City Groups :: Families of Disciples (Part 4)

Over the next several weeks we’ll examine City Groups at The Paradox: their vision, their identities, who they are and how they live. This is the fourth installment of the series and will look more into the identities of the people of God as they live in City Groups.GOSPEL IDENTITY – THE GOSPEL COMMUNITY

The church isn’t a building; it isn’t an event on Sunday morning; it isn’t something we do. It is something we are. Our understanding of who we are as a church comes from who God is and what He has done. This leads us to our Gospel Identity.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. --1 Peter 2:9 

We see in this verse four aspects of our identity as the church: we are a Family (“a chosen race”), of Missionaries (“a royal priesthood”), that display a Paradox-Culture (“a holy nation”), as we follow Jesus as His Disciples (“a people for his own possession”).THE CHURCH IS A CHOSEN RACE – FAMILY(Gen 12:1-3; John 1:12-13; Rom 12:10-16)

If I don't believe the Gospel then I try to "nd approval through connection to a church, a community, a group, my father who failed me, a charismatic leader, etc. I will prop them up as functional saviors who arm and accept me - yet when they fail me, I will be devastated. And it is certain – every one of them will fail to deliver the love and acceptance that only the Heavenly Father gives. But when I believe the Gospel I know I have a perfect Father who loves me and accepts me not because of what I've done but because of what Christ has done. This frees me up to love people instead of using them to arm me. The church then should be a family that freely loves one another.

God has always desired a people–an earthly family–who would live in such a way that the world would know what he is like. Jesus said that those who live in his ways and obey his Father are truly his family. Through Jesus we believe we are Children of God and brothers and sisters with each other. As family we see it as our obligation to personally care for the needs of one another – both physically and spiritually. We disciple, nurture, and hold each other accountable to this covenant life together. We do this through consistent involvement in one another’s lives doing the “one-anothers” of Scripture:

The Gospels1. Be at peace with each other (Mark 9:50)2. Wash one another’s feet (Jn 13:14)3. Love one another (Jn 13:34-35; Jn 15:12, 17)

Paul’s Letters4. Love one another (Romans 13:8)5. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love (Rom 12:10)6. Honor one another above yourselves (Rom 12:10)7. Live in harmony with one another (Rom 12:16)8. Stop passing judgment on one another (Rom 14:13)9. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you (Rom 15:7)10. Instruct one another (Rom 15:4)11. Greet one another with a holy kiss (Rom 16:16; I Cor 16:20, II Cor 13:12; I Thess 5:26)12. When you come together to eat, wait for each other (I Cor 11:33)13. Have equal concern for each other (I Cor 12:25)14. Serve one another in love (II Cor 13:12)15. Carry each other’s burdens (Gal 6:2)16. If you keep on biting and devouring each other...you will be destroyed by each other” (Gal 5:15)17. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (Gal 5:26)18. Be patient, bearing with one another in love (Eph 4:2)19. Be kind and compassionate to one another (Eph 4:32)20. forgiving each other (Eph 4:32)21. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph 5:19)22. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Eph 5:21)23. In humility consider others better than yourselves (Phil 2:3)24. Do not lie to each other (Col 3:9)25. Bear with each other (Col 3:13)26. Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another (Col 3:13)27. Teach...[one another] (Col 3:16)28. Admonish one another (Col 3:16)29. Make your love increase and over'ow for each other (I Thess 3:12)30. Encourage one another (I Thes 4:18, 5:11; Heb 10:25)31. Build each other up (I Thes 5:11)32. Encourage one another daily (Heb 3:13)33. Spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Heb 10:24)

Other Letters34. Do not slander one another” (Js 4:11)35. Don’t grumble against each other (Js 5:9)36. Confess your sins to each other (Js 5:16)37. Pray for each other (Js 5:16)38. Love one another deeply, from the heart (I Pet 1:22, 4:8)39. Live in harmony with one another (I Pet 3:8)40. Greet one another with a kiss of love (I Pet 5:14)41. Oer hospitality to one another without grumbling (I Peter 4:9)42. Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve other (I Peter 4:10)43. Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another (I Peter 5:15)44. Love one another (I John 3:11, 23, 4:7,11,12; II John)

What challenges you when you read the “one-another’s”?THE CHURCH IS A PEOPLE FOR HIS OWN POSSESSION – DISCIPLES

If we don’t believe the Gospel we will look to something or someone as our teacher (philosophies, books, media, etc). However, every one of them has both truth and error laced throughout. If I believe the Gospel and that Jesus is the Truth and has sent his Spirit into my heart to take what is Jesus' and show it to me, then I have the Teacher who is the Truth residing inside of me to direct me to truth in his word, show me Truth all around me and point out the lies and deceit. We are all followers (disciples) of something. The Gospel calls me to the Truth and calls me to lead others to Him.

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. - 2 Timothy 2:2

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 11:1

Discipleship should not primarily be a class. Discipleship is life on life, as we go; it should happen watching the game, on the golf course, over coffee, in our homes, and in the context of our marriages, families, and friendships. The Holy Spirit is the primary discipler, leading us to Jesus (Jn 16:13). If you are a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit. If you have the Holy Spirit you are a disciple-maker (pointing people towards Jesus).

What do you think hinders you from making disciples?

Find a City Group near you here.

Read all of the installments of this series here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7.