July: Promotes Discipleship & Growth

The local church is essential for Christian discipleship—growing in Christ and helping others to grow in Christ. In this lesson, Dr. Dever covers the role of the pastor, congregation, and individual for discipleship in a healthy church.

Watch / listen to the video on RightNow Media

"What is a Healthy Church" Episode 9 - 'Discipleship & Growth'

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Video Outline:

1. The local church is the incubator of our spiritual growth.

   1. Discipleship and discipling go hand in hand.

   2. A healthy church is filled with people who follow Christ and help others follow Christ—this is the model of the New Testament church (2 Tim. 2:2).
      

2. The local church is the pastor’s natural arena for discipleship.

   1. Pastors/elders disciple people with the Word of God.

   2. Pastors/elders cultivate an environment for discipleship to flourish.

   3. Pastors/elders are called to provide an example.

   4. Pastors/elders must give an account one day.
      

3. The local church is the congregation’s natural arena for discipleship.

   1. Congregations have a responsibility to the work of their pastors.

   2. Congregations should pray for and pay their pastors.

   3. Congregations must hold teachers accountable.

   4. Congregations have a responsibility to love one another, stirring one another up to love and good works (Heb. 10:24).
      

4. The local church is the individual’s natural arena for discipleship.

   1. Individuals have a responsibility to the congregation as a whole.

   2. Knit with the congregation and pastor in an environment of discipleship and growth, individuals play an important role in making a healthy church.

Discussion Questions

1. What are some of the ways people are discipled?
   

2. Why is it so difficult to motivate yourself and others to be discipled and to disciple others?
   

3. How can we make discipleship more desired and available at WCRC?
   

4. Finish this sentence expressing Discipleship & Growth: A thriving church... See how we've completed that sentence for WCRC so far, as we've determined that a thriving church will promote expositional preaching, be gospel centered, and conversion minded. This document will grow and develop as we work on this throughout the year.

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