Growing Together - Discipleship in Community

INTRODUCTION: A single plant may survive for a time on its own, but if you place it in a well-cultivated garden — surrounded by other healthy plants, nourished by rich soil, and cared for by a gardener — it will flourish. The environment matters. In the same way, believers grow best in the well-cultivated garden of Christian community. When we isolate ourselves, our growth is stunted — but when we stay rooted among other believers, under the care of Christ, we grow stronger and bear fruit.

Quote: Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this.”

3-EXAMPLES OF HOW DISCIPLESHIP HAPPENS IN AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY:

1. DISCIPLESHIP OCCURS WHEN BELIEVERS STIR ONE ANOTHER TO GOOD WORKS

a. COMMUNITY DISCIPLESHIP isn’t PASSIVE.

i. Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." 

b.  The word “provoke” means to STIMULATE or STIR UP.

c. God designed the church as a spiritual greenhouse where believers “stir” one another, not into

COMPLACENCY, but into ACTIVE OBEDIENCE

2. DISCIPLESHIP OCCURS BECAUSE CONSISTENT GATHERING LEADS TO GROWTH

a. Spiritual GROWTH accelerates in CONSISTENCY.

i. Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is..."

b. Spiritual GROWTH requires CONSISTENCY; we don’t mature off OCCASIONAL EXPOSURE.

i. Acts 2:42 The early church grew strong because “they continued steadfastly” in fellowship and doctrine.

3. DISCIPLESHIP OCCURS DURING THE TEACHING AND ADMONISHING OF ONE ANOTHER

a. DISCIPLESHIP is a two-way street. We both learn and lead, speak and receive.

i. Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one

another..."

b. A HEALTHY COMMUNITY is ROOTED in the Word, not PERSONAL OPINIONS.

i. Acts 20:31 “Teaching” builds up; “admonishing” warns and corrects when necessary.