Leading a Church That Creates Disciple-Makers
The Enduring Disciple – Part 5
Elder Gary Nelson
November 30, 2025
Key Scripture
Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Sermon in a Sentence
As disciples of Christ, we can’t fulfill The Great Commission without first fully yielding to his instruction and then committing to duplicating ourselves in others through the process of teaching.
Key Terms
Commission
Noun:
1) a task or matter entrusted to one as an agent for another
Verb:
1) To appoint as one’s representative
2) To appoint or assign to a task or function
Disciple – noun:
A follower or learner who not only studies but actively imitates and applies the teachings of their master.
Bible Center Church
Mission:
We love God. We love people. We live like Jesus.
Vision:
We make disciples who make disciples to advance the Kingdom of God in the earth.
1) To cause to know something.
2) To impart knowledge of.
Learn – verb:
To gain knowledge or understanding of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience.
Endurance – noun:
1) The ability to withstand hardship or adversity.
2) Choosing not to give up when things get tough.
3) Having patience, persistence, and faith to keep moving forward.
4) Trusting God even when circumstances say, “just give up.”
Bible Center Church
Mission: should succinctly state what it values and considers to be critically important to clearly stating the purpose for which it exists.
We love God. We love people. We live like Jesus.
Vision: should express a desired future state of an organization and should be massive enough to include/involve everyone who will ever become a part of that organization.
We make disciples who make disciples to advance the Kingdom of God in the earth.
Are Bible Center’s Mission, Vision and practices aligned with The Great Commission?
Conflict - Christian Education Discipleship Crisis
4 central conclusions of the 1993 Study of Protestant Church Congregation Christian Education:
I. U.S. Christians don’t have mature faith – only 32%
II. Christian education is the most important vehicle within congregational life for helping people grow in their faith
III. Despite its potential impact most congregations don’t have effective Christian education.
IV. Concrete changes in Christian education can improve educational
Traits of Congregational Life Most Impactful to Building Faith
How did we get here?
2 Timothy 4:3 - For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
Matthew 11:28-29 - 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
How can we fix it?
Implement the Kingdom expansion and succession plan
1) Can only be performed by duly authorized/certified instructors – Disciples
2) Disciples duplicate themselves in others via the methods of
a. Instruction
The curriculum is already set – It is everything that Jesus taught his disciples – Matthew
28:20
b. Modeling – 1 Cor. 11:1 - And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
c. Practicum – Luke 9:1-2 - 1One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them
power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. 2 Then he sent them
out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
d. Fellowship – doing life together – Luke 22:11 - say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where
is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?
Why should we fix it?
1) We will hasten The Lord’s return – Matthew 6:10 - May your Kingdom come soon. May
your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
2) We were given a charge/command to fulfill – Matthew 28:19 – 20a –
3) It is the only way we will meet the standard of the church he is seeking upon his return
Ephesians 4:13-15 - 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and
knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and
complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We
won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be
influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the
truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like
Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
The Enduring Disciple | Part 4
Becoming Righteous
Joshua Pollard
November 23, 2025
The Divine Design is His Kingdom and His Righteousness
- Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Righteousness Defined:
Right What
Right Who
Right When
Right Where
Right Why
+Right How
Righteousness
Becoming Righteous – 4 Critical Realizations
1) Righteousness is better than conventional wisdom
Acts 16:6-10
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Traos. 9 During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
2) Being Right ≠ Righteousness
Acts 16:16-18
16 Once, when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you
the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her!” At that moment, the spirit left her.
3) Righteousness will put you in “Tough Spots”
Acts 16:19-24
19 When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrate ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving
such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
4) Righteousness will save lives
Acts 16:25-29
25 About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once, all the prison doors flew open and everybody’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and
when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Applying Righteousness to Your Life: L.O.T.S.
- L – Listen
- O – Obey
- T – Trust
- S - Smile
The Enduring Disciple, Part 3
The Crown of Eternal Life is a Banquet Wrapped in Toil
Minister Tony Igwe
November 16, 2025
Key Words
Meaningless – Vapor, smoke, short, easily dissipated
Toil - the can in which God’s blessings are sealed!
Ecclesiastes 1:1-3 1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: 2 “Meaningless!
Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” 3 What do
people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?
Proverbs 4:1-9(MSG) 1-2 Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice; sit up and take notice so you’ll
know how to live. I’m giving you good counsel; don’t let it go in one ear and out the other. 3-
9 When I was a boy at my father’s knee, the pride and joy of my mother, He would sit me down
and drill me: “Take this to heart. Do what I tell you—live! Sell everything and buy Wisdom!
Forage for Understanding! Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch! Never walk away from
Wisdom—she guards your life; love her—she keeps her eye on you. Above all and before all, do
this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding! Throw your arms
around her—believe me, you won’t regret it; never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious.
She’ll garland your life with grace, she’ll festoon your days with beauty.”
Key Kingdom Concept (Sermon in a sentence): The Crown of Eternal Life starts now; although life
is short and full of troubles grab it with both hands, learn from your mistakes and live!
Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 7 Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful
heart, for God has already approved what you do. 8 Always be clothed in white, and always
anoint your head with oil. 9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this
meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is
your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it
with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working
nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
1. God blessed us before we had done anything!
Ephesians 1:3-4 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in
the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the
creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Ecclesiastes 9:7 7 Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for
God has already approved what you do.
2. Don’t forget, God has already cleansed you.
Ecclesiastes 9:8 8 Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.
Romans 5:8 – 10. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ
died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from
God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the
death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
3. Don’t procrastinate, grab life with both hands!
Ecclesiastes 9:9 9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God
has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome
labor under the sun.
John 10:10 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and
have it to the full.
4. Toil, because your blessing depends on it.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the
dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the
prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict
training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
John 13:14-17 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one
another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell
you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now
that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
5. The Crown of Eternal Life is God’s beautiful gift.
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer
beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to
others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-14 9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the
human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart;
yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better
for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and
find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
John 17:3 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
The Enduring Disciple, Part 2
Stay in the Fight
Sunday, November 9, 2025
Minister Walter J. Lewis
Sermon in a sentence:
God Guarantees Victory, but we have to Stay in the Fight
Key Scripture:
2 Timothy 4:7-8 [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8] Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Key Terms:
Disciple - A follower or learning who is not just a student, but someone who actively imitates and applies the teachings of their master
Endure - to remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding
Prefight: Accept the Fight
Exodus 3:10-12 [10] So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” [11] But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
1. Know Your Opponent
Exodus 5:1-2 [1] Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’ ” [2] Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
2. Get Back Up
Exodus 5:22-23 [22] Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? [23] Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”
Proverbs 24:16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
3. Keep Your Guard Up
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Ephesians 6:10 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Exodus 14:12-14 [12] Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
[13] Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. [14] The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
4. Go To Your Corner
Matthew 11:28-29 [28] Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Exodus 33:7,11a [7] Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. [11a] The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend…
5. Punch Back, with POWER
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 [3] For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. [4] The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
Exodus 17:8-11 [8] The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. [9] Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” [10] So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. [11] As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.
6. Don’t Get Disqualified
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 [26] Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. [27] No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Numbers 20:5-12 [5] Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” [6] Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. [7] The Lord said to Moses, [8] “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
[9] So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. [10] He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” [11] Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
[12] But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
7. Fight until the finish
Joshua 21:43-45 [43] So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. [44] The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. [45] Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
Disclaimer: Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We believe and teach that the Bible is God’s Word — His opinion — and provides His instruction for how to live life under His rule (i.e., the Kingdom of God).
