Chapter 4
HIS TEACHING FOR YOUR TRAINING
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
HEBREWS 5:14
32 The Mysterious Number Three
Three is a mysterious number. Discipleship originates from the incomprehensible Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father sent the Son to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). The Son sent His followers (John 20:21).
He commissioned them to make disciples worldwide. He promised His presence during the process (Matthew 28:18–20). The Holy Spirit provides the resources to complete the job (Acts 1:8).
The goal is to make people all over the world like Jesus (Romans 8:29). Jesus Himself is like the Father (John 14:9) and the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). The fruit of the Spirit consists of Jesus-like characteristics (Galatians 5:22–23).
Discipleship starts with God. It shapes us to be like Jesus while retaining our uniqueness.
Tiffany stamps its jewelry with the Tiffany and Co. mark. God stamps every disciple with the 3-D faith, hope, and love mark (1 Corinthians 13:13). It identifies authentic followers of Jesus.
Disciples trust God. That’s faith. They confidently expect He’ll do everything He promises. That’s hope. They sacrifice their time, talents, money, and energy for Him and others. That’s love.
Faith and hope are temporary. But love endures forever. The three fuel the discipleship journey like liquid hydrogen powers a rocket.
Discipleship has three goals—to draw people to Jesus, disciple them, and deploy them in ministry. Jesus multiplied workers for the discipleship task. So should we.
The best way to draw people to Jesus is to love them sacrificially. We meet their needs. Once they come to faith, the next step is telling and showing them how to live as Jesus did.
We copy Jesus. They copy what’s like Jesus in us. Eventually, they become independently dependent on Jesus. Then others can copy what’s like Jesus in them.
Discipleship has three fields of operation—local, regional, and world. That’s the pattern in the Great Commission—beginning in Jerusalem (local), on to Judea and Samaria (region), and then to the ends of the world (Matthew 28:18–20).
Discipleship starts in our own family and community. Our communities need to hear the good news and see us and our church live it.
Salespeople who love their products make the most sales. Our product is a life-changing relationship with the Lord of the universe. That’s something to get excited about! Three is a mysterious number!
How obvious is it that you’re excited about a life-changing relationship with the Lord of the universe? Read Mark 4.
33 The Year of the Lie
Misinformation is untruth, whether deliberate or not. Disinformation is deliberate misinformation. In 2020, life dumped both upon you. Guess what! Every year is the year of the lie. 2020 was nothing special in that regard.
Disinformation began when the serpent (Satan) contradicted God’s promise. God said eating from the tree in the middle of the garden would surely bring death. The serpent said, “You will not certainly die” (Genesis 3:4).
He’s further described in John 8:44 NIV: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
The world system is Satan’s organized, multi-faceted, extraordinarily successful plan. He uses it to dethrone God from the center of everyday life. That, for example, is why God is notably absent from daily news reports.
Lying politicians don’t issue the most damaging disinformation. These deceivers are themselves deceived. They’re living a self-centered existence in a God-centered universe.
The worst deception is the sophisticated attempt to deceive you concerning Jesus’ identity and mission. The deception also relates to your identity and mission when you believe in Him.
Studying and applying God’s word is a life jacket that keeps you from drowning in a hurricane-driven sea of disinformation. Are you wearing it?
How is your daily Scripture reading like a life jacket that keeps you afloat in a raging sea of lies? Read Mark 5.
34 Your Spiritual Vital Signs
Your doctor assesses your heartbeat, breathing rate, temperature, and blood pressure. Jesus assesses your belief, obedience, and love. They’re like three strands of a braided rope. 1 John (NIV) reveals their interconnectedness.
“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands” (1 John 2:3). “And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us” (1 John 3:23).
“Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them…” (1 John 3:24a). “And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:21).
“This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
Belief, obedience, and love grow and intertwine throughout your life as a believer. You keep on believing, keep on loving, and keep on obeying.
The vault of time contains yesterday’s obedience, love, and belief. Today’s opportunities to serve God and others require a fresh flow of all three.
When your vital signs indicate all isn’t well, your doctor prescribes a treatment plan. Fever suggests an infection that needs attention. High blood pressure might require medication.
Your spiritual vital signs—belief, obedience, and love are relationship terms. You believe, obey, and love someone.
God’s grace and your effort keep the three strands growing and intertwining. You work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
God works in you to provide the will and ability to follow His ways (Philippians 2:12–13). He works in you. His Spirit lives through you. You obey God because you love Him (John 14:15).
Your belief, obedience, and love are still developing. They’re not what they’ll someday be.
But they’re significant steering forces in your life. Belief, obedience, and love gradually replace fear, doubt, rebellion, and apathy.
List specific ways your belief, obedience, and love have grown since you became a believer. What are you doing to provide an atmosphere that keeps them growing? Read Mark 6.
35 Christian Meditation
Stop…Look…Listen! Do you read the Bible like an ambulance racing toward an accident scene? Do you zoom past potentially life-changing verses like guard rails at 100 mph?
Have you read about peace in John 14:27 and love in 1 Corinthians 13 at breakneck speed? Do you slow down enough for peace and love to possess you? Do you allow them to shape you?
Meditation is deliberately pondering your ways and God’s ways. It’s reflective thinking about yourself and Scripture so you can adjust your life to honor God. The goal is intimacy with God and conformity to His ways.
You pull the choking weeds of worldly ways of thinking and acting from your life. Through meditation. When I first trusted Christ, getting was more important than giving, speaking than listening, and being serving than serving.
I thought these traits were adorable yellow flowers. God’s word identified them as dandelions He wants to uproot!
To meditate, seek a quiet place where you can be alone. Focus on your loving Creator, Lord, and Redeemer. Think about all He has done for you. Study and meditate on the Scriptures.
They’re useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). God’s word does it all. Meditating on and obeying it makes you wiser than your enemies (Psalm 119:98), prosperous, and successful (Joshua 1:8).
Meditation could include praying Scripture into your life. For example, a prayer based on 1 Peter 5:7: “Lord, You know how much I fear telling others what You mean to me. I worry too much about what they might think and too little about what You think.
I know You care for me despite my “lockjaw.” I’m rolling my fears and anxieties onto You right now. I don’t want them back. Give me boldness and courage. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Meditation drills spiritual wells into God’s word. It pumps up its healing waters to bless you and others.
In it you find forgiveness and purification for your sins (1 John 1:9). You experience comfort in your troubles (2 Corinthians 1:4).
You feel inward renewal despite outward wasting away (2 Corinthians 4:16). Your weakness makes God’s power perfect (2 Corinthians 12:9). Stop…Look…Listen!
Concerning meditation, what’s the next step for you? Read Mark 7.
36 Scripture Memory
People have told me they can’t memorize Scripture. I’ll be upfront. For years I didn’t want to put forth the necessary effort. As a new Christian, I memorized seventy-five verses in the Navigators’ Topical Memory System. Years passed.
I forgot them. Without review, you memorized Scripture leaks. The recipe for Scripture memorization is one teaspoon of challenging work and ten teaspoons of persistent REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!
Dr. Waylon Moore developed a list of one hundred verses to memorize. It took me five years to learn them. It wasn’t easy. I added the verses to memorize in 31 Steps Toward Spiritual Maturity to his list.
I review about seven verses daily while I’m eating breakfast. It takes three weeks to review the following list. Then I begin again.
Scripture memory will add fuel injection to your spiritual life. The following verses make a much greater impact on me now than they used to. I challenge you to learn them and continue to review them. My three-week review cycle follows:
Week 1 – Sunday - Matthew 4:4, Hebrews 4:12, Jeremiah 15:16, John 16:24, Matthew 21:22, Philippians 4:6–7, Rom 12:1. Monday – John 14:21, Hebrews 5:8, Matthew 4:19, Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19–20, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23. Tuesday – Hebrews 9:27, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:8–9, John 5:24, John 1:12, Revelation 3:20, 1 John 5:13. Wednesday – John 5:24, James 1:5, Isaiah 30:18, Proverbs 3:5–6, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Romans 8:37, John 3:30. Thursday – Galatians 2:20, 2 Corinthians 5:15, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, John 14:26, John 4:23, Psalm 103:13–14, John 3:16. Friday – Jeremiah 31:3, Isaiah 49:15–16, Hebrews 13:5, Isaiah 26:3, John 14:2–3, Romans 8:32, Philippians 4:19. Saturday – Luke 6:38, Psalm 62:11, Matthew 11:28–30, Psalm 147:3–5, 1 Chronicles 29:11–12, John 1:14.
Week 2 – Sunday – Deuteronomy 6:6–7, Genesis 22:18, Isaiah 59:21, Ecclesiastes 10:1, Ecclesiastes 8:11, 1 Samuel 15:22–23. Monday – Proverbs 17:27–28, Romans 4:17b, 20–21, Luke 9:23, John 8:31, Isaiah 32:17, Colossians 2:6–7. Tuesday - Psalm 1, Psalm 23, Psalm 84:11, Psalm 62:5, Psalm 27:14, Isaiah 40:31, 2 Peter 3:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:15–16, Revelation 20:15. Wednesday – Psalm 61:2, Isaiah 63:9, Psalm 18:1–2, Psalm 46:1,10, Isaiah 26:3, John 13:13–14, Philippians 2:3–4, Proverbs 13:10, Colossians 3:23–24. Thursday – Philippians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Hebrews 4:15–16, 2 Peter 1:2–3, 2 Corinthians 9:8, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Hebrews 1:9, Philippians 4:8. Friday – Psalm 27:4,8, Psalm 107:9, Isaiah 43:4, Deuteronomy 1:11, Galatians 6:7. Saturday – 1 Chronicles 16:10–12, Hebrews 11:6, Ephesians 4:29, James 1:19–20, Hebrews 10:38.
Week 3 – Sunday – John 15:5, Hebrews 10:25, Colossians 1:18, John 14:15. Monday – 1 Peter 2:2, Psalm 119:9, 11, Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:22–23. Tuesday – 1 John 2:16, Ephesians 10:11–12, Proverbs 3:34, 1 Corinthians 6:12. Wednesday – Psalm 119:15–16, Matthew 22:37–39, John 4:24, 1 Corinthians 10:14. Thursday – 1 Corinthians 11:26, John 15:8, Romans 1:16. Friday – 1 Timothy 2:2, Romans 12:11, 1 Corinthians 12:7. Saturday – Isaiah 64:8, 1 Corinthians 4:2, John 13:34–35.
Memorize Matthew 4:4—Jesus answered, “It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" ( NIV) Read Mark 8.
37 Sharing Your Faith
Jesus’ followers fish for people (Matthew 4:19). Timing is critical to fishing. When people feel stressed, they’re more receptive to the gospel.
It’s best to move from small talk to God talk privately. Don’t project an “I’m better than you are” attitude. You’re not. You’re one beggar telling another where to find food.
Two questions can help bridge the conversation to spiritual things. The first is for people facing tough times. Ask, “Do you want to be closer to God?” If the answer is “Yes,” say, “Let me show you how you can be.” Then share “How to Become Jesus’ Follower.”
Another question is, “What’s the best thing that ever happened to you?” Listen attentively. Then ask if you may share your best thing. Share in about 1 minute what your life was like before receiving Jesus as your Forgiver and Leader. A second minute about what you did to receive Him. A third minute about why it’s the best thing that’s happened to you.
Think about your story and write it down before you share it with others. After sharing it, ask: Have you made the wonderful discovery of knowing God personally? Would you like to? If “Yes,” you can review “How to Become Jesus’ Follower.”
How to Become Jesus’ Follower
The first thing to know is that you’re a sinner. Romans 3:23 says that we’re all sinners and have fallen short of God's glory, which is His infinite perfection in all He does and is.
In other words, we can’t stand back-to-back with Jesus and exactly measure up to His moral and spiritual height. That’s a big deal. The penalty for not measuring up to that standard is death (Romans 6:23). We have a problem.
The second thing to know is Jesus died on the cross in your place (Romans 5:8). God showered His unmerited favor upon you, doing more than you could expect.
God, in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, took your place and paid your death penalty (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). He was buried and rose from the dead. His resurrection proved that God is satisfied with His payment on your behalf.
God can justly forgive you. Jesus paid your penalty in full. The innocent One took the place of the guilty.
The first thing to do is turn from living according to your values, priorities, and agenda. The U-turn to go God's way is what the Bible calls repentance.
Repentance is acknowledging that you’ve been going in the wrong direction and now want to go in the right direction. In Mark 1:15 Jesus commands you to repent and believe the good news (that He died in your place on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead).
The second thing to do is open the door of your life to Jesus. Invite Him to come in and take the driver's seat of your life.
He promises that if you open the door, He will come in (Revelation 3:20). He keeps His promises. You become God’s child when you receive Jesus (John 1:12).
You can open the door to Him by the following prayer. It has no magic words. It merely expresses that you are willing to live God's way.
Lord Jesus, Thank you for dying on the cross in my place and taking my sin, death, and judgment upon Yourself. I open the door of my life to You. I want You to come into my life and take control. Turn on the light and clean up the mess. Thank You for forgiving my sins and making me a child of God. I want to be like You. Amen.
Master the “How to Become Jesus’ Follower” Gospel presentation so you’ll be prepared to share it. Read Mark 9.
38 Dying to Live
Effective life strategies can seem contrary to common sense. One might think throwing a shot put, discus or javelin as far as possible takes all-out muscular effort. The truth is the best throwers are very relaxed.
I helped my Uncle Bill plant celery. We occupied the two seats on his celery planter. It was slowly moving through the field. We both had a handful of celery plants in our left hands. We placed them in designated slots connected to a rotating wheel.
Uncle Bill did it better than I did. I was hurrying to do the job. Uncle Bill, a seasoned veteran, told me that to go faster, I had to relax more. He was right.
James Calvert and other missionaries dedicated themselves to sharing the gospel in the Fiji Islands where cannibals lived. When they arrived, the ship’s captain tried to discourage them. He predicted that they’d lose their lives.
Calvert replied, “We died before we came here.”1 They had died to self-centered living. They were living for Jesus who died for them and was raised again (2 Corinthians 5:15). That’s precisely what Jesus told them and us to do.
That one must die to live is contrary to common sense. The last thing we want to do is die. Dying to self-centered living is the first thing we must do to experience a purposeful life.
Every Christian who bears much fruit has died to self-centered living. “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24 NIV).
Joy doesn’t come from living extravagantly. It blossoms when we die to self-centered living for the benefit of God and others.
The most satisfying moments of my life are when I influence others’ lives for Jesus. We must continually renew our commitment to die to self-centered living and live for God’s purposes. Paul wrote that he died daily (1 Corinthians 15:31).
Yesterday’s sacrifices are no substitute for today’s. Sacrificial love produces joy. You can’t freeze, can, or dry joy. You must harvest it fresh every day. It’s a predictable by-product of yielding to the control of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). He produces the fruit of joy. But you have to die to get it!
How has dying to your desires and agenda brought more joy than living for yourself? Read Mark 10.
39 1-2-3-4 Discipleship Challenge
You find comfort in the familiar. You resist changing your daily routines despite good reasons to do so.
Habits can enrich your life—brushing your teeth, bathing, and eating healthy foods. Other habits entrap you like a fly struggling in a spider web.
It’s wise to increase vitality-strengthening habits and eliminate vitality-draining ones. The most difficult step in forming a beneficial habit is the first one.
Nothing will benefit you more than developing habits that nurture your spiritual growth. Especially if you are new to or young in your walk with Jesus, I’m suggesting the 1-2-3-4 Discipleship Challenge. So, what is the 1-2-3-4 Discipleship Challenge?
The 1 represents reading one chapter a day from the Bible beginning with Matthew in the New Testament in a version you can understand. I use the New International Version.
Write in 1 sentence something you can apply to your life from what you’ve read. You may write more if you want!
A study Bible helps. I use the Life Application Bible. This will over time help you understand God’s truth more clearly in a world where lies abound (2 Timothy 2:15).
The 2 represents using your energy, time, talents, or money to bless at least two people daily. It may be a phone call, meeting a need, writing an encouragement note, sending a card, working in a food bank, providing a meal, or sharing spiritual insights.
The possibilities are endless. Demonstrate God’s love in at least two practical ways daily (1 Peter 3:9).
The 3 represents three minutes of reflection on the one chapter you read. It might include reading the notes on the chapter in a study Bible. Think about how the chapter touches you before you write your one application sentence.
The 4 represents spending at least four minutes in prayer daily praising God for who He is (Psalm 150), confessing any sin and claiming His forgiveness (1 John 1:9), thanking Him for specific blessings in your life (1 Thessalonians 5:18), and making requests to Him (Philippians 4:6–7). That’s the 1-2-3-4 Discipleship Challenge. The next step is up to you!
Who holds you accountable for the 1-2-3-4 Discipleship Challenge? Read Mark 11.
40 31 Steps Toward Christian Maturity
Following Jesus can be challenging. It can seem like you’re traveling through the pea-soup fog on an unfamiliar country road with no GPS or roadmap. It shouldn’t be. In theory, it’s like pressing the easy button.
Discipleship is simply becoming more like Jesus and helping others do the same. That’s it!
But turning theory into reality is the hardest of life’s assignments. It requires denying yourself (Luke 9:23) and living for the one who died for you (2 Corinthians 5:15).
That’s as unpopular as a presidential candidate whose big idea is raising the Federal Income Tax rate to 100 percent! Jesus is raising the self-denial rate to 100 percent in your life. He doesn’t have a Plan B.
Hopefully, you don’t think discipleship is only for the spiritual elite. If you believe in Jesus but want to live your life as you choose, read Luke 9:23 three times and think hard about what it says.
There’s no room in God’s kingdom for “believers” who aren’t following Jesus. Learning to follow Him is a process. But thinking that following Him is optional is “stinking thinking.” Saving faith in Jesus changes character and conduct as you follow Him (1 Corinthians 6:9–11).
31 Steps Toward Spiritual Maturity summarizes a path I’ve learned during fifty years of following Jesus. Applying it will help you fulfill your purpose. Following Jesus is a never-ending process of wisely building your life upon the Rock (Matthew 7:24–27). It’s more doing than knowing.
You can introduce it to others who can share it as well. If you already spend time with God daily…
I invite you to check out 31 Steps Toward Christian Maturity. Read Mark 12.
41 Spiritual Journey Tracker
Check each statement that’s true of you and work on the ones that aren’t.
__ I have the assurance of salvation.
__ I know how to deal with sin in my life.
__ I’ve been baptized.
__ I read the Scriptures and pray daily.
__ I regularly participate in small group meetings.
__ I look forward to worshiping with my church family regularly.
__ I’m filled with the Holy Spirit.
__ I show evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in my life.
__ I demonstrate love for God and others by self-sacrificial service.
__ I pray regularly for the salvation of unsaved friends and relatives.
__ I forgive those who have hurt me.
__ I’ve joined a local church.
__ I feel a deep need for God’s grace daily.
__ I serve God out of gratitude.
__ I generously and cheerfully spend my time, talents, and treasures for God.
__ I help meet the needs of the poor.
__ I speak the truth with love.
__ I’ve shared my personal faith story with a non-Christian.
__ I’ve read the entire New Testament.
__ I’ve led another person to faith in Christ.
__ I’ve followed up with a brand-new believer.
__ I’ve read the entire Old Testament.
__ I minister to others based on my passion, temperament, spiritual gifts, and skills.
__ I help others become more like Jesus.
Begin working on one of the items you weren’t able to check.
Read Mark 13.