1. Health Watch #8 A Developing Disciple SIGN OF A HEALTHY CHURCH MEMBER #8 MARCH 13, 2016 AM

2. Are You a Healthy Church Member? That means you are… ▪ #1 A “Ready Listener” ▪ #2 A “Doctrine Digger” ▪ #3 A “Gospel Gobbler” ▪ #4 “Completely Converted” ▪ #5 “Eager to Evangelize” ▪ #6 A “Motivated Member” ▪ #7 “Desiring Discipline” ▪ #8 A “Developing Disciple”

3. AND #8 A Developing Disciple This disciple is……………………. ▪ Growing ▪ Maturing ▪ Perfecting ▪ Increasing ▪ Abounding ▪ Reaching, ▪ Pressing ▪ Edifying ▪ Adding ▪ Discerning

4. Scriptures on Spiritual Growth or Developing Disciples. ▪ John 15:5,8 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. ▪ 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 1 Corinthians 3:1 ¶ And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, … 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7...but God that giveth the increase... 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

5. ▪ Galatians 5:22-24 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

6. ▪ Philippians 3:12-15 12 ¶ Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: … but this one thing I do, … 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: ▪ Colossians 2:19 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

7. ▪ 2 Corinthians 10:15 15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, ▪ Colossians 1:9-12 9 ¶ For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks…

8. ▪ Hebrews 5:12-14 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, ▪ Hebrews 6:1-3 ¶ Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit

9. ▪ Titus 2:11-13 11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; ▪ 1 Peter 2:2 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

10. ▪ 2 Peter 1:5-8 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ▪ 2 Peter 3:18 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

11. ▪ 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 11 ¶ Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. ▪ 2 Thessalonians 1:3 3 ¶ We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; ▪ 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 9 ¶ But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

12. ▪ Ephesians 4:11-16 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

13. What about this developing or growing disciple? ▪ Scripture illustrates it. ▪ The vine and branches, the building, the body, babies and milk, and then “grown-ups” and meat, husbands and wives. ▪ God enables it (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and I participate in it by obedience. ▪ The Written Word produces it. ▪ God is glorified through it. ▪ Fruit results from it. ▪ Faith, virtue, knowledge, self- control, patience, godliness, kindness, grace, joy, peace, thanksgiving and love etc., etc. ▪ Our giving is affected by it. ▪ The home profits from it. Eph5 ▪ Maturity is the goal of it. (Eph 4:14) ▪ The Church is built up by it.

14. So grow in Christlikeness, holiness, and maturity. ▪ Abide in Christ through His Word and Prayer. ▪ Use the ordinary means of grace, not always looking for the extraordinary and sensational happenings. ▪ Be in the Word, be obedient in and prepare for the ordinances, be faithful in the church, pray without ceasing. ▪ Participate in every aspect of the Local Church. Serving, loving, correcting, encouraging, etc. Stop being an “I” Be part of the “we” ▪ This is a spiritual maturity co-op where we use and restock on our supplies of growth and discipleship. Our personal pantry. ▪ Look for Christ’s return. Long to be with Him, to see Him, to be like Him in holiness.