Genuine Discipleship: Introduction

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January 5^th, 2023: Session 1

Genuine Discipleship, Growth to Maturity and Transformation

Scriptures: II Peter1:4, I John 2:16, Matthew 5:6-7, Zephaniah 2:1, Matthew 6:33, Psalm 36:6-7, John 14:21-24, Exodus 33:13-19, Psalm 27:4

This will be an 18 week series on Discipleship and Growth. Transformation must be included since we are all descendants of Adam, born with a sin nature, and need to change.

Evangelists such as Franklin Graham are doing a great job in preaching Christ for salvation and getting people saved. But what is next? We need to learn the essentials regarding genuine discipleship as taught in the New Testament.

This series will be topical rather than Expository, covering much of what the New Testament says about how believers are to live and grow in the Church Age.

Foundational to success in transformation and growth is a true, active hunger for God and an intentional seeking of His will for our lives. We cannot be passive about our Christian lives.

Our desire is to discover what the Word says about what is most important to God, how we are to please, honor, worship, praise and glorify Him.  That will require a look at the following topics:  Christ-likeness, holiness, godliness and righteousness.

The word ‘seek’ in Matthew 6:33 is zeteo and it means to seek, to search for, to crave.  It is present tense, active voice, imperative mood, which means it is a command that we should continually be doing. Discipleship is a daily endeavor!

Tennyson, Ring Out, Wild Bells, can be found here.

2 Peter 1:4
4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

1 John 2:16 and 17
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Matthew 5:6
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

2 Timothy 3:16 and 17
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Zephaniah 2:1–3
1 Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation, 2 before the decree takes effect—before the day passes away like chaff— before there comes upon you the burning anger of the LORD, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the LORD. 3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.

Matthew 6:33
33 But seek [zéteó] first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Psalm 36:7–10
7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. 10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!

John 14:21–24
21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

Psalm 42:1
1 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.

Genesis 5:24
24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. (@ 3000 B.C.)

Isaiah 41:8 (2 Chronicles 20:7) 8 But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

Exodus 33:13–19
13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” 17 And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

Psalm 27:4
4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.

Philippians 3:10
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,