Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1-2

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;

    because you have rejected knowledge

Hosea 4:6

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

POTENT

Potent: having great power, influence, or effect

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound[a] of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair.

John 12:1-3

The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

John 12:3

HOLY+REFINED+PRECIOUS=POTENT

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:18-20

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1-2

Biblical discipleship is potent

Surely you know that if a man can’t be cured of churchgoing, the next best thing is to send him all over the neighborhood looking for the church that ‘suites’ him until he becomes a taster or connoisseur of churches.

C.S. Lewis

A church is only as good as its disciples.

Jon Tyson

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

Ephesians 5:1

Unfortunately, ‘potent’ is not a good descriptor of the average follower of Jesus today.

Over half of adults born after 1980, who grew up in churches, are walking out on their faith, not coming back

Of people still attending church, ~90% refuse, or feel unable to talk openly about their identity in Christ

~80% of church-attending people lack basic routines in a disciple’s life (prayer, study, community)

About a third of church attending folk today are not convinced Christ is the only hope of salvation

A majority of pastors, and even more lay believers say they have never been discipled

It typically takes a person 26 year of church attendance before they personally lead someone to Christ.

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God…

2 Corinthians 2:14-15

So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 3:10

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock[b] I will build my church, and the gates of hell[c] shall not prevail against it. 

Matthew 16:18

One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see her spread out through all time and space and rooted in eternity, terrible as an army with banners. That, I confess, is a spectacle which makes our boldest tempters uneasy. But fortunately it is quite invisible to these humans.

C.S. Lewis

Potent disciples

PETER

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13

COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 

Acts 4:32-34

STEPHEN

55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 

Acts 7:55-56

PLANTED MEMBERS IN THE CHURCH

PREPARED TO MINISTER BECAUSE OF THE SPIRIT ALONE

PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS WITH THE LOVE OF JESUS