(5) DISCIPLESHIP: “GETTING YOUR SHINE ON!”

All Resources Download from here: Lesson2

Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We are called to be the Light to the World. Called to a Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor 5:17-18). Disciples need to “find their Shine!” Our “Shine” is our “Testimony.” What we have seen, heard, and experienced in Christ – the Gospel as it has changed our lives, with focus on Christ and not “us”.

1 John 1:1  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.

1 John 1:3  We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Jason Reeves: “If we don’t live up to our “calling” then the Kingdom is crippled and diminished. If we have the Spirit living in us, it has set us apart for the Lord’s purpose.”

Are you crucifying Christ anew? Heb 6:6 4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.


OUR WITNESS REALLY DOES MATTER

9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.


Video: Tangled_No Light
Handout: Socialization vs Discipleship

In Idleman’s book, “Not a Fan”, he speaks about the difference between being a “fan” and being a “disciple”. Many followed Christ, but fell away (John 6:66). We will study more about these folks later. But for now, we need to recognize what a Disciple is called to do. We are Called to a Ministry, a ministry which points others to the Living Word. We often forget the power that lives within us, the power of God which draws men to the truth and points the way to salvation. We are to be the Light on a hill in the midst of darkness, pointing always to Christ and not ourselves.

To help us remember that we have THE Light, our Meditation Scriptures this week will be about “Getting our  Shine on!”

The word "witness" (testify) comes from the Greek word, "martureo" which later was associated with martyrs. Early Christians understood that their "Shine" might lead to more than ridicule, it very well might and often did lead to death. They have given us examples of "no excuses!"  God grant us the ability to Shine for Him.

Video: Tangled-- “Shining In a Dark Place”  Tangle_5SHINE.wmv

Often we call on God in our darkest hours. Often we Shine when we are in great need of God's power. Please Lord, let our Shine be more than a seasonal event. Let us be constant in bringing glory to your name.

Where can we “Shine”?  When can we "Shine"?

Perhaps you have the same issue with one of the songs we sing, “Send the Light”. If we are to be Disciples, what should the words of this song actually say?

Jason Reeves: On Sunday, Jason answered the question: “What impresses Jesus?” From Luke 7 we find that Faithfulness and Commitment impresses Jesus.

Let’s look at “What makes Jesus Angry?” (John 2:15; Matthew 7:5; 23:13-15; 23; 16:23; 1 Cor 8:9)

Where should we take the Light?   If we don’t, who will?

Idleman (page 35). “There is no forgiveness without repentance. There is no salvation without surrender. There is no life without death. There is no believing without committing.” And let me add, “There is no Faith without Testifying (Shining)”

“Acknowledge Him in ALL your ways, and He will make your path straight”.

Video: American Jihad (9 Min)  jihadi.wmv


This video is not meant to scare you, but to move you out of your comfort zone, to spur you to LOVE & ACTION.


Video: Muslim Demographics Video (7:31 Min)  This video is shown to demonstrate the idea that we cannot “waste time”.


What has God called you to today?

Are you Listening?

If you have not watched this video, please watch it all the way through.  Do you hear something?


The Opposite of Hearing God's Call

Psalm 135:17  They have ears, but they hear not;

Isaiah 6:10   Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.

Do you hear something?

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"Woman to Woman: Sharing Jesus with a Muslim Friend" by Joy Loewen


(1) Offer to pray for or with a Muslim. Their prayers are prescribed and not personal. This actually attracts them to Christianity.



(2) Speak of “grace” and “freedom” through Christ. Muslims follow a very legalistic law, very reflective of Old Testament mentality: “eye for and eye”. It is nearly impossible for a Muslim to think that they can live up to the expectations spoken of in the Koran. This one fact alone is often the motivation for so many of them choose suicide bombings or Jihad because this type of death has the promise of Paradise.


(3) Muslims are often confused about our “holidays”, Holy Days. Example: We proclaim Labor Day to be a “holiday”. We have Easter Bunnies & Eggs for the First Resurrection Day. We have Santa Clause and Reindeer for the day celebrated as the birth of our Savior. Muslims cannot discern The Truth by watching us celebrate these kinds of events. Would you call these “stumbling blocks”?


(4) Christ said the world would know us by the way we “love”. Bickering among those calling themselves, “Followers” has led to a diminished Kingdom, not an expanded one.

(5) Unless our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees, we cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:20). We have to reach out to those who are different from ourselves and open the door to Christ from the “overflow” of that which is in our heart. We have to learn to express ourselves in praise.

MEDITATION: “Finding Your SHINE”

2 Corinthians 4:4 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.


2 Corinthians 4:6    For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Matthew 5:16 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 13:43 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Philippians 2:15 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky

Ephesians 5:14 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

2 Peter 1:19 19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

IF WE ARE NOT SHINING, WE ARE LEADING ASTRAY


Revelation 18:23

23 The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
will never be heard in you again.
Your merchants were the world’s important people. `
By your spell all the nations were led astray.

JOURNAL: Write your thoughts on these verses in your PEP Journal. Pray for opportunities to SHINE.


APPLICATION: Pray with someone this week who is not a member of the Lord’s Body.

Begin thinking about how you might invite a friend to read “Not a Fan”. Ask the Lord to help you become creative so that we can create cards and invitations in this class to accompany the book.