Preached by Chris Broom, 12/10/2006
Click on triangle for streaming audio
or to download audio, right-click here with your mouse and select “Save Target As” or “Save Link As.”

Discipleship is Relationship - Outline

Proverbs 19:22
- We desire unfailing love, but are we committed to the relationships we want love out of?
- Better to be poor than a liar. Don’t lie to yourself about your relationships.
- Devote yourselves to two things:
1) Relationship with God
2) Relationship with people
- Don’t love things and use people. Rather, love people and use things.
- Friendship is a dying commodity in our world.
- World is sick because people don’t know how to have godly relationships.

Matthew 28:18-20
- Jesus has a plan for people to have godly relationships and unfailing love.
- Jesus died for us. He is committed to us for life.
- Love in spite of how people treat you, not because of how people treat you.

Matthew 27:1-10
- Judas hangs himself. He didn’t take responsibility. He had pity on himself.

How to build great relationships (point 1):
Take responsibility for where you are at.

- People shift the blame. Don’t do that. Be responsible.

Matthew 26:47-50
- Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. It hurts. Don’t be burned by superficial relationships.
- If you don’t become a Christian, you are doomed to superficial relationships for the rest of your life (and betrayal).
- Discipleship is relationship. You need God to have close relationships.

Challenge: Ask yourself, “How are my relationships?”
- Spend time with God every day so you can have deep relationships.
- Are you going to church just to feel good about yourself or do you have a purpose for God?
- Discipleship is the boot in the behind to help us help others.

1 Corinthians 15:33
- Bad company corrupts good character. Who are your friends?

- Righteousness is the ability to do what is right in your relationships.

- Nobody ever changed the world by watching TV, or going to bars.
- Discipleship will change the world.

2 Corinthians 9:6
- Sow sparingly, reap sparingly.

How to build great relationships (point 2):
You reap what you sow.

- If your relationships are weak, what are you putting into them? Sow generously in your relationships.
- Single brothers, go out on dates with single sisters.

Definition of discipleship:
- Discipleship is unselfish relationships for Jesus Christ.
- In the church (like during birth) there are no babies unless you push. Push people (lovingly) to be born again).
- A Christian exists so others can know God. Is that your purpose? Make it your purpose.
- If God chooses something and puts you in a situation, and if you have faith that God is with you, you will have victory.

- Invest like you never have before in your relationship with God.

So to have great relationships, take responsibility for having Godly relationships, and sow generously in those relationships and God will give you the victory.

Categories: Sermons