Disciple First: The Church According to Jesus

The Spirit and Helpers (John 14, 16; Hebrews 10)

Disciple’s 3-part path

1. Great Confession – _____________________________ (Mt. 16:18)

2. Great Commandment – _____________________________ (Mt. 22:35-40)

3. Great Commission – _____________________________ (Mt. 28:19-20)

Disciple’s 3 Paracletes

1. First Helper – Incarnate Christ as the ___________________ and _______________________ of life

(John 14:6).

2. Second Helper – Indwelling Spirit as the __________________ and _____________________ of truth

(John 14:16-17, 16:7-11).

3. Third Helper – Interdependent Church as the ________________ and _________________ of the way

(Hebrews 10:19-25).

See attachment for sermon notes.

Disciple First: The Church According to Jesus

Language Matters (Matt 16:18)

Matt 16:18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church (ekklesia); and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

Who/what is the Church?

OT - qahal over ‘edah Truth: ________________________ not Tourists

NT - ekklesia over kuriakos Truth: _____________________ not Membership

Metaphors that connect the Old Testament to the New Testament

o The ________________________ of God (Father – 1 Peter 2:9)

o The ________________________ of Christ (Son – Eph. 1:22-23, 1 Cor. 12:27)

o The ________________________ of the Spirit (Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:5)

I am a Disciple! (n.) mathētēs (root ‘to learn’) Truth: Mastery of an _______________________

I am to Disciple! (v.) mathēteuō Truth: _____________________ of an Apprentice

Malachi: Pursue the God who pursues you!

Standing at the Crossroads (Malachi 4)

- ____________________________________ … When the “Sun of Righteousness” rises it will mean either burning or blessing for all people (4:1-2).

Response? Our God is _____________ justice, and so am I!

- ____________________________________ … Our faithful God will one day reconvene His plan to bring Israel the lasting joy of the righteous (4:2) and the personal satisfaction of justice (4:3).

Response? Our God is _____________ Israel, and so am I!

- ____________________________________ … Along the road of faith God has graciously set both precepts to “remember”(4:4) and prophecy to “behold” (4:5).

Response? Scripture is placed _____________ me for both work and wonder, conviction and comfort!

- ____________________________________ … What the Law (4:4) and the Prophets (4:5) of the Old Testament failed to do, Jesus would completely do—renovating hearts and reversing the curse (4:6).

Response? Jesus died _____________ me, so I live for Him!

Malachi: Pursue the God who pursues you!

The Guardrails of God’s ___________________________ (Malachi 3:13-18)

Right Rail: The ____________________________________ of Servants (3:13-15)

Serving like Jesus means being verbally ______________________________! (Jn 11:41-42, Ps. 100:2)

1st Ditch: _____________________ & _______________________ (Mal 3:14-15a; Rom. 14:4)

2nd Ditch: __________________________________________ (Malachi 3:15b; Matt. 6:1)

Left Rail: The ______________________ and ________________________ Few (3:13-15)

Serving like Jesus means being seriously ______________________________! (John 17:4)

1st Ditch: ____________________________________ (Malachi 3:16; Phil. 2:4)

2nd Ditch: ____________________________________ (Malachi 3:17; Eccl. 11:4)

3rd Ditch: ____________________________________ (Malachi 3:18; Luke 16:13)

Malachi: Pursue the God who pursues you!

The Guardrails of God’s ___________________________ (Malachi 3:7-12)

Right Rail: Stewardship as a _________________________________ for you (3:7-9). Outward expressions of your loyalty

• Test? …to see if you will disconnect the gift from the ___________________________________!

• Great __________________________________ of your responsibility

• Our attitude toward & use of our possessions is an indication of the health of our relationship with God.

• Our attitude (have to be biblical here):

o __________________________________ (plan),

o __________________________________ (percentage),

o __________________________________ (first fruits), and

o __________________________________ generosity (gifts that cost you nothing?)

Left Rail: Stewardship as a test for ____________________________________ (3:10-12) Outward expressions of His loyalty

• Test? …not to see what is in His hand, but to see if __________________________ are in His hand!

• Great __________________________________ of your ___________________________ -ability

• God’s provisions are one of the main ways God indicates the faithfulness of His relationship with us.

• God’s provisions (have to be careful here):

o Tailor-__________________________________ (God knows what you really need),

o Divinely-__________________________________ (God’s provisions are never late),

o Lavishly-__________________________________ (You cannot out give God), and

o Already-__________________________________ generosity (God has already provided)

2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Malachi: Pursue the God who pursues you!

The Guardrails of God’s ___________________________ (Malachi 2:17 - 3:6)

Right Rail: The announced _____________________ coming of Jesus in grace and mercy (3:1). (God judges the root of sin)

o “My messenger” (3:1a) - John the Baptist came as a

___________________________ for King Jesus clearing the way for His

“___________________________” message of hope.

o “The Messenger of the Covenant” (3:1b) – King Jesus is the righteous judge

_______________________ in our place.

o Biblical Justice: God came Himself in Christ to solve humanity’s

“_____________________” justice problem, dealing with the root of sin.

Left Rail: The unannounced ____________________ coming of Jesus in judgment (3:2-6). (God judges the fruit of sin)

o “Refiner’s Fire” (3:2-4) – Jesus the king will come again as the

“_______________________” __________________________________ for the

Nation Israel (Cf. Rom. 12:1).

o “Swift Witness” (3:5) – King Jesus is the righteous judge who will

_______________________ and remove all injustice from the Nation Israel.

o Biblical Justice: God who does not change (3:6) will come this second time to

solve, once and for all, humanity’s “_______________________” justice

problem, dealing with the fruit of sin.

Malachi: Pursue the God who pursues you!

The Guardrails of God’s ___________________________ (Malachi 1:1-5)

The Guardrails of God’s ___________________________ (Malachi 1:6 - 2:9)

The Guardrails of God’s ___________________________ (Malachi 2:10-16)

What are the covenants in the Bible?

1. Covenant with ____________________________ (Gen. 3, Adamic Covenant / Conditional)

2. Covenant with ____________________________ (Gen. 9, Noahic Covenant / Unconditional)

3. Covenant with ____________________________ (Gen. 12; Abrahamic Covenant of Land, Seed, Blessing / Unc)

4. Covenant with ____________________________ (Deut. 30 - Palestinian Covenant of Land / Unconditional)

5. Covenant with ____________________________ (Deut. 11, Mosaic Covenant / Conditional)

6. Covenant with ____________________________ (2 Sam. 7 - Davidic Covenant of Seed / Both)

7. Covenant with ____________________________ (Gen. 9 - New Covenant of Blessing / Unconditional)

Right Rail: The ________________________________ of marriage covenants (2:10-12, 14-16)

Before marriage (2:10-12): “For heaven’s sake, start off on the right _________________________.”

Covenant Principle: You need to align yourself with people who fit your destiny not your history.

During marriage (2:14-16): “For witness sake, don’t chop off your right _______________________.”

Covenant Principle: Marital abandonment reflects poorly on the God who would never leave you.

Left Rail: The ________________________________ of spiritual covenants (2:13)

You have to get real to _________________________what is real!

The core of Christian authenticity is the courage to be imperfect and vulnerable and then to pursue

_______________________________ toward God.

The Guardrails of God’s ___________________________ (Malachi 1:6 – 2:9)

God’s Name = God’s ______________________ and _________________________

1. Right Rail: The ________________________________ of God’s Name (1:6-14)

(Therefore, don’t give less than your best)

Treasure Principle: The character of sacrifices you make in God’s name reflects the

_______________________________ you place on God in your life (Matt. 6:21).

Kingdom Living: Since God’s character is at stake, your character affects God’s ___________________.

*Names of Jesus: Lion of Judah, Lord of Lord & Kings of Kings, King of Israel, Son of God

2. Left Rail: The ________________________________ of God’s Name (2:1-9)

(Therefore, don’t settle for less than His best)

Honor Principle: You have the privilege to wear His name like a uniform with all its

__________________________ and ______________________________ (Col. 3:17).

Kingdom Living: Since God’s reputation is at stake, God’s work done in God’s way will never lack

God’s __________________________.

*Names of Jesus: Lamb of God, Redeemer, Savior, Good Shepherd, Messiah, Son of Man

Malachi: Pursue the God who pursues you!

1. Right Rail: God’s __________________________ Grace (1:1-3a)

Guards your Thinking: God will never let us down b/c His love for us is _________________________. (He chose to love you unconditionally, Eph. 1:4-5)

Guards your Feelings: God chose to love you already with a full _________________ of your struggles.

(He chose to love you knowing all that you would do and be, Rom. 5:8)

2. Left Rail: God’s __________________________ on His People (1:3b-5)

Guards your Feelings: God loves you _________________ in a moment than anyone could in a lifetime.

(He blesses you with Himself, Mark 12:28-30)

Guards your Thinking: God gives us __________________ to love and ___________________ to use… not things to love and people to use. (He blesses you with people to invest in Mark 12:31)

Your response to all this: Love the Lord Your God (Mark 12:28-34)

• __________________________________ (affection) “with all your heart and soul”

• __________________________________ (attention) “with all your mind”

• __________________________________ (abilities) “with all your strength”