Discipleship in Family and Society

Oct 16, 2024

Kingdom Disciples: Heaven's Representatives on Earth - Session 5

Introduction

  • Focus on the application of discipleship in personal life.
  • Discipleship operates in four spheres of the kingdom:
    1. Individual life
    2. Family
    3. Church
    4. Broader society
  • The individual impacts the family, the family impacts the church, and the church impacts society.

Personal Application of Discipleship

  • Hitch Your Wagon to Jesus: Align personal thoughts and actions with Jesus Christ.
  • Promise of Rest: Jesus promises rest when aligned with His thoughts and views.
  • Pelicano Analogy: Life without Christ is like a ship with no place to dock, filled with burdens.
  • Matthew 11 Insight: Jesus reveals wisdom to the dependent "infants," not the "wise and intelligent."
  • Human vs. Divine Wisdom: Nullifying God's work by letting human wisdom trump divine knowledge.

Becoming a Kingdom Disciple

  • Dependence on God: Like a baby to a parent, kingdom disciples must depend on divine wisdom.
  • Individual Discipleship: Develop as a disciple under God's rule, independent of others.

Steps to Discipleship:

  1. Come to Jesus: Seek Jesus for rest and perspective.
  2. Take Jesus' Yoke: Yoke yourself with Jesus, learning and sharing responsibility.
  3. Learn from Jesus: Engage in a growth journey by learning from Jesus.

The Family Sphere

  • Foundation of Society: Family is essential for societal stability and reflects God's nature.
  • Reproduction of God's Image: Family serves to replicate God's image on earth.
  • Threats to Family: Divorce, abuse, redefinition of family all contribute to societal chaos.
  • Biblical Directives: Raise children in God's perspective (Deuteronomy 6; Joshua 24:15).
  • Abraham's Example: God builds nations through families, beginning with individual discipleship.

Importance of Discipleship in the Family

  • Home as the First Church: Discipleship starts at home, not just in church.
  • Utilizing Family Time: Use family meals and gatherings for spiritual discussions and growth.
  • Impact on Future Generations: A well-discipled family influences broader society.

Conclusion

  • Replication and Colonization: God's kingdom expands through the replication of His image in families.
  • Role of the Church and Society: The church must support family discipleship to strengthen society.

These notes highlight the importance of aligning individual and family life with the teachings of Jesus to effectively represent God's kingdom on earth.