Recapping where he left off last week, Jonathan picks up again in 1 Peter 5 and teaches on THE Family of God. God’s household (the church) is the pillar of the truth, and God’s family brings structure, order, place and belonging. Starting with Abraham’s family, God continues to seek 4th-Generation Disciples who know how to obey. The teaching today finishes with the 4 traits of a healthy family - Leadership, Submission, Humility & Proximity.
Last week (recap)
1 Peter 5:1-9 (NIV)
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
The family of God
“Family” indicates:
- structure
- order
- place
1 Timothy 3:16 - “the household of God”
1 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels, was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
Four-Generational Disciple Making
1 Corinthians 15 - natural speaks to spiritual
- First man living being, 2nd = life giving spirit
- Seed sown natural perishable first, supernatural imperishable 2nd
- Sown in weakness & dishonor, raised in power & glory
Natural:
- Grandpa (75)
- Son (50)
- Grandson (25)
- Great Grandson (baby)
Principle:
For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord…so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him” (Genesis 18:17-19).
God chose Abraham for the express purpose of working in him through many generations.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF MULTI-GENERATIONAL MINISTRY
“Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them…so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 6:1-2).
Moses = First Generation
Children of Israel = Second Generation
Their Sons = Third Generation
Their Grandsons = Fourth Generation
Psalms 78:5-6
Our ancestors/ Fathers (v5)
Teach their children
Children yet unborn (v6)
They would teach their children
Psalms 78:5-6 (NIV)
5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children,
6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
2 Timothy 2:2, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
Paul was the first generation.
Timothy was the second generation.
“Faithful men” were the third generation.
“Others” were the fourth generation
In Acts 1:8 the Lord Jesus commanded His disciples to be a witness in the four strategic areas of “Jerusalem… Judea… Samaria… and the remotest part of the earth.”
Jerusalem = First Generation
Judea = Second Generation
Samaria = Third Generation
Earth = Fourth Generation
Acts 1:8 (NIV)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In the ministry of the early church we also see a multi-generational ministry at work.
- Jesus = First Generation
- The 12 Apostles = Second Generation
- The 120 = Third Generation
- The 3,000 = Fourth Generation
(and more)
How to make Disciples ?
1. family model not business. - DNA is the same in family lines
Father / Son - “I urge you to imitate me” (1 Corinthians 4:16)
“ imitate me as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
1 Corinthians 12:18b - “Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?
- not mimic, but adopt a way of life
What way? Obedience
“ teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you“
- Teach them to obey THE Teacher (1 John 2:20, 27)
We are “Learning Christ” - Ephesians 4:20
Ephesians 4:20 (NIV)
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned
We make disciples likewise.
We learn a Man - not a Method
We learn a Man - not Memorized Material
We learn a Man - The Way, The Truth, The Life
DISCIPLES are being “conformed into the image of Gods son” (Romans 8:29) - NOT “WWJD” (What Would Jesus Do) but rather “WIJD” (What IS Jesus Doing)
Romans 8:29 (NIV
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
In order that we would be “his little brothers and sisters” - little Christ’s - like Him, as He lives out thru us.
Being in a healthy family requires:
1) Leadership (stewardship)
2) Submission (honor)
3) Humility (service)
4) Proximity (unity)
“The devil prowls around looking for someONE to devour”