Dr. Tony Evans on Christian Discipleship

Sep 17, 2024

Lecture by Dr. Tony Evans at New Hope Christian Fellowship

Introduction

  • Dr. Tony Evans, a prominent Evangelical leader and pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, speaks at New Hope Christian Fellowship.
  • Dr. Evans discusses his books: "Kingdom Man," "Kingdom Woman," "Victory in Spiritual Warfare," and "Destiny."
  • He emphasizes the importance of bringing God's truth and being involved in spiritual warfare.

The Role of Christians

  • Compares Christians to NFL officials:
    • Officials (Christians) represent a higher authority (God) and bring order to chaos.
    • They operate according to guidelines from above, not personal opinions.
  • Christians are part of God’s officiating team in a chaotic world.

The Great Commission (Matthew 28)

  • The only scheduled meeting Jesus called between His resurrection and ascension.
  • Three groups were present:
    • The 11 Disciples
    • 500 Brethren
    • Present-day followers
  • Purpose: To commission disciples to represent His kingdom.

Key Points from the Meeting

  • Authority of Christ:
    • All authority in heaven and earth is given to Jesus.
    • "Ecusia" (authorized use of power) vs. "Dunamis" (power).
    • Disciples are authorized to act on His behalf.
  • Command to Make Disciples:
    • Not just converts, but disciples consistently operating under Christ's rule.
    • A disciple allows Christ to dictate their earthly decisions.

Discipleship vs. Christianity

  • Discipleship involves consistent application of Christ’s rule in life, not mere church attendance.
  • Disciples are expected to infuse Jesus’s mindset and actions in daily life.

Implications of Discipleship

  • Go, Baptize, Teach:
    • Go: Declare allegiance to Jesus publicly.
      • Faith should be visible in enemy territory.
    • Baptize: Identification with Christ through immersion; prioritize faith over other identifiers.
    • Teach: Teach obedience to Christ's commands for true transformation.

Practical Application and Conclusion

  • Discipleship involves visibly and verbally following Christ.
  • Use the authority given by association with Christ to influence the world.
  • Importance of visible representation as Christians in society.
  • Encouragement to live out faith in all areas of life to transform chaos into order.