Word-Centered Disciples

Word-Centered Disciples

Ps Renny Khoo

5 February 2017

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[11:10 AM, 2/6/2017] Basel E Elder Flora Fung: Word-Centered Disciples
Ezra 7:10

A Christ-centered disciple is also a Word-centered disciple.

1. Study the Word:
Search the Word... See God of the Word --- Jesus exhorts us to abide in the Word. Story of Ps Renny's first bible and her gleanings, also her sermon note-taking. Not so much the end-product but the work that God does within us in the process.

2. Apply the Word:
(i) We need to (1) Know the Word --- view that the Bible is irrelevant for today; selective reading, or worse, selective obedience; (2) Believe the Word --- you need to know in order to believe, and vice versa;
(ii) Bible application (1) Be specific --- applying to specific situations or problems you face; (2) Be accountable --- giving permission to a trusted friend or CG mate to ask you honest questions, e.g. Have you been guarding your devotion life with God?; "people don't do what we expect, but it's what we inspect"; transformation is impossible without intentional application of the Word in our lives; don't shortchange the transformation that we all can experience!

3. Share the Word
If you're able to teach it to another person, it means you got it; sharing stories of how applying God's Word has changed your life;

Final analysis is this:
It is not about mastering the Word. Rather it is about being mastered by the Word.
- when we submit ourselves to God and His Word
- We study to master a certain discipline or subject, but God??
- When you stand under the authority of the Word of God, you will begin to understand God.
- Let's grow our appetite for God's Word! Spiritual appetite can be cultivated. There is power in His Word.

Questions:
1. What is your favourite verse? Why? (Strictly only one verse)
2. Share your present devotional life. What are your experiences/struggles/ways of practising your quiet time with the Lord.
3. Share specifically one incident where you apply the reading of the Word. What took place? How has this experience changed you (or otherwise)?                      
[6:55 PM, 2/12/2017] Basel E Elder Flora Fung: SERMON NOTES --- 12 FEB 2017

Title: Discipleship begins at home

Text: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

(1) Discipleship begins at home

- Understand discipleship

Discipleship is the process of bringing people into right relationship with God, and developing them to full maturity in Christ through intentional growth strategies, that they might multiply the entire process in others also.

- Misconception of discipleship

One myth is that discipleship is automatic. On the contrary, it is not automatic. It is counter-intuitive. A new believer, just like a baby, needs to be fed. Discipleship needs to be intentional. Another myth is that discipleship happens in Church. People spent most of the time: Work 28.5%, Sleep 33.3%, Church Activity 6.5%, Family/Your own 32.7%. These statistics show that people spend most of their time at home. Therefore the home is the most strategic and ideal place for discipleship to begin. Parents should disciple each other and their children. Parenting is about making disciples. We must first learn to be disciples ourselves before we disciple others. Parents have been given the responsibility to be the primary disciplers of their children.

(2) Discipleship at home is Christ-centered home

(a) To know Him

As parents, we are empowered to make sure our children follow Jesus as His disciples. The first thing is for them to know and cultivate a relationship with Jesus. Deuteronomy 6:4-6 --- "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Romans 1:16 --- "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Pr. Annie shared her faith journey in her younger days. As parents, we should take ownership of our children's faith journey, making sure that they truly know Jesus.

(b) To live in Him

Galatians 2:20 --- "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
One of the greatest treasures you can give your children is that Jesus lives in the home. If you are a parent, you are a reflection of God. They see God in you. You are a God proxy to your children. Children see, children do. They learn by example. The next generation will be in danger if parents are not good models to their children. What one generation neglects, the next generation rejects. We are the life examples to our children that they can see. Video clip was shown of a mother convicted to change her ways in order to be a good example to her child which resulted in a happy home. Children can help mothers to grow and change. As parents, we can learn from our children and vice versa.
Deuteronomy 6:7 --- Do our children see us praying and reading the Bible at home? We need to be authentic role models to our children. Our children can minister to us and vice versa. Discipleship at home can expose our weaknesses and vulnerability. 2 Corinthians 12:9 --- "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Children may find it difficult to obey their parents, who are not perfect. Ephesians 6:1-3 -- "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour your father and mother that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." It is not parents but God who gives this commandment.

(3) Discipleship at home builds up the church

The home plays the primary role in family discipleship while the Church plays a secondary role only because discipleship begins at home.

Strong Families will contribute to building up a Strong Church.
A Strong Church will contribute to building up Strong Families.
Strong Families are made up of Strong Individuals.

We need a paradigm shift of discipleship from the institutional view to the biblical view.
From church-centred & home-supported (institutional view) to home-centred & church-supported (biblical view).

A Christian home is a Christ-centred home. God uses individual families to touch the Big Family of God which is the Church.
Discipleship is about modelling. Let's be good models to our children, not only at home but wherever we are. Let's model our love to one another.

Questions
(1) How did you come to know Christ personally? Recall your testimony.

(2) Talking about discipleship which begins at home --- share how you as grandparents, parents, children or grandchildren are growing in your walk with Christ.

(3) Share how you as a disciple of Christ are being a model to your family members/household. How do you minister to one another? How and why should you overcome challenges as a disciple of Christ at home?

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Ezra 7:10

 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

A Christ-centered disciple is also a Word-centered disciple. 

1) Study the Word

Search the Word... See God of the Word --- Jesus exhorts us to abide in the Word. Story of Ps Renny's first bible and her gleanings, also her sermon note-taking. Not so much the end-product but the work that God does within us in the process. 

2) Apply the Word

i) We need to 

Know the Word - view that the Bible is irrelevant for today; selective reading, or worse, selective obedience;

Believe the Word - you need to know in order to believe, and vice versa; 

ii) Bible application

Be Specific 
applying to specific situations or problems you face; (2) Be accountable --- giving permission to a trusted friend or CG mate to ask you honest questions, e.g. Have you been guarding your devotion life with God?; "people don't do what we expect, but it's what we inspect"; transformation is impossible without intentional application of the Word in our lives; don't shortchange the transformation that we all can experience! 

Be Accountable 

3) Share the Word

3. Share the Word

If you're able to teach it to another person, it means you got it; sharing stories of how applying God's Word has changed your life; 

Final analysis is this: 

It is not about mastering the Word. Rather it is about being mastered by the Word.

- when we submit ourselves to God and His Word

- We study to master a certain discipline or subject, but God?? 

- When you stand under the authority of the Word of God, you will begin to understand God. 

- Let's grow our appetite for God's Word! Spiritual appetite can be cultivated. There is power in His Word. 

The Word is not merely for information but Transformation.

When you stand under God, you begin understand the Word of God.

Questions:
1. What is your favourite verse? Why? (Strictly only one verse)
2. Share your present devotional life. What are your experiences/struggles/ways of practising your quiet time with the Lord.
3. Share specifically one incident where you apply the reading of the Word. What took place? How has this experience changed you (or otherwise)?