C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR JUNE 26, 2022 UNIT THREE, LESSON TWELVE : TOPIC – DISCIPLESHIP IS KEY TO QUALITY GROWTH

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).

True disciples follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Are you following Jesus? That is the key to becoming like Him till eternity (Rom. 8:29).

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour Himself, placed more emphasis on discipleship than He did on just being a Christian (Matt. 28:19), even though becoming a Christian lays a good foundation for a discipleship relationship with our Master and Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ Himself related deeper with His disciples than the crowd, revealing and relating to them deeper things of the kingdom than He would to the crowd, but take some extra time to explain to the disciples, His close followers, when together alone, when the crowd had dispersed. A Yorùbá adage translates, “You do not understand a person’s personality and character from afar off.” So it is, no one can understand God’s Ways and Person, if he/she does not move closer to Him. It is in moving close to Him, following His instructions and statutes, examples and way of life, that genuine spiritual growth is embedded. God therefore desires that all Christians upgrade from just being Christians to becoming true disciples, as that also is the major pre-requisite to making a disciple of others for Him. Remember, He first called them to Himself, that they might first be with Him, then afterwards, be sent forth to reproduce (Mk. 3:14; Jn. 15:8). There is always a making (into disciple) before becoming (a fisher of men), in God’s operation (Matt. 4:19; Mk. 1:17).

DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK ONE

Mon. Jun. 27: Saul Is Humbled (Acts 9:1-6)

Tue. Jun. 28: Saul Gets A Discipler (Acts 9:10-11)

Wed. Jun. 29: Saul Is Restored And Baptised (Acts 9:17-18)

Thur. Jun. 30: Paul Fellowships With Other Disciples (Acts 9:19)

Fri. Jul. 1: Paul Prays And Pursues Growth (Php. 3:7-11)

Sat. Jul. 2: Paul Encourages Followers To Grow (1 Tim. 4:12-16)

1. The most valid and potent way to quality spiritual growth is by following Christ without wavering.

2. The more we follow Him, the closer we become to Him, the more of Him we know and become, because a man tends to take after the one he relates with often. The more contact we have with Jesus, the more like Him we become till we see Him face to face in heaven (1 Jn. 3:2). That is true discipleship.

AIM: To emphasise and re-emphasise the most potent key to spiritual growth -DISCIPLESHIP!

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, the learners should be:

i. able to meaningfully discuss the idea of discipleship, as a sign of deeper and better understanding of the concept;

ii. more committed to their individual relationship with Jesus for enhance personal discipleship;

iii. more committed to the fellowship of the God’s people, at the various levels, to help them become better disciples of Jesus; and

iv. showing signs of following Jesus in deeper and better ways than ever before.

All glory, honour, and adoration to God alone, for the regular release of timely, soul-lifting and destiny-moulding spiritual information to us through His Word. May these Bible revelations never stand to condemn us on the last day, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The previous lesson, which is the eleventh in the series, GUARD AGAINST MISREPRESENTING GOD’S WORD, is a severe warning against misrepresenting God’s Word, i.e. misrepresenting Scriptures and aligning with errors. Of course, the devil is a liar (Jn. 8:44). He has failed in heaven, and is looking for as many as possible, who would follow him to hell, hence the infiltration with falsehood, even in the church. May we not fall victim of such!

This lesson marks the end of this Sunday School series (January – June, 2022), and it reveals Discipleship as the key to quality growth. Following Jesus’ footsteps wholeheartedly and having a cordial relationship with Him is the major key to spiritual growth. We need a better understanding of how individually following Jesus as well as fellowshipping with Co-Christians can help become more like Jesus-discipleship.

It is therefore our prayer that this one-week lesson will help us all to establish and sustain a deeper and more cordial relationship with our Lord and Saviour. And may we continue to grow bigger and better in Him, until we reach the full stature of Christ, and unto that perfect day. Amen!

This lesson contains just a division with a further sub-division into A and B. It is the only 1-week lesson in this series.

This is the only division of this lesson and it is designed to have a dual dimension. It shows how individuals follow Christ and spiritually grow as a result of this. It also shows how disciples grow together by regular fellowship and gathering, for edification and encouragement in the Lord. Both personally and corporately, ensure you are following Jesus. None should be jettisoned.

LESSON OUTLINE

I. DISCIPLESHIP IS KEY TO QUALITY GROWTH

A. DISCIPLES INDIVIDUALLY FOLLOW JESUS

B. DISCIPLES GROW THROUGH CORPORATE FELLOWSHIP

LESSON EXPOSITION

I. DISCIPLESHIP IA KEY TO QUALITY GROWTH (Mark 3:14-15; John 15:2-8; Hebrews 10:19ff)

Growth is said to be a gradual, consistent and steady progress by which someone or a thing improves, advances, becomes better and more mature. It is a development from a simpler to a more complex stage, a gradual increase in size, knowledge, wisdom, understanding and discretion.

Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them our to preach (Mk. 3:14).

i. Mk. 3:14: It is a call to salvation and discipleship before call to service. You don’t put the cart before the horse. Jesus called His disciples that they might be with Him, individually relating with Him — discipleship, before sending them out. Is that your experience?

ii. Judas Iscariot was one of them, but while others were following Jesus personally, wholeheartedly, and learning from Him, his heart was far away from Him (cf. Isa. 29:13; Matt. 15:8); busy pursuing godliness gain (Lk. 22:2-6).

iii. vv. 14-15: It is a pity, today, that many people desire demonstrating God’s power to hear and cast out demons without cordial relationship with Him. He must work on you before giving you work to do. No agent lacks proper relationship with the principal.

iv. Jn. 15:2: The every here implies that matters of salvation, discipleship, and growth are personal in nature (cf. Rom. 14:12). You can’t relate with God by proxy.

v. vv. 4-8: A branch keeps flourishing and growing, as long as it remains in the tree. Growth automatically stops when it is cut off. No disciple grows without remaining in Christ, personally. Personal relationship with the Master is non-negotiable. It solely determines productivity.

vi. Saul’s example is worth mentioning. He personally met the Lord on the Damascus road – Acts 9:1ff). He personally submitted to the discipleship in the hands of Bro. Ananias, the Church at Damascus, Missionary Barnabas, and then the Church at Antioch, before being commissioned to go out (Acts 13:1ff). What is your commitment to the discipleship process?

vii. Discipleship on the other hand, is the condition of being a follower of Christ, willingly yielding one’s neck to the doctrinal techniques and following the examples of Jesus Christ. Each follower’s growth is thereby embedded in following Christ wholeheartedly, learning of Him and producing the Master’s desired result. Being imitators of Christ requires obedience exemplified in moral behaviour.

viii.Your personal revelation of God through His Word and regular quiet time is of inestimable and eternal value. Find quality time for Him, it will result in your quality spiritual growth.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching (v.25).

i. vv. 19-21: Brethren, here, refers to the body of believers in Christ Jesus, who have the boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus (v.19) fellowship with God and fellow Christians.

ii. v.22: The drawing near, here, applies to us (corporate body of believers) (cf. vv. 23a, 24a). We are to draw near to the Holiest (God’s presence) for fellowship with Him, and one another. Thank God for our individual fellowship times with God. Nevertheless, we can’t afford to joke with corporate as means of rugged discipleship.

iii. vv. 22-24: In corporate fellowship, as our irons sharpen one another (Prov. 27:17), we experience progressive sanctification (v.22), we are assisted to hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering (v.23), and stir up love and good works in one another (v.24). This is discipleship that resulted in growth, such that brethren in Antioch experienced (Acts 13:1-3).

iv. vv. 24,25: This is imperative. Doing otherwise is inimical to solid discipleship as we stir up one another in love and good works (v.24), and exhort one another (v.25). Corporate discipleship would save us from apostasy (vv.26ff).

v. God so values the coming and growing together of His people (cf. Eccl. 4:9-12; cf. Deut. 32:30). He does great things when His people synergise in fellowship (Matt. 18-19-20). If the promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled in the setting of a corporate fellowship (Acts 2:1-4), it is a way of God instructing us that discipleship happens well when we spur ourselves on, on the road to heaven.

vi. A corporate gathering of the brethren in unity of purpose saved Peter from the claws of death (Acts. 12:4-8). Never underestimate the power of corporate fellowship!

1. Genuine spiritual growth comes personally following Christ and His teachings; knowing Him personally.

2. In corporate fellowship meetings, great power is released for us to grow together on the our way to heaven. Iron sharpens Iron! This calls for being proactive on the path of our churches.

1. Mention some practical ways by which we can individually (personally) experience discipleship for growth towards maturity.

2. What are some things churches can do to facilitate corporate discipleship among members?

i. Studying the Word of God personally on a daily basis.

ii. Living according to the Word of God being read daily.

iii. Creating quality time to fellowship with God daily.

iv. Creating quality time for fasting and prayer geared towards knowing God’s ways the more (Jer. 33:3).

v. Personal quiet time and retreat.

i. By establishing a solid discipleship structural programme for the growth of the member.

ii. Regular teaching of the sound doctrine of Christ.

iii. Solidifying Bible study service in each local assembly and encouraging members to attend.

iv. Prioritising Discipleship programmes, Bible study, Seminars, Bible-based symposia and workshop over revival and crusade programmes.

v. Bible based prayer meetings.

vi. Visionary, Missionary, and exemplary leadership by the Church authority and the pastorate.

vii. Mass Evangelism and soul-winning ventures.

viii.Establishment and maintenance of fellowship groups and smaller cell groups for the members to meet for continued fellowship within and outside the church premises.

xi. Initiating other platforms for corporate spiritual growth, such as film shows, drama nights, sports, etc.

x. Holy Communion services, and several other congregational worship systems.

How many Bible study or Christian lectures have you attended this year, compared to the numbers of crusades and revivals you have attended in the same period? Do you have a personal walk with, and knowledge of God, or all you know about Him is all you heard from your pastor, or in Church? What is your focus or expectation when you attend corporate fellowship service? Miracles or knowing God the more? Among the multitude of people on various prayer mountains across the world, how many of them actually went there to know God more? Or are they all seeking God for selfish gratification (Jn. 6:26)? Genuine disciples seek to know more of God on a daily basis which results in spiritual growth, while others seek Him for worldly pleasures that have no eternal value. Where do you belong? Any need for adjustment? Selah!

God had brought us to the end of another 12 lesson series of the Sunday school, by His grace, from January to June, 2022. He has tremendously blessed us again and again as usual, through our amiable Sunday school teachers. May all that He has invested in us make us into genuine disciples and true candidates of heaven, even as we await His imminent return. Remain rapturable. Shalom!