For a discipleship group to be actively involved in helping to reach the world for Christ, three characteristics should be evident in the group:

1. Its members need to exhibit a growing dependence upon and love for Christ.

2. They need to experience a growing love for one another and for other Christians within the body of Christ.

3. They need to have an increasing compassion and concern for a lost world.

In this chapter we will discuss these characteristics, their biblical basis and some problems that may occur.

A. A growing dependence upon and love for Christ.

The most important characteristic of discipleship group members love for and dependence upon Christ. This quality is foundational to the group's objective and supports the other two characteristics.

1. Scriptural example.

A good example of this characteristic was the church as Thessalonica. Paul wrote these words to the believers there:

"Constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father ... For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. For they themselves report about us what kind of reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come" (I Thessalonians 1:3,8-10).

 

The Thessalonians were having a tremendous impact on the world around them, but the foundation of their activity was their love for and faith in Jesus Christ. This characteristic is demonstrated in group members' lives by their desire to be conformed to the image of Christ and to serve God wholeheartedly.

A member's true dependence should be on Christ and His limitless resources, not upon the leader or other group members.

2. Problems.

If group members fail to grow in their love for and dependence upon Christ, some problems will likely arise:

a. Introspection: Members depend more on one another rather than on Christ.

b. Lack of power: Members do not depend on God's Spirit to change their lives and problems.

c. Lack of loyalty: The group shares no common objective.

3. Ways to point discipleship group members to Christ.

Here are a few ways to direct the group members to focus on Christ, instead of on problems and circumstances.

a. Share biblical illustrations and promises - as well as personal examples - of Christ's sufficiency. Encourage members to claim and personalize His promises for their own needs.

b. Talk about examples of biblical characters who faced problems or circumstances similar to theirs.

c. Emphasize prayer, praise and thanksgiving in dealing with difficult or negative circumstances in life.

4. Signs of growing love and dependence on Christ.

a. Members have an increased respect for God's Word and its authority.

b. They demonstrate increased obedience to God's Word.

c. Each one has a growing prayer life.

d. They demonstrate a growing faith and confidence in Him. They are focusing, not on their personal problems, but on Christ, who gives solutions.

B. Growing love and concern.

A growing love for God will ultimately result in a growing lovefor group members and other Christians.

1. Scriptural example.

Centuries ago, during the Roman persecution, Christians met together in subterranean catacombs and attempted to protect their brothers and sisters at the risk of death. Under these circumstances, the early Christians not only persevered, but they also grew in number. This revolutionary growth in the first century church was directly related to the love and concern the believers had for one another. It started that way right back at Pentecost:

"And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and

possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved" (Acts 2:42-47).

2. Problems.

When members are not growing in love and concern for one another, the following may occur:

a. The whole body of Christ will suffer (I Corinthians 12:26).

b. 4 poor example is set for both Christians and others (I Thessalonians 1:6,7).

3. Ways to show love and concern for group members and other Christians.

a. Spend time together outside of group meetings.

b. Ask questions and be a good listener.

c. Share both the joys and hurts in one another's lives.

d. Help one another in areas of personal development.

e. Demonstrate love to one another in tangible ways.

 

C. Growing compassion and concern for a lost world.

As we grow in our love for Christ and for His people, we will also grow in our concern for those who don't know God. Christ's burden for others will become ours.

1. Scriptural example.

"And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest"' (Matthew 9:36-38).

2. Problems

Here are some problems that arise when this characteristic is not growing in the lives of the discipleship group members:

a. They lack a vision for reaching the world for Christ.

b. People die without Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15,16).

c. They become introverted and focus on each other, not on Christ.

d. The development of a movement of Spirit-filled Christians who are obedient to God's Word is kept back.

1. Ways to encourage a growing compassion and concern for a lost world.

a. Pray that each member will realize that people are dying without Christ. People need to hear how they can have eternal life in Christ.

b. Take each member witnessing and demonstrate way-of-life witnessing with them.

c. Use the Bible to show them God's desire to see the world reached and saved (2 Peter 3:9).