11. WHO IS A DISCIPLE ?

1. Disciples are obedient and free: ‘If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. You will know the truth and the truth will make you free”…even from the bondage of church structure, to do his will. (John 8: 31-32)

2. Disciples are expert fishers of men: Jesus said to his disciples follow me and I will make you fishers of men. The disciples caught human fish by the thousands. (Matt 4:19)

3. Disciples have abundant lasting fruit: Jesus said “My father is glorified when you bear much fruit, then you will be my disciples”. “I have chosen you and ordained you that you may go and bring fruit that remains”. We will not be known by our righteousness but by our fruit. (John15:8-l6, Matt 7:l6, Is 64:6)

4. Disciples have the power and authority to ‘bind and to lose’ over all the power of the enemy. They plunder the strongholds of the strongman and gather the harvest. (Luke 10:19, Matt 12:29-30, 18:18)

5. Disciples are tradition breakers: When the rituals, practices and the traditions of the church transgress the commandments of God, they do not hesitate to obey God. (Matt 15:1-8, Acts 4:19-20, Jer 1:5-10)

6. Disciples love Jesus more than anybody else: If you love your parents, wife, children, brothers, sisters, property and even your own life more than me, you cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26, Matt 6:33, 19:21)

7. Disciples are willing to pay the price: « Whoever does not bear his cross daily and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Likewise, whoever does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27,33)

8. Disciples love each other: Jesus commanded that “you love one another, just as I have loved you. By this shall all people know that you are my disciples because you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

9. Disciples take care of the environment: Jesus did not die just to save souls. Jesus shed his blood to reconcile the whole creation. The whole creation is travailing, eagerly waiting for the revelation of the sons of God. Disciples are the sons of God and take care of their father’s creation. (Col 1:20, Rom 8:14-23, 2Cor 5:17-19)

10. Disciples do greater works than Jesus: Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead and preached the gospel. He left the greater task of planting churches and gathering the harvest to His disciples. (John 14:6)

11. Disciples rule the earth: Jesus died to make His disciples kings and priests to reign on earth. Through intercession and acts of mercy they repair roads, rebuild shanty towns and comfort hurting people. (Rev 5:9-10, Is 58: 6-12, Matt 25:31-46)

12. Disciples make more disciples: Jesus commissioned His disciples to go and make disciples, baptize them, equip them and send them to make more disciples. (Matt 28:19)

12. ELDERS QUALIFICATIONS AND FUNCTIONS

1. Elders should be of good reputation: There are 18 character traits in the NT, which qualify or disqualify from eldership. Elders are role models, their integrity, character and life style should be exemplary. (Titus 1:5-7, I Timothy 3:2-7, 3 John 9-12, 1Cor 11:1)

2. They should be humble and hospitable: Elders, bishops, deacons and pastors are all equal and not dignitaries or officers. Like their master, they must humbly serve others. Providing hospitality to strangers in their homes is an essential qualification for both men and women. Without hospitality no house churches can be established. (Phil 1:1, 2:7, Mark 10:42-45, Heb 13:2, I Tim 5:10)

3. They should be a good teacher of the word: They should equip others for different ministries and convince, persuade, exhort and convict with sound doctrine those who contradict. For this service they should receive double honour meaning financial support from the flock. (Titus 1:9, 1Timothy 5:17, 2Timothy 2:2, 3John 1:5-8)

4. They should be a good ruler: They must manage their own household well. Only then can they manage the household of God? They should be able to rebuke those who are sinning and admonish the unruly. Financially they should be blameless stewards of God. (1Timothy 3:5, 5:17-20, 1Thess 5:12-14,  3John: 10, Titus 1:7)

5. The gifts of the Holy Spirit: The elders are spirit filled people with manifestation of many gifts. They should pray for the sick as the effective prayer of the righteous avails much. (Eph 4:11-12, James 5:14-16)

6. They are the shepherds of the flock: Jesus commanded Peter to feed his sheep. Jesus is the chief shepherd and elders must shepherd his flock by feeding the whole counsel of God from house to house. ( John 21:15-17, Acts 20:27-28, 1Peter 5:1-4)

7. They protect the sheep: from the savage wolves. The Devil has vast experience, resources and total commitment to steal, kill and destroy. However, the elders are not hirelings. They are father figures so they protect their spiritual children at any cost. (Acts 20:27-30, John10:10-15, 1Cor 4:15)

8. They bring the lost sheep into the fold to hear his voice and soon there will be one flock and one Shepherd. (John 10:16, Rom 15:16)

9. They are accountable to God: Preferably only local people should be elders, not outsiders. They are appointed with fasting, prayer and laying on of hands. We must submit to their authority willingly as they are accountable to God for our souls. (Acts 14:23, Titus1:5, Hebrew13:17)

10. It is a good thing to desire Eldership: Not all old men nor a novice can be elders but only those who are mature in faith. Women and young people can also be elders and even appoint elders. (1Tim 3:1&6, Titus 1:5, 2:2-3, 2John: 1:1)

13. YOU ARE A ROYAL PRIEST NOT JUST A LAYMEN

1. The Bible is the story of the KING, his kingdom and his Kids: The king died to make us eternal kings and priests here on earth. Every believer must function as a priest and reign like a king. (Rev 1:6, 5:9-10, 22:5)

2. The church is a gathering of especially chosen people, a royal priesthood: Not just laymen but a holy nation. Holy means separated to rule and to be priests to the Gentile nations living in darkness. (1Pet2:9)

3. “and the government shall be upon his shoulders and there will be no end of the increase of his government”. He will establish it with justice forever (Is 9:6-7). Jesus is the head, the church is his Body and we are his hands, feet and shoulders. But the ruler of darkness is now ruling unhindered through political parties by default because we, the legitimate government, who are seated with Him in heavenly places, have abandoned our thrones. (Eph 1:21-23, 2:6, Rom 12:5, Rev 3:21)

4. A small rock (the church) smote the huge idol of Nebuchadnezzar: It grew and filled the whole earth. God promised to set up a kingdom, which shall not be left to other peoples. It shall crush and destroy all other kingdoms. And the kingdom and ruler-ship, and the greatness of the kingdom under all the heavens, shall be given to the saints of the most high, which is an everlasting kingdom. And all kingdoms shall serve and obey Him. (Dan.2:44, 7:27, Rev. 22:5)

5. Worldly crowns are corruptible. Sinners saved by us, are our inheritance and our crown of glory: Jesus is coming soon for our coronation and forewarned us, ‘holdfast what you have, that no one takes your crown’. You have to have a crown before you can lose it. (I Cor 9:25, I Thes 2:19, Ps 2:8, Rev.3:11)

6. God says, ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priest…and forget your sons’. Ignorance of your spiritual authority can destroy your family, the city and the nation. (Hos 4:6, Lam 4:12,13)

7. Jesus is the lord and owner of the world (Ps 24:1): But he is not yet the king and ruler of the whole earth as the Devil is still ruling. Jesus has given us a city/nation/kingdom, to rule. When Christians start breaking every yoke, rebuild ruined cities, deliver good news to the poor, heal the hurting and set the captives free, then they begin to reign’ in their God given domain. Jesus will then become the king of kings and the lord of lords. (Deut 32:8, Is 58:6,12, 61:1-4, Rev 19:16 )

8. The king’s will is done in heaven. It is not a democratic government, which can be changed by popular vote. Its constitution is the word of the king, which cannot be changed by public opinion. Christ, the king has sent us, his royal priests as ambassadors with a mission to establish the government of God, so that his will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matt 6:10, 2Cor 5:17-20)

14.  FIVE STEPS OF MATURITY CYCLE

1. A person of peace: The apostolic teams of two or three finds out the person of peace like Cornelius and Lydia. They stay in their house and eat with them. Miracles take place and a believer’s church is established. (Luke 10:1-9)

2. A believer: Jesus said, ‘he who believes and is baptized will be saved and these signs shall follow: they shall expel demons, pray for the sick and they will be healed. They will go and preach everywhere’. (Mark 16:15-20)

3. A disciple: is one who not only preaches and does miracles but also makes many disciples. Going to the church makes you no more a disciple than going to a repair shop makes you a mechanic. A disciple takes up his cross and is willing to suffer to make disciples of Christ. (John 15:8&16, Lu 9:23)

4. An elder: is a man or a woman of character, given to hospitality, well equipped to convict young people and those who oppose. Elders must feed the flock willingly and not for filthy lucre. Peter called himself a fellow elder. There will be elders even in heaven. (Tit 1:5-9, 2:3-6, 1Pet 5:1-3, Rev 4:4)

5. Fivefold gifted ministers: The NT Church is led by plurality of leadership of apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers. All are vitally important, like all the fingers of a hand to make the church functionally vibrant and reproductive. Apostolic teams then go and find the ‘persons of peace’ and repeat the whole cycle. (Eph 4:11-13, Matt 10:11-13)

15. FIVE-FOLD MINISTRYGIFTS

1. Ephesians 4:11-13 Jesus gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of Jesus.

2. Apostle means a messenger. It comes 300 times in the Scriptures. Apostles and prophets together lay the foundation of the church. The 12 were special. Modern day apostles are called missionaries or church planters. Today there are more apostles than ever and we need many more, as millions of churches are yet to be planted. (Eph 2:20)

3.  Prophets: In the last days God is pouring out his spirit of prophecy on men, women and children. A church without prophets is groping in the dark because God will not do anything without first telling his prophets, as he has done in the past. (Acts 2:17-18, Amos 3:7)

4.  Evangelists: Philip cleared the weeds by casting out demons and healing the sick and then sowed the seed of the gospel. He baptized people in Samaria but left without planting a church. Apostles Peter and John came and planted the church. (Acts 8:5-7)

5. Shepherd and/or a Teacher: Ultimately every believer must take care of the sheep both inside and outside the fold, who belong to Jesus, because he shed his blood for all. (Heb 5:12, Acts 20:28, John 10:16)

16.  SACRIFICE IS TRUE WORSHIP

1. The first family on earth worshipped God, even after expulsion from the Garden of Eden by offering sacrifice. (Gen 4:3-4)

2. The first time “worship” is mentioned in the Scriptures is when Abraham worshipped God by offering Isaac, the most precious possession of his life and became a friend of God forever (Gen 22: 5)

3. Even in heaven, the 24 elders worship God by casting their crowns before Him, their symbols of authority and dignity. (Rev 4:10)

4. God did not call Jerusalem temple, “a place of worship” but told King Solomon that it is “a place of sacrifice”. (2 Chron7:l2)

5. Jews were not allowed to enter the temple empty handed: They had to offer sacrifices at least three times a year. (Deut 16:16)

6. Jews offered sacrifices, entered the temple and then prayed: The high priest offered animal blood to worship but Jesus offered Himself. True worship is to offer ourselves as living sacrifice. (Lev 1:4, Rom 12:1-2, Heb 9:7-12 )

7. Samaritan woman did not worship Jesus with just words or singing but by bringing the whole village to his feet. This was a defining moment, as at this point, worship changed from the temple to ‘everywhere’, from sacrificing animals to offering Gentiles and, to priesthood of all believers. Lip worship is easy but offering lost souls is a challenge. (John 4:20-24, Rom 15,16, 2 Chron 29:30-31, Heb 13:15)

8. Worship in truth and spirit can take place any time, any place. We can go anywhere and raise our holy hands and worship God. Jesus has promised that wherever two or three are gathered together in his name, he is present with all the power in heaven and earth. The two can then go as the authentic church, and plant new churches, which is the best way to worship and save our own souls by saving sinners. (1Tim 2:8, Matt 18:18-20, Luke 10:1-2, 1Chron 16:29, Eze 33:8,9, Dan 12:3)

9. Paul as a priest, offered gentiles as sacrifice. The NT enshrines “priesthood of all believers” to offer “lost souls” as spiritual sacrifice, to glorify God. We, as priests, shall not be known by our righteousness, which is like filthy rags, but will be known by our fruit. Fruitless branches will be thrown in the fire. Saved gentiles are our eternal inheritance and our crown of rejoicing. (Psalm 2:8, Isa 60:7, 66:19-21, 64:6, Rom 16:20, John 15:6, 1Thess 2:19, Phil 4:1, 1Pet. 2:9)

10. God’s vision is that from the rising of the sun to its going down, incense (prayer, praise and worship) will be offered in his name, in every gentile home. When we worship by offering, “lost souls”, in their own homes, then every family will become a house of prayer for their own tongue and tribe and they will become partakers of inheritance with the saints and the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of Christ our Lord. (Mai 1: 11, Rev 8:3-4, 11:15, 22:5, Eph 3:6) 

17.  BAPTISM: A DEFINING MOMENT

1. Baptism is conducting hari-kari or self-immolation to the world and making a covenant with Jesus until we resonate with the will of God, that none should perish but come to the saving knowledge of truth. (Rom 6:3-5, 12:1,2, 1Tim 2:4, 2 Pet 3:9)

2. The Hebrew word for covenant is beryth, which means to “cut”. Baptism signifies cutting umbilical connection with the world, being sealed with the lamb’s blood. It is a defining moment for covenanting to live and die for Jesus. (Gen 15:9-18, Luke 9:62, Phil 1:29)

3. No clergy is needed, as anyone could take his/her baptism in the presence of two witnesses. Jews considered even eye contact with women as sinful, hence women baptized each other. (Deut. 19:15, Matt. 5:28)

4. The Greek word Baptiizo has wide latitudes of meanings like immersion, ablution, sprinkling, washing, and dipping etc. Baptism signifies ritual bonding and a lifelong relationship with Jesus. (Hebrews 9:10,13,19, Rom 8:17)

5. John refused to baptize Jesus but Jesus said, “I must fulfill all righteousness.” Whenever possible we should get baptized. Baptism is obedience to the Father’s will. (Matt 3:15)

6. All believing men and women are “royal priests”, hence any believer can baptize. It is not the amount of water or the horizontal verses vertical position under water or even who baptizes, but the real issue is obedience and identification. (I Pet. 2:9, Matt. 28:19)

7. Everyone in the NT was baptized on the same day except for Paul: There is no justification for delay as baptism is a free gift and not to be earned after a long period of discipleship. 3000 were baptized on the Pentecost. Philip baptized the treasurer of Ethiopia within a few hours of discipling. Paul baptized the household of the Philippians Jailor in the middle of the night. (Acts 9:9, 8:38, 16:33)

8. Babies cannot be baptized: The scriptures enshrines believers’ baptism only: “whoever believes and is baptized will be saved”. Because everyone has sinned and come short of the glory of God, everyone has to confess his/her own sins, and then the blood of the Lamb cleanses them from all sin. Babies and their godparents are incapable of confessing their sins. (Rom. 6:23, Mark 16:16, I John 1:7-9)

9. Baptism should not mean joining a particular church but joining the Church universal: It is sinful to get baptized just to get a certificate for a job or marriage. It is not even necessary to leave their religious or cultural background and be called “Christian”. They are “Hindu/Muslim/ Buddhist believers”, who are joining the body of Christ, just like the “Jews” become “messianic Jews”. (Rev 5:10, 7:10)

18.  THE ROLE OF WOMEN

1. Preaching: The first thing Jesus did after His resurrection was to tell Mary Magdalene to “go and tell the brethren”. Even since then the women have gone all over the world and told the good news of Jesus. (Mat. 28:10)

2. Speaking: Paul only asked ‘wives’ (Greek: gune) to submit to their husbands (Greek: aner) and not to ‘teach’ them in public but he did not stop women from speaking in the church (I Tim. 2:11-12, Eph. 5:22-23, Titus 2:3). To avoid confusion, Paul put restriction on men, women and prophets. (I Cor 14:31,32)

3. Teaching: Priscilla is named 7 times in the NT. She taught Apollos, an expositor of the Bible. Phoebe went to Rome and taught from Book of Romans. (Act 18:24-26, Rom 16:1,2)

4. Discipling: Why did Jesus not choose a female disciple? Because Jesus was modeling “same sex discipling”. His, disciples followed this model. We can avoid a lot of sex scandals in the church if we followed this model.

5. Priests: All men & women are equal before God, created in His image and likeness. He called both Adam’ (Gen. 5:2, Gal 3:28). Jesus shed His blood and made every believer a royal priest to worship, disciple, baptize, plant churches and rule the nation. (I Pet 2:9)

6. Apostles: Junia was a distinguished woman apostle (Rom16:7). Her name was changed to Junias in the circa 13AD by translators who could not tolerate a female apostle. According to the NT, apostles are ordained by God (Lu. 11:49, 1Cor. 12:28, Eph 4:11 ), workers of miracles (Cor 12:12, Acts 2:43), witnesses who proclaim the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 4:33), founders and leaders of churches (Acts4:37, 15:4, I Cor. 12:28), preachers (I Tim. 2:7, II Tim. 1:11), teachers (II Pet. 3:2, Jude: 17, Acts 2:42), disciplers (Eph. 4:12,13), baptizing and imparting Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1 -6). While not every apostle was involved in all these, there is no reason to believe that recognized apostles like Junia, Priscilla, Phoebe and many others were barred from any of these activities.

7. Legalized dress code: Temple prostitutes of Corinth, shaved their heads and spoke incoherently, influenced by evil spirits. Paul asked such women to cover their heads and not to ‘babble’ (Grk-/o/e/n) in the church. He also told them not to dress with provocative clothes, hairstyle or gold but did not stop them from speaking and dressing up properly.  (1Cor 11:5, 6, 16, 14:34, 35, 1Tim 2:9-10)

8. Church Planters: All the early churches were established in the homes of women, like Mary the mother of Mark (Acts 12:5, 12), Lydia (Acts 16:14-15 ,40), Apphia (Philemon 1:2), Nympha (Col. 4:15), Priscilla (I Cor. 16:19). Romans’ chapter 16 has names of 9 women who were leaders of the churches.

9. Giftings: 80% of the emerging churches in the ‘two thirds world’ have been planted by women. Church ministry is gift-based and never gender-based. Gender benders have no place, if the whole church is serious about taking the whole gospel to the whole world.

19.  THE LORD’S PRAYER

1. Jesus often went out alone to pray to a solitary place, very early in the morning, when it was still dark and like many of us, the disciples were still snoring. (Mark 1:35)

2. The disciples did not ask Him to teach them to do miracles like how to cast demons, cure diseases, raise the dead, how to feed the 5000 or stop the wind and the waves in the sea, but they asked him to teach them how to pray. Obviously they knew that He derived power and daily direction from His communion with the Father. (Luke 11:1)

3. We neglect prayer and have to work hard without achieving much, while Jesus prayed much and the miracles happened instantly. Martin Luther said, ‘More work is done by prayer than by work itself. We can reduce our workload by increasing our prayer load.

4. Many Christians think that God stopped working after the six day creation. But Jesus said, “My Father has been working until now and I too am working”. Jesus only did what the father had revealed to him that day during the prayer. He said “I only do what the father has shown me”. (John 5:16-20)

5. Prayer is not a one way monologue but communion and fellowship with the father. Many people shout loudly with contorted faces like the heathen. Jesus did not pray like that. He forbade vain repetitions. Even the Lord’s Prayer is only a model prayer and not to be repeated like mantra. (Matt 6:7)

6. “Father” or “Abba” means “source and sustainer”: You do not have to ask for things because he not only knows your personal needs but also the needs of the whole creation, including feeding the birds. (Matt 6:26)

7. Jesus clearly spelt out the primary focus, the objective and the reason for prayer, pleading God to usher his kingdom here on earth so that “his will be done on earth”. (Matt 6:10)

8. It is corporate intercession, asking the whole world to honour our father’s name, a sign of the kingdom. To hallow means to worship. Prayer is praising God. (Matt 6:9, Phil 2:10-11)

9. Intercede for all, “give us our daily bread”: Remember half the world goes to bed hungry. The first indicator of kingdom is that everyone has enough bread to eat because the father has provided abundantly for everyone’s need but not for wasteful greed.

10. “Forgive us our sins as we forgive others”: Christianity is all about relationships, with the family, coworker, community and the enemy. Praying without reconciling will never bring God’s kingdom on earth. (Matt 5:23-24)

11. ‘Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil”: God does not tempt us. Prayerlessness leads to temptation, bad decisions and compromises. (Matt 26:40-41, James 1:13)

12. ‘Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory”: This is acknowledging in faith that the kingdom is here on earth and thanking the sovereign God for answering our prayers.