Session Two

THETHEOLOGICAL

BASISFOR DISCIPLESHIP

Session Two Objectives

• To show that the Great Commission (to make disciples) is inseparable from the Trinity, specifically that:

• the goal of disciple-making is fellowship with the Trinity

• the manner of our disciple-making should be Trinitarian

Not an Option

Personal discipleship isn’t merely one methodological option,

it is deeply and eternally theological.

The ground and the goal of discipleship, as well as the entire process of discipleship,

are all Trinitarian.

Making Disciples: Completing the Trinitarian Commission

WARNING: THEOLOGY AHEAD

Apart from the Trinity, discipleship is like“trying shoelaces tighter to make up forbad fitting shoes.” ~Fred Sanders

A TIGHT FITThe Great Commission and the TrinityMatthew 28:16-20 & Acts 1:1-8

Making disciples is carried out under the authority of the Fatherby the power of the Spiritfor the sake of the Son.

REALLY?!Two reasons the Trinity is thetheological basis for discipleship:

1. IDENTITY

Disciple-making relates to a particular God.

There is a confessional commitment to discipleship.

Certain facts about God must be communicated.

The Trinity keeps disciple-makingfrom being idolatrous.

“God minus creation would still be God,but God minus Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

would not be God.” ~Sanders

2. INTIMACY

Disciple-making relates to a particular Godwho is a personal God.

There is a confessional commitment to discipleshipand a relational commitment.

Certain facts about God must be communicatedthat we would have fellowship with God.

The Trinity keeps disciple-making from being idolatrous

and from being impersonal.

There are two ditches to avoid.

Intimacy: Revealed in Creation

Creation: God sharing Himself with persons

Men are made in His image,with capacity for relationshipbecause of His relationships.

When man fell, the intimacy,both horizontal and vertical,

was shattered.

Death is separation.

Intimacy: Revealed in Redemption

Redemption: God restoring persons to Himself

Q: Does God prefer the doctrine ofjustification or adoption?

1 Peter 3:18 Galatians 4:4-6 Romans 8:15-32

“Pardon, acceptance, and adoption are distinct privileges, the one rising above the other in the

order which they have been stated...The privilege of adoption presupposes pardon and acceptance,

but it is higher than either.” ~J.I. Packer

God’s eternal purpose is to invite individuals into eternal life, that is, invite persons into His life,

into intimacy like the Trinity and with the Persons of the Trinity. It’s not business. It’s personal.

That means impersonal discipleship is false discipleship.Discipleship requires relationship.

The basis for us to make personal disciples is that making disciples is God’s goal to share Himself, eternal life, and the relational joy of the Trinity

with men and women from every nation.

So, making disciples is completing the Trinitarian commission.

BETTER THAN VELCRO

The three persons are never in conflict of purpose, never jealous over another's

position or specific work, never prideful over one's own position or work, and they are

always sharing fully the delight in being the one God and accomplishing the unified

purpose of God.

(Bruce Ware, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 20)

How we disciple must be personalif we’re to reflect the Trinity that commissioned it.

Trinitarian facts prevent our discipleship from beingshallow and sentimental, let alone idolatrous.

But an only-for-fact’s sake Trinityleads to an only-for-fact’s sake discipleship.

Trinitarian fellowship,ours with God and shared with others,

keeps our discipleship from beingcold and distant, let alone suppressive.

GET SOME MORE