Sermon Notes - Building a Foundation, Discipleship - Rising Sun Baptist Church - May 17, 2026

1.       We are continuing our building a foundation series this morning.

a.       We have covered some key building blocks so far.

b.       Praying dependently on God opens up what is only possible with God.

c.       Biblically teaching helps us to grow in our knowledge of God.

d.       Living lives of Christ centered worship, worshipping Jesus always.

e.       Last week we talked about how each of us was called to do ministry.

f.         To do something that we were uniquely created to do.

2.       Our fifth piece of our foundation for building our life together is discipleship.

a.       Jesus’ command to make disciples is one that is for each of us.

b.       The church has a big part in it.

c.       We need to be intentional about it.

d.       But it is not simply program.

e.       It is more than a structured teaching.

f.         It is something we do as we live life with others.

3.       We actually see the beginnings of it back in Moses’ day.

4.       Deuteronomy 4:1-6

a.       Moses taught the people what God expected.

b.       The people were to follow those teachings.

c.       It was to be part of their lives.

d.       In doing so, the wisdom and knowledge of God would be seen in how they lived their lives.

e.       It would help them to be a witness to those around them.

5.       People were taught to live according to their faith in God.

a.       If we think about it, that fits with an earlier piece of our foundation, Biblically based teaching.  

b.       It is what we do here at RSBC several times a week.

c.       We look at God’s Word and work to learn from it.

6.       Matthew 28:19-20

a.       Go and make disciples.

b.       This is the great commission that Jesus has given to all of His followers

c.       Which includes those of us sitting here today.

d.       We are to make disciples.

e.       If I am being brutally honest, discipleship has been lacking in many churches for way too long.

f.         A command we have been given by Jesus has not been followed.

7.       There has been a heavy focus on salvations and baptisms.

a.       Which are critical.

b.       They are important.

c.       Without people repenting of their sins and following Jesus.

d.       There would be no one to disciple.

e.       But in of themselves, they are insufficient.

8.       There have been ministries that have pulled on emotional strings to get people to raise their hands and say a prayer.

a.       But those flash in the pan emotions may not be true salvations.

b.       They need to be Holy Spirit led and followed up with someone pouring into them.

c.       Discipleship is critical for someone’s initial acceptance of Jesus to turn into true life change.

d.       That is why Jesus commanded us to do it.

e.       It is key part of the foundation of our growth as individuals and as a church.

f.         Now I am not talking about numerical growth.

g.        I am focused on our growth in drawing closer to our God.

9.       Raised hands and baptisms are easy to count.

a.       Changed hearts and growth through discipleship are hard to measure.

10.  One thing I have learned from school and the business world is that it is our nature to focus on what is measured.

a.       Salvations and baptisms are easy to count, which is why they are measured.

b.       Which means they quickly become the focus.

c.       While those are very very important things for us to focus on.

d.       One of the things that has happened because of that, is many have lost track of following Jesus’ command to make disciples.

11.  If we are not doing what God has commanded us to do.

a.       We are sinning by not fulfilling our Lord’s Great Commission.

b.       First, I am beyond thankful that through our Lord and Savior Jesus we are forgiven.

c.       I am also thankful that it is not too late for churches and Christ Followers to be faithful.

d.       We as individual Christ followers and as a church, we can still ‘go and make disciples.’

12.  A definition of Discipleship:

a.       Is the process of devoting oneself to a teacher to learn from and become more like them.

b.       For the Christian, this refers to the process of learning Scripture and following after Jesus’ example.

c.       Discipleship not only involves the process of becoming a disciple but of making other disciples through evangelism, teaching, and walking through life with them.

13.  If we break that down a bit:

a.       For us to grow as disciples, we are to learn from Word of God and others to be more like Christ.

b.       As we learn it impacts our actions and our behaviors.

c.       It will help us draw closer to our God.

d.       Then we are to help others do the same.

e.       When done correctly it is a self-replicating process.

f.         A Christ following disciple will produce another Christ following disciple, who will produce another Christ following disciple, and so forth.

14.  Another thing about Discipleship is that it does not happen via osmosis.

a.       It is not like water being absorbed into a sponge.

b.       If you set a sponge or a paper towel on a bit of water, they will absorb it.

c.       Growing as a disciple is not that easy.

d.       It is not hard, but it does take us putting forth effort.

e.       We don’t grow as disciples without taking action.

f.         We have to devote ourselves to learning.

g.        We have to let it change who we are.

h.       Impact how we think.

i.          Drive us to live differently.

j.          And then we have to proactively share it with others.

15.  As a church, we have a responsibility as embracing Discipleship as part of our foundation.

a.       RSBC has times we gather where anyone can come and learn more about the Word of God.

b.       Through our time together we can connect with other believers.

c.       Connecting with others helps us to learn to live for Christ.

d.       Helps us to see what it means to follow Jesus.

16.  This connection starts in our time together in this building.

a.       Which helps us to build relationships.

b.       We help each other grow.

c.       By sharing life experiences and how we leaned on God through them.

d.       Some of this here at Rising Sun Baptist Church takes place in our Sunday School classes, Wednesday night Bible study, Sunday night studies, and our ladies’ and men’s groups.

e.       Like most churches, we have room to grow, but we are marching down the right path.

17.  Here is the thing about Discipleship, it does take the building of relationships, from individual to individual.

a.       It takes more than coming to church.

b.       We need to do life together.

c.       Their tends to be a mentor disciple and a mentee disciple or disciples.

d.       The mentor in this needs to be available.

e.       Needs to see how important it is to share with others.

f.         To help point them to Scripture as they walk through life together.

18.  But, the mentee disciple needs to take charge of their effort to grow.

a.       We are responsible for our own growth.

b.       Like a plant that reaches towards the sun, we have to choose to join the different opportunities we have here at RSBC to grow.

c.       We need to part of the conversation.

d.       We need to seek out brothers and sisters to help us when we need Godly wisdom.

19.  As we walk the path of a disciple of Christ it will have an impact on how we live.

20.  1 Timothy 6:11

a.       A person who is following Jesus, is learning about Him.

b.       Pursuing righteousness, part of which comes from learning about Jesus and letting it impact how we think.

c.       How we act.

d.       How we live our lives.

e.       The same can be said about the rest of this list.

f.         Re-read the verse.

g.        Things that are part of following Jesus.

h.       Fruit that would be seen in one who is being discipled as a Christ follower.

21.  Matthew 20:25-28

a.       Another common fruit of someone who is a disciple of Christ is being a servant.

b.       As we learn to follow in the footprints of our Lord, we are to serve others.

c.       Jesus served those around Him.

d.       From providing food to eat, healing leprosy, washing feet, and paying our sin debt… Jesus served others.

e.       He told His disciples that they were to serve others as He did.

f.         We may not be able to heal leprosy and pay for others sin debt, but there are many ways we can serve those around us.

g.        We can give of our time, our money, and our prayers.

h.       We may serve at a foodbank, sponsor a kid to go to camp, or spend time in prayer for others each day.

i.          We have our July 5^th outreach, the Hatton craft fair, and more.

j.          Sometimes it is as simple as being a listening ear.  

k.       Being available to share how God has worked in your life to help others grow.

l.          Whatever it is, serving others is a fruit of being a disciple of Jesus.

22.  Luke 6:40

a.       As a disciple, as we learn and grow we need to be willing to invest in others.

b.       We are to self-replicate, help others learn from the wisdom and knowledge that our God has given us.

c.       Help them to walk through life learning what Scripture tells them.

d.       As we do this, we become like the teacher in that we are helping and serving others.

e.       But we will never surpass the One we are following.

f.         We will never compare to Jesus.

g.        Instead, we have the privilege of pointing people to Him.

h.       We get to help others look to the author and perfector of our faith.

23.  Serving others is a blessing.

a.       But it is not always easy.

24.  Luke 14:25-26

a.       Yes, these are the Words of Jesus.

b.       No, He did not mean people needed to hate their family.

c.       He wanted people to understand that following Him had to be a priority.

d.       If we are followers of Jesus, He must be first in our lives.

e.       First over our families and even first over our own life itself.

f.         We need to be dedicated to Jesus.

25.  Luke 14:27

a.       Carrying one’s cross was meant as a public display of one’s faith.

b.       A declaration that you will follow Jesus wherever He leads.

26.  Luke 14:28-30

a.       There is a cost of being a follower of Christ.

b.       Being a true follower means our lives are His.

c.       Following Jesus is a commitment.

d.       It is not meant to be an emotional response.

27.  Luke 14:31-33

a.       Following Jesus will impact how we live our lives.

b.       It will cost us.

c.       If we are following Jesus in serving others, it will cost us time, money, and more.

28.  Luke 14:34-35

a.       A disciple is salty if they understand that there is a cost and are willing to lay it all down for Jesus.

b.       As a disciple, we are to continue to walk with Jesus and give Him everything.

c.       It starts with an investment of time.

29.  Discipleship as part of our foundation reminds us that our faith is an active faith.

a.       As a church we need to provide opportunities for people to connect and to learn.

b.       As individuals we are to take advantage of what is offered at RSBC and seek discipleship.

c.       We are to actively seek ways to grow as a disciple of our Lord Jesus.

d.       It takes all of us.

e.       Helping each other grow.

30.  Now all of this starts with a choice.

31.  Our reflection questions this week:

a.       Are you ready to accept the cost to grow as a disciple?

b.       Are you willing to give of your time to grow closer to our Jesus?

c.       Are you ready to help others grow?

32.  If you are not a follower of our Savior Jesus, the first choice to make is to admit you are a sinner.

a.       To accept the gift of salvation Jesus is offering you.

b.       The gift of Jesus is absolutely amazing and far outweighs the cost.

c.       It is a gift that the one and only sinless person who walked this earth is offering to you?

d.       Our God and Savior Jesus died on the cross to pay our debt.

e.       He rose on the 3^rd day defeating death.

f.         And is offering you a new eternity if you repent and follow Him.

g.        If that is you this morning, I would love to pray with you.