why?
00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:30.319
Because the light show at the church, because the room was really cool.
00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.200
No, you know why he's following Jesus?
00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:37.200
Because a friend of his invited him to his house and they read the Bible together.
00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:41.920
And then they read the Bible again next week, and then they read the Bible again next week.
00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:44.799
They just read the Bible and they prayed and they ate meals.
00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:47.279
They did Acts 2, 42 through 47.
00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:49.440
And this young man now trusts in Jesus.
00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:52.000
This young man is now on his way of knowing his word.
00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:56.559
This young man is now turning his life around and no longer doing what he wants to do.
00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:58.799
He's doing what Jesus wants him to do.
00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.680
Why?
00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:01.759
Because the church had a ton of money?
00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.240
Why?
00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.920
Because the facility was awesome?
00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:04.400
Why?
00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:06.000
Because this program was great?
00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:11.519
No, they spent time around the table, time around the word, time living life, and time serving.
00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:15.680
And that young man's life has been changed.
00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:21.519
If you want to be a church that makes disciples that makes disciples, you know what you need to do.
00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:25.680
You just need to make making disciples your goal.
00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:29.440
You need to have a clear definition of what a disciple is.
00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:35.599
Number three, you need to have a mechanism on how you actually make disciples.
00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:37.920
For us, what is a disciple?
00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:42.559
Someone who trusts in the finished work of Jesus, someone who knows his word, someone who does his work.
00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:44.400
How do we make disciples?
00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:50.240
We spend time around the table, time around the word, time living life, and time serving.
00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.599
That's it.
00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:54.720
Yes, we do other things, but that's what we're doing.
00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:57.440
And that brings me to my fourth and final point.
00:28:57.599 --> 00:29:07.359
If you're going to be a church that consistently makes disciples, that makes disciples, is number four is don't let yourself or your team get off mission.
00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:10.880
If our mission is to make disciples, we can't get off mission.
00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:12.319
We can't lose focus.
00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.960
This is what we're doing.
00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.799
This is what we're doing.
00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:19.039
Jesus said, Go and make disciples.
00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:20.480
That's the goal.
00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:22.240
That's the goal.
00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:24.799
Sunday is not the goal.
00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:28.079
Wednesday night programming is not the goal.
00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:31.200
A great worship team is not the goal.
00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:34.000
Finances is not the goal.
00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:39.839
A smooth transition from song to song, from song to from worship time, that's not the goal.
00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:51.039
And what can happen is many times, as I said earlier, we can get off mission and the tail begins to wag the dog, and we spend most of our time trying to figure out things that don't actually get us towards our mission.
00:29:51.359 --> 00:30:03.359
You as a leader, whether it's a leader of a ministry, whether it's a leader of a department, whether it's a leader of an entire church, is you have to make sure that you keep yourself and your team on point, on focus, on mission.
00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:09.519
And one of the simple ways to do that is continue to talk about it and ask ourselves, why are we doing this?
00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:18.160
I don't know how many times as we planted the church, especially early on, and I still do it today in different meetings, where we'll talk about solving a problem.
00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:23.759
I remember one time in particular, there was a time where we we did a song and the transition just didn't work right.
00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:28.240
And then also the microphone kind of was popping and it just it just wasn't well.
00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:29.839
It just wasn't good.
00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:31.599
And we we needed to fix it.
00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:37.200
We needed to fix it because it needs to be done right and it needs to be done excellent because it represents Jesus and God and yes, all those things.
00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:41.759
So we we began to walk through and we we got the problem to where we knew it were gonna do to solve it.
00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:47.200
And before we left, I remember I remember telling the team, and I did this, I've done this many times, guys.
00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:47.920
Here's the deal.
00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:50.640
We're gonna we're gonna do that, we're gonna fix that transition.
00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.839
And Daniel, thank you.
00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:53.119
You're you're gonna fix the mic.
00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:54.160
I really appreciate that.
00:30:54.240 --> 00:31:00.079
But guys, yes, we're gonna fix the transition, and yes, we're gonna fix the mic, but that's not what we're doing.
00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:03.200
What we're doing is today is we're making disciples.
00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:15.839
And we need to fix the transition and we need to fix the microphone because if we don't, it'll be a distraction from someone being able to trust in Jesus, clearly know his word, and leave here and do his work.
00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:17.359
So we're doing that.
00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:20.079
We're doing those things, but that's not we're doing.
00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.519
That's not what we're doing.
00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:24.160
We're making disciples today.
00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:27.599
And as a leader, listen, our church has not got it all figured out.
00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:32.160
Believe me, I ask my ask me, ask my team, ask the people I turn our church, attend our church.
00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:35.680
We haven't got this all figured out, but the the this is our focus.
00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:38.160
We got to stay on mission.
00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:42.640
Jesus Christ said he's gonna build his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:49.359
And the way that we help Jesus build his church, the way we partner with him in this journey, is we make disciples.
00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:53.279
And as we make disciples, they get plugged into a local body of believers.
00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:56.559
The kingdom of God grows and lives are changed.
00:31:56.960 --> 00:32:00.640
And and quite honestly, legacies are built throughout our families.
00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:04.480
And it's not none of this happens on accident.
00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:08.079
We as a leader, we have to lead our people there.
00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:15.920
And I today I just want to reiterate, grab that PDF, make sure you go down through it, but then also I just want to reiterate our points.
00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:17.119
What are we gonna do?
00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:20.160
Is we're gonna make disciples our mission.
00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:21.920
What are we gonna do?
00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:25.680
We're gonna have a clear definition of what a disciple is for your church.
00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:28.079
Now that was our definition, but you need to have your own.
00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:29.599
What's your definition?
00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:33.359
And then thirdly, we need to have a mechanism on how we make disciples.
00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:39.119
We make disciples by spending time, time around the word, time around the table, time living life and time serving.
00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:45.119
And then lastly, the fourth thing that we're gonna do is we are not going to get off mission.
00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:47.279
We are not going to get off mission.
00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:51.759
We're going to keep our team and keep our church and keep our individuals on mission.
00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:54.000
We are here to make disciples.
00:32:54.160 --> 00:33:00.400
Yes, we'll do a bunch of other things, but we're doing all those other things so we can accomplish the one thing.
00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:02.880
Jesus has called you to go make disciples.
00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:03.759
Now go.
00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:04.880
Go.
00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:08.079
So before I let you go today, let me ask you a couple questions.
00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:11.200
Out of all these four, which one sticks out to you the most?
00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:15.039
Which one challenges you the most to begin to work on?
00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:24.160
Maybe you have a clear definition of what a disciple is, but you don't really have a discipleship pathway that you've designed, that you've walked through.
00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:28.160
Maybe you have a discipleship pathway, but you've got an off mission and now other things.
00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:29.920
The tails wagging the dog.
00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:34.480
Where what is sticking out to you the most and what is the next step that you need to take?
00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:35.599
Because here's the deal.
00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:38.079
I don't mean to be over-dramatic, but it's the truth.
00:33:38.400 --> 00:33:40.720
Souls are hanging in the balance.
00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:48.640
Let's roll our sleeves up and let's be a church that wins the lost and disciples the found.
00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:51.920
Let's make disciples that make disciples.
00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.920
Hey, hope this helps.
00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:56.240
Can't wait to speak with you next time.
00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:06.319
Well, hey, thank you so much for listening to our Let's Talk podcast.
00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:09.760
I want to remind you, share this with your team.
00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:19.360
Download the PDF, go through it yourself, maybe listen to it a second time, a third time, really get challenged by it, and then meet with your team and begin to unpack this with them.
00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:29.920
Talk with them about this because this is of the utmost importance that you become a leader, you become a Christian, you become a church that makes disciples, that makes disciples.
00:34:30.239 --> 00:34:37.519
Also, if you haven't already, go to mcncr.org and register for the Elevate Church Leadership Conference.
00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:45.280
Andor make sure that you register your youth team or and potential leaders in your youth ministry for the Timothy Project.
00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:48.960
Go to mcncr.org today.
00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:58.800
Together, we are going to help everyday people love like Jesus and live like missionaries.
00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:02.800
Thanks for joining us for Let's Talk.
00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:13.119
If you have any questions, topics you want us to discuss, or a story you want to share, email us at info at mcncr.org.
00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:08.480
Welcome to Let's Talk, a podcast about life, leadership, and making disciples.
00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:19.039
Let's Talk is brought to you by the North Central Region of the Missionary Church, where we want to empower everyday people to love like Jesus and live like missionaries.
00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:26.079
To find out more about our events and ministries, go to mcncr.org.
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Welcome, welcome, welcome.
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Hey, I'm so glad that you are joining me today here at the Missionary Church North Central Region.
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We want to help you.
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We want to help leaders.
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We want to help churches.
00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:44.399
We want to help everyday people love like Jesus and live like missionaries.
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And there's a couple ways that we do that.
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There's a bunch of ways that we do that.
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But here's here's two main ones.
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One is this podcast.
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This this Let's Talk podcast is designed to help you.
00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:55.759
We want to help you live better.
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We want to help you lead better.
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We want to help you make more disciples.
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And so we put this podcast together on the weekly basis with a myriad of topics and conversations and interviews.
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We've talked about leadership development thus far.
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We've talked about how do you how do you lead change from the second chair.
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We've talked about assimilation and connection.
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We talked about Bethel University.
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And we've got some real, we have some really, really great podcasts coming up.
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We're going to be talking with the directors and leaders at the national level of healthy church development, of church planting, discipleship pathways, leadership development.
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There's so many things that we're going to be talking about.
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We've got some special guests coming up in the next few weeks.
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This podcast is designed to help you.
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So here's what I'd invite you to do is subscribe to the podcast, download the podcast weekly, and then here's a big one.
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Don't only don't just listen to it, share it.
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Share it.
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Don't be a stingy leader.
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Share this with your team.
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Yes, these are the these podcasts are designed and filtered and focused through the lens of church ministry and Christian living.
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However, they are going to be applicable and usable to anyone that you know, especially if you have some friends who don't know Christ.
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There's going to be some podcasts that we do that they are going to be very interested in.
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The leadership development, the hope that's found that we're going to be talking about.
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Share these podcasts with your leadership team.
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Share these podcasts with your people and share these podcasts with friends that both know Jesus and maybe even that don't.
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Use this as an opportunity to share your faith.
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This podcast is designed to help you.
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So listen to it and share it.
00:02:51.919 --> 00:03:03.680
But then also we do we do conferences and training events and two events that we have coming up very, very quickly are our Elevate conference and our Timothy project.
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Elevate, we've got Carrie Newhoff coming in, is going to be doing two main sessions, one on leading through change, which is a very needed conversation for us.
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And then also is AI.
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He's going to be talking about how the future is here.
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And as a church and as church leaders, there's three main shifts that we really need to make to be proactive as leaders in the AI era that we are already in.
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We also have uh, I believe it's 12 different breakouts that are wrapped around the keynotes of Carrie.
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This is going to be an incredible conference.
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Also, we have a conference for youth leaders, for youth pastors, youth directors, uh, adult volunteers, as well as student leaders and potential leaders called the Timothy Project.
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It's based off of 2 Timothy 2.2.
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We with these things that you've heard from me give to faithful people who shall be able to teach and reach others also.
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We want to help the people that are in the trenches working with the next generation teenagers on how they can begin to pour into those students so that they can be raised up as Christ followers and begin to pour into others as well.
00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:15.599
The Timothy Project and the Elevate Conference are all found on mcncr.org.
00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:20.800
If you are part of the North Central Region Missionary Church, you are invited to be a part.
00:04:20.959 --> 00:04:25.680
If you're part of the National Missionary Church, you are invited to be a part.
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If you are a church that's just in the area and you're not part of the missionary church, you know what?
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You are invited to be a part.
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We would love to have you come and join us.
00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:49.519
So check out mcncr.org and register your team and your leaders and potential leaders today, here at the North Central Region, through this podcast and through our conferences.
00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:54.639
We want to help everyday people love like Jesus and live like missionaries.
00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:56.639
Hey, I'm glad you're with us.
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Grab a notebook, grab a pen, and listen to this week's content.
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Get ready to grow.
00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:09.279
Well, hey, thanks so much for joining me today.
00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:11.600
Over the course of the last couple podcasts, anyway.
00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:12.879
You've been stuck with me.
00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:15.519
I've had some things on my heart that I wanted to share.
00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:18.160
And this week and next week are the same.
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We're doing a little mini-series, but trust me, we have some different voices that are coming onto this podcast that podcasts have been recorded and they're in the Rolo decks.
00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:32.000
They're in the file to be shared very soon.
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We've got some great interviews that are coming up.
00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:37.920
We have some great content from guest speakers coming up.
00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:42.240
So get ready for what's coming up right here at the Let's Talk podcast.
00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:45.040
But for today, here's what we want to do.
00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:54.879
We want to start a two, a two-session series, a two-episode series on making disciples and planting churches.
00:05:54.959 --> 00:06:03.759
We're going to talk about how you can be a church, how to be a church that makes disciples and plants churches.
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Make disciples and plant churches.
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Jesus said that he's going to build his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
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And then Jesus told us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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He has invited us to be a part of the building of the kingdom of God.
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So how do we do that as individuals?
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How do we do that as ministries?
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And how do we do that corporately as a church?
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Over the course of the next two episodes, I want to break down just some principles.
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These are, listen, there's no such thing as a silver bullet.
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There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all program, but there are principles.
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And what I want to do is I want to give you some principles as a church that you can focus on that are going to help you be a church that regularly makes disciples that makes disciples.
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And then in the next episode, I want to talk with you about some principles, some thoughts, some things to walk out that are going to help you be a church that raises up leaders so that you then can plant more churches through those leaders.
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How could you be a church that makes disciples and plants churches?
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That's what we're going to be talking about over our next two episodes.
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But today we're going to focus on making disciples.
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Now, there is a PDF that we have created for this podcast that will help you take these principles and not just hear them on the podcast, but now you're going to see them in writing.
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And then also I'd encourage you to take this podcast, listen to it as a team, and then also take those that PDF and go through it as a team and apply it in your own way.
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I'm we're going to walk it out how we're walking it out at the church that I pastor, Noble County Community Church.
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But again, there's no silver bullet, there's no one size fits all program.
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But these principles that we're going to talk about, you can take and you can use and prayerfully consider how you walk these things out in your own context in your community, because here's the truth of the matter.
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Don't want to get my preach on too much, but here's the truth of the matter.
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We live in a world where we are surrounded by individuals that need Jesus.
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They need what we have, they need the hope, they need the peace, they need the forgiveness, they need salvation.
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And it is imperative that we as individuals and we as church members and we as leaders in the church that we know how to raise up people to become disciples of Jesus, not just church attendees, disciples.
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And not just disciples, but disciples that make disciples, people that walk out Matthew chapter 28.
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That's what we are about.
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Making disciples that make disciples.
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So how do we do that?
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I'm going to give you four thoughts today.
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So grab the PDF and let's get to work.
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Grab the PDF and let's get to work.
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Here we go.
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Number one, if you're going to be a church that makes disciples, number one, you need to make disciple making your goal.
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You need to make disciple making your goal.
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Now I know.
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Hey, hey, Kevin, I listen, I already know that, Kevin.
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Listen, I know you know that, but do you know it?
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Do you know it so much that that's actually your goal?
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Because sometimes what can happen is I call it the tail wagging the dog.
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The tail can wag the dog in church world.
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Is yes, we want to make disciples, but we also we got to make sure that we've got the three songs and the band set up and the lights are good and the transitions well, and we got to pay the bills, and the room was only three-quarter full, it wasn't full, uh, the lawn needs done.
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You know, we need to make sure we have our website and our marketing strategy.
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And yes and amen, all those things are important, but they're not the goal, man.
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Those things are not the goal.
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The goal has got to be making disciples.
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And the truth of the matter is you can make a disciple without a church building.
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You can make a disciple without a light show.
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You can make a disciple with without a cool kids' room.
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Now, is a cool kids' room good and can you use it as a tool?
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Yes.
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Is the stage a good tool?
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Yes.
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But it's not the goal.
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And sometimes what can happen is we spend so much time focusing on, we spend so much time dialing in on things that are good tools, but they're not the goal.
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They're a means to an end, but they're not the end result that we're looking for.
00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:47.120
If you're going to be a church that makes disciples, that makes disciples, you have to make disciple making your goal.
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It's your mission.
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Why are we doing kids men to make disciples?
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Why are we doing youth group to make disciples?
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Why are we doing small group to make disciples?
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Why are we doing a gathering on Sunday?
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Make disciples.
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Why are we mowing the yard at the church?
00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:03.039
Make disciples.
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Everything you do has to be designed with one goal in mind.
00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:10.720
Make disciples of Jesus Christ.
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That's what Jesus told us to do, Matthew 28.
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You know this passage.
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Good night nursery school.
00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:17.360
You know this passage, man.
00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:19.919
All power and all authority has been given unto me.
00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:27.360
Now go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to do all that I've commanded you to do.
00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:32.080
And I will be with you always, even until the end of the age.
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We need to make making disciples our goal.
00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:44.480
And I don't know what that looks like for you, but I I would ask you, is is is making disciples your goal?
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Is making disciples the thing that you are most focused on?
00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:50.639
What is it?
00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:51.519
Let me ask you a question.
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What is it that you have been distracted in a little bit?
00:11:55.759 --> 00:12:00.080
What what where where's the tail kind of wagging wagging the dog for you?
00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:03.279
What are you focusing on that you know what?
00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:13.759
This is taking me away from my from my actual from my actual things that God is calling me to do.
00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:15.600
What is that?
00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:17.679
Be honest about it.
00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:21.279
And I want to encourage you to get focused again.
00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:23.200
Get focused again.
00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:27.759
Make making disciples your goal.
00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:38.000
The second principle that I would give you is I would say have a clear definition of what a disciple is.
00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:46.159
If Jesus has called us to go and make disciples, we need to clearly know what it is that we're making.
00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:58.480
And the problem is many times when it comes to making disciples, is we if I was to ask 12 different people what a disciple is, is I'd probably get 12 different answers.
00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:03.600
You if someone comes up to me and asks me, hey, Kevin, can you make me a table?
00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:08.240
I need to clearly know what it is that I am making.
00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:10.480
I need to know what a table is.
00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:13.200
If I don't know what a table is, I can't make a table.
00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:15.440
Well, Jesus says, go and make disciples.
00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:20.080
If you don't have a clear definition of what it is a disciple, what a disciple is, you can't make one.
00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:22.639
So let me ask you this: what's a disciple?
00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:24.080
What is this thing?
00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:25.679
What are the characteristics?
00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:29.039
What are the things that you were trying to make, that you are trying to build?
00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:33.279
That's something that before we planted our church, our church is about five years old.
00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:36.159
And before we planted our church, we really wrestle with this.
00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.000
Jesus said, Go and make disciples.
00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:40.240
What is it that we are supposed to be making?
00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:42.480
What is a disciple?
00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:47.679
And this is where, again, there's no silver bullet, there's no one program that fits all.
00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:49.279
This is a this is a principle.
00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:55.200
You need to decide, you need to biblically look at what a disciple is and give a clear definition.
00:13:55.360 --> 00:14:00.080
Now, when it comes to the definition of a disciple, we're all going to be in some regard in the same realm.
00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:06.639
But how we, where we landed on this, where the Holy Spirit guided us, was to John 15.
00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:10.720
So in John chapter 15, Jesus says these words.
00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:30.480
And as we looked at that, showing yourself to be my disciples.
00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:32.320
There there's something there that's stuck.
00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:37.279
And as you look at your your PDF that you downloaded, what you'll see is you'll see a triangle.
00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:45.200
And in this triangle, you'll see three different words trust, know, and do.
00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:54.080
When we look at what is it that we are trying to make, what is it that God wants from us as people?
00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:57.360
What is a disciple of Jesus Christ?
00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:59.679
Who is a disciple of Jesus Christ?
00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:01.759
We looked at this passage of scripture.
00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:09.440
If you abide in me, if you abide in me, if you, what does abide mean?
00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:19.919
It means to plug into, it means to lean in, it means to be tied to in a very modern way of English of speaking, it would be to trust.
00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:34.720
If you trust in me, if you trust in me and not your works, if you trust in me and not your money, you trust in me and not your position, you trust in me and not your political party, you trust in me and not your feelings.
00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:42.240
If you trust in me and the finished work of Jesus on the cross, that's the first step.
00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:53.120
If you abide in me, that Jesus is looking for, a disciple of Jesus Christ, is somebody who has put their faith and their trust in the finished work of Jesus.
00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:58.799
I am right with God, not because of what I do, but because of what Jesus has done.
00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:04.320
I am good, not because of what I do, but because of what Jesus Christ has done.
00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:08.000
Yes, now I go do good works, but I'm not saved by my works.
00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:09.840
I'm not trusting in my works.
00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:11.759
I'm not abiding in my works.
00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:13.519
I'm not leaning on my works.
00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:15.919
I'm leaning on the finished work of Jesus.
00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:21.759
A disciple of Jesus Christ is someone who trusts in the finished work of Jesus.
00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:31.440
So for us at Noble County Community Church, as we're looking to define a disciple, a disciple is someone who, number one, trusts in the finished work of Jesus.
00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:38.320
Secondly, it says, if you abide in me and my words abide in you, if you abide in me and my words abide in you.
00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:43.360
That's if my words abide in you, that would that would mean if my words are in you.
00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:49.200
If you trust me and you know my word.
00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:51.679
If you trust me and you know my word.
00:16:52.320 --> 00:17:08.799
For us, as we look at what a disciple is, his disciple is someone who's put their trust in the finished work of Jesus and someone who knows his word, someone who studies his word, someone who is getting the word of God into their heart, someone who gets into the Bible so much that the Bible actually gets into them.
00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:12.720
Someone who's on a journey of knowing God's word.
00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:14.480
What does God say?
00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:17.920
And living, what does God say?
00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:20.400
They know his word.
00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.799
They know God's word.
00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:43.359
So a disciple is someone who is on this journey and has trusted in the finished work of Jesus.
00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:46.960
They know and are knowing his word.
00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:54.319
And thirdly, it goes on and says, If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask what you wish, this shall be given unto you.
00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:56.880
Ask whatever you wish, and it shall be given unto you.
00:17:56.960 --> 00:18:03.440
This is for my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit showing yourself.
00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:10.960
That would be actions, showing yourself to be my disciples, that you bear much fruit showing yourself.
00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:12.880
There's something that we do.
00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:16.960
We do things that bear fruit of a Christian.
00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:29.039
So as we look at that triangle, what you're going to see for us, how we define a disciple as someone who trusts in the finished work of Jesus, someone who knows his word, and someone who is doing his work.
00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:31.119
Trust, know, and do.
00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:34.799
They are living the way Jesus says to live.
00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:37.599
They are talking the way Jesus says to talk.
00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:41.839
They are sharing the faith of Jesus because Jesus has asked them to do so.
00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:46.000
They've trusted in Jesus, they know his word, they are doing his work.
00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:48.079
That's what we're trying to make.
00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:51.200
When we do kids' ministry, what are we trying to do?
00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:58.319
We're trying to get children to fully trust in Jesus, to begin to know his word and then go out and do his work.
00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:06.720
When we do teen with youth ministry, we're working with teenagers to help them trust in Jesus, know his word, and go out and do his work.
00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:11.680
When we do small groups, it's trust in Jesus, know his word and do his work.
00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:17.119
When we gather on Sundays, it's not about how many people we have, it's not about how much offering came in.
00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:19.359
It's not about did the transitions work well?
00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.400
You know what it's about?
00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:31.359
It's about helping people through our worship, through our messages, through our prayer times to trust in Jesus, know his word, and do his work.
00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:42.000
If you're going to be a church that makes disciples, number one, you have to be a church that makes disciple making your mission.
00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:45.440
Making disciples is your mission.
00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:51.839
And in order for that to happen, number two, is you have to have a clear definition of what a disciple is.
00:19:52.240 --> 00:20:00.079
For us at our church, as we look at this passage, trust in Jesus, know his word, do his work.
00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:03.200
That's what we're trying to make.
00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:06.960
The third thing is, in order to make that now, not so case, that's what we're trying to make.
00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:08.559
Now, how do you how do you make that?
00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:13.680
Number three is you have to have a mechanism on how to make disciples.
00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:16.079
There has to be some sort of a pathway.
00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:19.279
There has to be a framework, there has to be a mechanism.
00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:22.079
However, you would want to word that or or write that.
00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:24.079
We've got it in our PDF there.
00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:33.599
But there has to, you have to have a way that you are actually helping someone begin to trust in Jesus, helping someone know his word, and helping someone do his work.
00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:46.240
And for us, that that that happens, not just for us in general, that happens by spending something that is probably our most prized possession.
00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.839
Spending our time.
00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:52.480
To help somebody trust in Jesus know his word and do his work, you know what that takes?
00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.599
That takes time.
00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:54.720
It takes time.
00:20:54.880 --> 00:21:01.440
It takes time doing the right things on a regular basis to help people trust in Jesus know his word and do his work.
00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:07.759
And before we started planting the church, we really started searching the scriptures of okay, how how do we do this?
00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:11.119
How do Christians make disciples?
00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:14.319
How do Christians trust in Jesus, know his word and do his work?
00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:15.200
How does this happen?
00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:17.440
What's the mechanism for this?
00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:20.000
Is it just coming on Sunday?
00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:22.960
Is it is it is it just reading the Bible?
00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.079
How do how do we do this?
00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:31.920
And so we started to look at scriptures and we looked at the first church and the first Christians, and we came across in our studies a very popular passage.
00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:34.799
It's Acts chapter 2, verses 42 through 47.
00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:41.599
If you have a Bible, you can turn to it, but it's also the the the con the title and the address, I mean, is is in your PDF.
00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:43.279
This is what it says.
00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:52.880
It says, They, the the the first Christians, the believers, they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship and to breaking of bread and prayer.
00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:56.720
Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:59.279
All the believers were together and had everything in common.
00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:03.519
They Sold property and possessions to give anyone who had need.
00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:06.880
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.
00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:18.079
They broke bread in their homes, and they ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God, enjoying the favor of all the people, and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:21.440
And as we looked at this passage, we said, Aha, there it is.
00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.480
There it is.
00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:29.920
How did the church, how did the first church begin to trust in Jesus, know his his word, and do his works?
00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.839
How did they do that?
00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:34.720
Well, as we're looking at this, they spent time.
00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:36.480
They spent time doing what?
00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:40.079
They spent time, number one, around the word and prayer.
00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:44.240
They devoted themselves to the apostles' doctrine and to prayer.
00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:48.000
Time around the word and prayer.
00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:50.240
Secondly, is they broke bread together.
00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:52.160
That's time around the table.
00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:56.880
Thirdly, they they met house to house and they had favor one with another.
00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:58.079
They got to know each other.
00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:00.240
That's time living life.
00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:03.359
And then lastly, is time serving.
00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:06.480
It says every day people were coming to Christ.
00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:10.480
Every day someone's going out and they're serving their neighbor by sharing Jesus.
00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:14.079
Every day someone in some regard was opening their home.
00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.440
That's serving.
00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:17.279
What was making a meal?
00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.240
That's serving.
00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:20.880
They were giving money so that no one had need.
00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:21.920
That's serving.
00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:38.160
The first disciples, they became disciples of Jesus, trusting in Jesus, knowing his word and doing his work by number one, spending time around the word and prayer, spending time around the table, spending time living life together, and spending time serving.
00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:44.880
Word and prayer, the table, living life and serving.
00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:47.200
That's how people became disciples.
00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:49.599
And that's also how they discipled people.
00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:59.359
When you look through the book of Acts, there's other frameworks, there's other things obviously that Christians did, but it was based out of this meeting at the temple and then meeting house to house.
00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:01.200
Meeting at the temple, meeting house to house.
00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:07.200
And obviously their temple gathering was different contextually than what ours is today, but they met at the temple and they met house to house.
00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.079
And what did they do?
00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:09.920
They spent time around the word in prayer.
00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:17.440
They spent time around the table, eating meals together, they spent time getting to know each other, and they spent time rolling up their sleeves and saying, Who can we help?
00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:19.599
So how do we make disciples?
00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:23.279
Time around the word, time around the table, time living life, and time serving.
00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.319
That's it.
00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:31.599
And as we begin to walk this out, and as we begin to see people come to Christ, we begin to think, it can't be this easy, man.
00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:33.599
It can't be this simple.
00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:35.359
It can't be this simple.
00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.559
There has to be something more.
00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:38.480
There has to be more bells and whistles.
00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:47.119
There has to be more than just gathering around and reading the word together and praying together around a meal and doing that regularly so we know each other.
00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:48.799
And then at some point going out.
00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:51.440
And it's got, it's gotta be, there's gotta be more than this.
00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.079
But you know what?
00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:53.119
There's not.
00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.720
There's not.
00:24:55.200 --> 00:25:02.000
And as a church, you need to, with all the different things that you do, you need to make sure that you have a mechanism, you have a framework.
00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:10.000
You have a framework, a mechanism that you walk out that helps you help people trust in Jesus, know his word, and do his work.
00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:17.119
And for us at Noble County Community Church, it is there obviously there's rows, there's circles, and there's chairs.
00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:19.920
But discipleship happens in the circles and the chairs.
00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:23.599
It happens in small groups and it happens in one-on-ones.
00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:26.400
We do small groups and we do one-on-ones.
00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:30.400
If we recorded this, I think we have a total of, I think it's 13.
00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:32.960
We have 13 small groups that meet together.
00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:39.680
But also throughout the course of the week, our leadership team, as well as people of our church, we we meet together one-on-one.
00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:45.200
We meet together one-on-two and we and we break bread together and we read the word together.
00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:47.680
And I just got to tell you, this works.
00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.200
This works.
00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:51.839
This is how disciples are made.
00:25:52.960 --> 00:26:08.720
We have an event that we did at our church outside a few months ago, and and one of our guys in our church who who leads a small group came and said, Hey, hey, Pastor Kevin, I have a friend down there in the lawn area, is an outside area.
00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:13.440
Got a a friend down in the lawn area that he's ready to give his heart to the Lord.
00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.400
And I said, What?
00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:16.640
And he said, Yeah, he's ready to give his heart to the Lord.
00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:18.000
You want to come down leading by Jesus?
00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:19.680
And I'm like, Well, sure, let's go.
00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:26.480
So I walked down there and as I'm as I introduced myself to the young man, I'd seen him in our church before, but I'd never really spoken to him before.
00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.680
And I introduced myself.
00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:30.960
He introduced himself to me and I said, Hey man, tell me your story.
00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:37.279
And he said, Well, I've just been, I've been, I've been going to his to his um to his small group.
00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:39.200
And I'm not really into church.
00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:41.440
I haven't really been into church much, but I like him.
00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:46.799
And he invited me to come to his his men's meeting, and we've just been reading the Bible together.
00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:48.079
I said, So what do you do?
00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:49.599
He said, Yeah, we'll just we just read the Bible.
00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:53.519
And as I've been reading the Bible, I'm like, man, I gotta, there's something about this.
00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:55.359
I I need this in my heart.
00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:59.200
I I want to follow Jesus after reading the Bible.
00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:06.640
And I asked him, I said, have you ever made a profession of faith and actually crossed the line of faith to surrender fully to Jesus and receive his grace?
00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.920
And he said, No, I haven't.
00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:09.200
I said, Would you like to?
00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:10.319
He said, Yes, I would.
00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.680
I said, You want to right now?
00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:12.559
He said, Absolutely.
00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:14.880
He put his hands out and we prayed together.
00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:17.599
We prayed Romans 10, 9, and 10 together.
00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.640
You know what?
00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:25.680
That young man, he began to follow Jesus and now continues to follow Jesus.
00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.400
Why?
00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:30.319
Because the light show at the church, because the room was really cool.
00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.200
No, you know why he's following Jesus?
00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:37.200
Because a friend of his invited him to his house and they read the Bible together.
00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:41.920
And then they read the Bible again next week, and then they read the Bible again next week.
00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:44.799
They just read the Bible and they prayed and they ate meals.
00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:47.279
They did Acts 2, 42 through 47.
00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:49.440
And this young man now trusts in Jesus.
00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:52.000
This young man is now on his way of knowing his word.
00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:56.559
This young man is now turning his life around and no longer doing what he wants to do.
00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:58.799
He's doing what Jesus wants him to do.
00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.680
Why?
00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:01.759
Because the church had a ton of money?
00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.240
Why?
00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.920
Because the facility was awesome?
00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:04.400
Why?
00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:06.000
Because this program was great?
00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:11.519
No, they spent time around the table, time around the word, time living life, and time serving.
00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:15.680
And that young man's life has been changed.
00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:21.519
If you want to be a church that makes disciples that makes disciples, you know what you need to do.
00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:25.680
You just need to make making disciples your goal.
00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:29.440
You need to have a clear definition of what a disciple is.
00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:35.599
Number three, you need to have a mechanism on how you actually make disciples.
00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:37.920
For us, what is a disciple?
00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:42.559
Someone who trusts in the finished work of Jesus, someone who knows his word, someone who does his work.
00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:44.400
How do we make disciples?
00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:50.240
We spend time around the table, time around the word, time living life, and time serving.
00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.599
That's it.
00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:54.720
Yes, we do other things, but that's what we're doing.
00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:57.440
And that brings me to my fourth and final point.
00:28:57.599 --> 00:29:07.359
If you're going to be a church that consistently makes disciples, that makes disciples, is number four is don't let yourself or your team get off mission.
00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:10.880
If our mission is to make disciples, we can't get off mission.
00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:12.319
We can't lose focus.
00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.960
This is what we're doing.
00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.799
This is what we're doing.
00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:19.039
Jesus said, Go and make disciples.
00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:20.480
That's the goal.
00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:22.240
That's the goal.
00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:24.799
Sunday is not the goal.
00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:28.079
Wednesday night programming is not the goal.
00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:31.200
A great worship team is not the goal.
00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:34.000
Finances is not the goal.
00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:39.839
A smooth transition from song to song, from song to from worship time, that's not the goal.
00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:51.039
And what can happen is many times, as I said earlier, we can get off mission and the tail begins to wag the dog, and we spend most of our time trying to figure out things that don't actually get us towards our mission.
00:29:51.359 --> 00:30:03.359
You as a leader, whether it's a leader of a ministry, whether it's a leader of a department, whether it's a leader of an entire church, is you have to make sure that you keep yourself and your team on point, on focus, on mission.
00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:09.519
And one of the simple ways to do that is continue to talk about it and ask ourselves, why are we doing this?
00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:18.160
I don't know how many times as we planted the church, especially early on, and I still do it today in different meetings, where we'll talk about solving a problem.
00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:23.759
I remember one time in particular, there was a time where we we did a song and the transition just didn't work right.
00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:28.240
And then also the microphone kind of was popping and it just it just wasn't well.
00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:29.839
It just wasn't good.
00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:31.599
And we we needed to fix it.
00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:37.200
We needed to fix it because it needs to be done right and it needs to be done excellent because it represents Jesus and God and yes, all those things.
00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:41.759
So we we began to walk through and we we got the problem to where we knew it were gonna do to solve it.
00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:47.200
And before we left, I remember I remember telling the team, and I did this, I've done this many times, guys.
00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:47.920
Here's the deal.
00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:50.640
We're gonna we're gonna do that, we're gonna fix that transition.
00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.839
And Daniel, thank you.
00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:53.119
You're you're gonna fix the mic.
00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:54.160
I really appreciate that.
00:30:54.240 --> 00:31:00.079
But guys, yes, we're gonna fix the transition, and yes, we're gonna fix the mic, but that's not what we're doing.
00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:03.200
What we're doing is today is we're making disciples.
00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:15.839
And we need to fix the transition and we need to fix the microphone because if we don't, it'll be a distraction from someone being able to trust in Jesus, clearly know his word, and leave here and do his work.
00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:17.359
So we're doing that.
00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:20.079
We're doing those things, but that's not we're doing.
00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.519
That's not what we're doing.
00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:24.160
We're making disciples today.
00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:27.599
And as a leader, listen, our church has not got it all figured out.
00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:32.160
Believe me, I ask my ask me, ask my team, ask the people I turn our church, attend our church.
00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:35.680
We haven't got this all figured out, but the the this is our focus.
00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:38.160
We got to stay on mission.
00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:42.640
Jesus Christ said he's gonna build his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:49.359
And the way that we help Jesus build his church, the way we partner with him in this journey, is we make disciples.
00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:53.279
And as we make disciples, they get plugged into a local body of believers.
00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:56.559
The kingdom of God grows and lives are changed.
00:31:56.960 --> 00:32:00.640
And and quite honestly, legacies are built throughout our families.
00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:04.480
And it's not none of this happens on accident.
00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:08.079
We as a leader, we have to lead our people there.
00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:15.920
And I today I just want to reiterate, grab that PDF, make sure you go down through it, but then also I just want to reiterate our points.
00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:17.119
What are we gonna do?
00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:20.160
Is we're gonna make disciples our mission.
00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:21.920
What are we gonna do?
00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:25.680
We're gonna have a clear definition of what a disciple is for your church.
00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:28.079
Now that was our definition, but you need to have your own.
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What's your definition?
00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:33.359
And then thirdly, we need to have a mechanism on how we make disciples.
00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:39.119
We make disciples by spending time, time around the word, time around the table, time living life and time serving.
00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:45.119
And then lastly, the fourth thing that we're gonna do is we are not going to get off mission.
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We are not going to get off mission.
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We're going to keep our team and keep our church and keep our individuals on mission.
00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:54.000
We are here to make disciples.
00:32:54.160 --> 00:33:00.400
Yes, we'll do a bunch of other things, but we're doing all those other things so we can accomplish the one thing.
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Jesus has called you to go make disciples.
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Now go.
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Go.
00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:08.079
So before I let you go today, let me ask you a couple questions.
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Out of all these four, which one sticks out to you the most?
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Which one challenges you the most to begin to work on?
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Maybe you have a clear definition of what a disciple is, but you don't really have a discipleship pathway that you've designed, that you've walked through.
00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:28.160
Maybe you have a discipleship pathway, but you've got an off mission and now other things.
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The tails wagging the dog.
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Where what is sticking out to you the most and what is the next step that you need to take?
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Because here's the deal.
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I don't mean to be over-dramatic, but it's the truth.
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Souls are hanging in the balance.
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Let's roll our sleeves up and let's be a church that wins the lost and disciples the found.
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Let's make disciples that make disciples.
00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.920
Hey, hope this helps.
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Can't wait to speak with you next time.
00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:06.319
Well, hey, thank you so much for listening to our Let's Talk podcast.
00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:09.760
I want to remind you, share this with your team.
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Download the PDF, go through it yourself, maybe listen to it a second time, a third time, really get challenged by it, and then meet with your team and begin to unpack this with them.
00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:29.920
Talk with them about this because this is of the utmost importance that you become a leader, you become a Christian, you become a church that makes disciples, that makes disciples.
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Also, if you haven't already, go to mcncr.org and register for the Elevate Church Leadership Conference.
00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:45.280
Andor make sure that you register your youth team or and potential leaders in your youth ministry for the Timothy Project.
00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:48.960
Go to mcncr.org today.
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Together, we are going to help everyday people love like Jesus and live like missionaries.
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Thanks for joining us for Let's Talk.
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If you have any questions, topics you want us to discuss, or a story you want to share, email us at info at mcncr.org.
