Sharing God’s love in Community
GROWING AS DISCIPLES IN A
CHURCH OF SMALL GROUPS
Penge Baptist Church
13th October 2013
Being a disciple of Jesus
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The term "disciple" is derived from the Koine Greek
word mathetes, which means a pupil (of a teacher) or
an apprentice (to a master craftsman), coming to
English by way of the Latin “discipulus” meaning a
learner while the more common English word is
student.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given
to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I
am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:18-20)
Created for community with God…
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Made for dependence on God
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The God who made the world and everything in it is the
Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples
built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as
if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men
life and breath and everything else. From one man he
made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the
whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and
the exact places where they should live. God did this so
that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him
and find him, though he is not far from each one of us
(Acts 17:24-27)
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But God chose to be interdependent
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“I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses,
“and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me
alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I
may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great
nation.” (Exodus 32:9-10)
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom
you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians
4:30)
Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you
sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if
there are fifty righteous people in the city? (Genesis
18:23-24)
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit….. you were bought at a price. Therefore honor
God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
…and created for community
with one another…
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“The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man
to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for
him.” (Genesis 2:18)
For this reason a man will leave his father and
mother and be united to his wife, and they will
become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)
After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he
feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the
church— for we are members of his body.
(Ephesians 5:29-30)
…to use the gifts God gave us….
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Just as each of us has one body with many members,
and these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body, and
each member belongs to all the others. We have
different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a
man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion
to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is
teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him
encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others,
let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him
govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it
cheerfully (Romans 12:4-8)
…to use the gifts God gave us….
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Just as each of us has one body with many members,
and these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body, and
each member belongs to all the others. We have
different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a
man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in
proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve;
if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let
him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of
others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let
him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him
do it cheerfully (Romans 12:4-8)
…to use the gifts God gave us….

Just as each of us has one body with many members,
and these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body, and
each member belongs to all the others. We have
different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a
man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion
to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is
teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him
encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others,
let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him
govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it
cheerfully (Romans 12:4-8)
…to use the gifts God gave us….

Just as each of us has one body with many members,
and these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body, and
each member belongs to all the others. We have
different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a
man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion
to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is
teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him
encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others,
let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him
govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it
cheerfully (Romans 12:4-8)
…to use the gifts God gave us….

Just as each of us has one body with many members,
and these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body, and
each member belongs to all the others. We have
different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a
man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion
to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is
teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him
encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others,
let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him
govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it
cheerfully (Romans 12:4-8)
…to use the gifts God gave us….

Just as each of us has one body with many members,
and these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body, and
each member belongs to all the others. We have
different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a
man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion
to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is
teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him
encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of
others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let
him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him
do it cheerfully (Romans 12:4-8)
…to use the gifts God gave us….

Just as each of us has one body with many members,
and these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body, and
each member belongs to all the others. We have
different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a
man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion
to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is
teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him
encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others,
let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him
govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it
cheerfully (Romans 12:4-8)
…to use the gifts God gave us….

Just as each of us has one body with many members,
and these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body, and
each member belongs to all the others. We have
different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a
man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion
to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is
teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him
encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others,
let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him
govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do
it cheerfully (Romans 12:4-8)
…and receive the blessings of a
community of disciples…
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Strength
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Two are better than one, because they have a
good return for their work: If one falls down,
his friend can help him up. But pity the man
who falls and has no one to help him up!
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way
you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians
6:2)
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Wisdom
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Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers
they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)
Accountability
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As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
(Proverbs 27:17)
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what
it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
and, after looking at himself, goes away and
immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man
who looks intently into the perfect law that gives
freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what
he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what
he does. (James 1:23-25)
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Acceptance
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My command is this: Love each other as I have loved
you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay
down his life for his friends. (John 15:12-13)
Receiving and giving care
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Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the
way to live and the duties they are to perform. But
select capable men from all the people—men who
fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—
and appoint them as officials over thousands,
hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges
for the people at all times, but have them bring every
difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide
themselves. That will make your load lighter, because
they will share it with you. (Exodus 18:20-22)
… so the church may be one
body of disciples
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Using our gifts for the common good…..
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The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts;
and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So
it is with Christ…..as it is, there are many parts, but one
body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need
you!” (1 Corinthians 12:12, 21)
to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the
body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in
the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God…
(Ephesians 4:12-13)
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…so individual members have transformed lives
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….and become mature, attaining to the whole
measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13)
“speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow
up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From
him the whole body, joined and held together by
every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up
in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:1516)
Core aim – “growth in
discipleship through fellowship”
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“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we
profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let
us consider how we may spur one another on
toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up
meeting together, as some are in the habit of
doing, but let us encourage one another—and all
the more as you see the Day approaching..”
(Hebrews 10:23-25)
Launch of small groups at Penge
Baptist Church – sign up now!
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Tuesday afternoon in the church (timed to fit in
with the “school run”) led by Siaa
Tuesday evening led by Falaux at her home
Thursday evening, led by Michael at his home
We shall have a consultation on the need for a
daytime group for the over 65s
SIGN UP TO TRY A SMALL GROUP!
Name/tel_____________________________
Please tick your ONE chosen option
? I would like to try the group on Tuesday afternoon led by Siaa Mathurin in the
church, tel 07903 374375, email siaaliane@gmail.com
?
?
I would like to try the group on Tuesday evening led by Falaux Mendy, at 131
Seymour Villas, Anerley, tel 07930496604, email fay.mendy@gmail.com
I would like to try the group on Thursday evening, led by Michael O’Reilly at 17
Bettswood Court, Penge, tel 07803 586664 email mforeilly61@hotmail.com
? I do not wish to try a group at present, but would appreciate being prayed for by a
group
? I do not wish to try a group at present, and would not appreciate being prayed for by
a group