Multiply 2021

THE TWELVE: Jesus designed the small group for greater impact

Sunday March 28, 2021 - Pastor Margareth Valui

Matthew 28:19

What does it mean to be a disciple?

The Greek word for "disciple" is mathetes which means learner. A disciple of Christ is a lifelong learner of Jesus.

How are you learning about Christ?

Christ says, "Follow Me" (Matthew 4:19) and "Feed My Sheep" (John 21:17) As followers of Christ, we must be a disciple as well as a disciple-maker.

How can we Disciple like Jesus?

JESUS' CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

Relationship Model: How Jesus manifested different levels of friendship.

1. Jesus had three people in his innermost circle of life (Matthew 17, Matthew 26, John 1).
2. In the second circle, we have Jesus doing life together with the twelve disciples.
3. The seventy he sent to serve in pairs ( Luke 10)
4. The five thousand he broke bread with and fed (Matthew 15; Mark 6; Luke 9; and John 6).
5. Finally, Jesus also had a connection with the multitude, the crowd.

Jesus' circles of friends on Palm Sunday

1. John & Mary- The beloved of Jesus
2. Peter & James - The leaders of the church
3. Lazarus & Martha (Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and stayed at his house John 11 & 12)
4. 9 Other Disciples - The disciples whom Jesus picked and id life together with Him.
5. Joseph of Arimathea, Joanna, Susanna -They were present at the crucifixion and burial of Jesus
6. Mother Mary and Other Family were present in the upper room in Jerusalem
7. 100+ Non-Named Disciples: Peter got up and spoke to bout 120 disciples present in the upper room

Friendship is a choice. "You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit" (John 16:16).

GOOD NEIGHBOR PROJECT

So how do we do relationship building like Jesus?

1. Start like him, with a small group of people. Jesus started his ministry by picking his 12 disciples.

Here were some learnings from the project:

• 1. Inter-Cultural Relationship Building is Hard Work
• 2. Intentionality is the key to a successful Inter-Cultural relationship
• 3. Have clear Achievable Goals for building Neighborly Relationships
• 4. Creating a Support System holds us Accountable to achieve goals.

JESUS' WAY OF DISCIPLESHIP IS INCLUSIVE

1. Table fellowship is inclusive and non-hierarchical. Jesus not only ate with his friends, but he also hung out with a Pharisee as well as a sinful woman in Luke 7: 36-38.
2. We must practice Incarnational Love amid Polarization and Pluralism

JESUS' WAY OF DISCIPLESHIP IS RELATIONAL

Table Fellowship

1. Jesus modeled table fellowship perfectly through his relationship with the 12 disciples.
2. Conversation over Table Fellowship is where relationships happen (John 15: 12-14).

Relationships happen in Small Groups.

1. Our Life Groups are where people do life together.
2. Small groups allow room for the manifestation of gifts and authentic relationships which may not be possible in a larger Sunday morning service.
3. Unity is a choice.

WE MUST PRACTICE THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS WHILE DOING THE GREAT

1. Authentic Relationship is founded on Love (Luke 10)
2. We must build relational bridges if we are to cross-cultural boundaries.

   This is why we choose to be a church rooted in Discipleship and Relationship!

3. Santa Clara First Baptist is a multi-generational and multi-cultural congregation.
4. We need committed and invested leaders in SCFBC. Leaders who are interested in passing eternal faith and its leadership to their younger ones.
5. Be Disciples and Disciple-makers.
6. Jesus modeled discipleship perfectly through his relationship with the 12 disciples.

Are you willing to invest in a relationship like Jesus did?