BE A DISCIPLE

Lesson 04

Co-Worker of Christ

A DISCIPLE: A CO-WORKER OF CHRIST: BUILDING HIS CHURCH

As we partake more of the life of Jesus, we establish an intimate fellowship with Him. As this
relationship deepens, He starts to share His thoughts, intentions and plans with us. We begin to
comprehend that this plan goes far beyond our personal lives. We begin to see and understand
that Jesus Christ planned for us to be His co-worker in building His Church.
Matthew 16:18 “…. I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it”

THE CHURCH THAT JESUS BUILDS

A glorious church without spot or wrinkle
Ephesians 5:26-27 “.. Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her
holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to
himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and
blameless.
What Jesus yearns for is a body that consists of disciples, those who have followed Him and
come to victory over sin. Through the cross life, the life of Christ becomes manifested in each
of them, and they grow up to Jesus as the head, in perfect unity.

John 17:20–23 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who 1will believe in Me through their
word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that
the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may
be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world
may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one
body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—
whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink 7into one Spirit. 14 For in fact
the body is not one member but many.

Ephesians 4:13–14 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a
perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children,
tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness
of deceitful plotting

PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING THE CHURCH

Through different times and generations, disciples have shared in this task. Paul’s example:
Galatians 4:19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—
Ephesians 3:14-1 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in
heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen
you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have
power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and
deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be
filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Acts 20:31-32 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning
each of you night and day with tears. 32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace,
which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Now, we have also received grace to enter in this work. Commented [Z1]:

1. Obey the great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20.“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in
heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded
you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”
2. Exhort and teach people with all wisdom, to present every man perfect in Christ.
Colossians 1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may
present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
3. Feed God’s people
John 21:15–17 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you
love Me more than these?”He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”He said to him, “Feed
My lambs.”16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”He said to Him,
“Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”17 He said to him the third
time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third
time, “Do you love Me?”And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love
You.”Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
4. Pray for the church and God’s people, enter into the spiritual battle against powers and
principalities, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places, whose sole aim is to
destroy the work of God. In this battle, co-workers of Christ are clothed with the full armor
of God.
Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of
God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day
of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand
firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in
place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all
this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take
the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all
occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for
all the Lord’s people.

CONTINUE TO GROW AS WE BUILD WITH JESUS

In the midst of our work for God and the body of Christ, the cleansing work continues inside us.
Disciples that already bear fruit are “pruned”, so that they might bear more fruit. Read John
15:1-8

The disciples’ development continue until the very end of their life. Their path is like the
shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the
full light of day.

Even as we build the church with Jesus, we should not neglect our personal development as
disciples until the day when Jesus will fetch all those who so faithfully followed Him and
served Him. Together with those whom we help in their walk with Christ, we will be presented
as a glorious church, each being without spot or wrinkle. What a glorious day it will be.

1 John 3:2-3. “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we
shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as
He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

SHARE: As a disciple grows deeper in his relationship with Jesus, the more he becomes aware
that Jesus wants to use him to help others have a relationship with Jesus as well and help them
grow in that same relationship. Is this what you experience now? Explain your answer.
 BE A DISCIPLE
Lesson 04

Co-Worker of Christ

A DISCIPLE: A CO-WORKER OF CHRIST: BUILDING HIS CHURCH

As we partake more of the life of Jesus, we establish an intimate fellowship with Him. As this
relationship deepens, He starts to share His thoughts, intentions and plans with us. We begin to
comprehend that this plan goes far beyond our personal lives. We begin to see and understand
that Jesus Christ planned for us to be His co-worker in building His Church.
Matthew 16:18 “…. I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it”

THE CHURCH THAT JESUS BUILDS

A glorious church without spot or wrinkle
Ephesians 5:26-27 “.. Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her
holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to
himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and
blameless.
What Jesus yearns for is a body that consists of disciples, those who have followed Him and
come to victory over sin. Through the cross life, the life of Christ becomes manifested in each
of them, and they grow up to Jesus as the head, in perfect unity.

John 17:20–23 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who 1will believe in Me through their
word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that
the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may
be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world
may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one
body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—
whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink 7into one Spirit. 14 For in fact
the body is not one member but many.

Ephesians 4:13–14 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a
perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children,
tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness
of deceitful plotting

PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING THE CHURCH

Through different times and generations, disciples have shared in this task. Paul’s example:
Galatians 4:19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—
Ephesians 3:14-1 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in
heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen
you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have
power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and
deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be
filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Acts 20:31-32 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning
each of you night and day with tears. 32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace,
which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Now, we have also received grace to enter in this work.
1. Obey the great Commission
Matthew 28:18-20.“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in
heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded
you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”
2. Exhort and teach people with all wisdom, to present every man perfect in Christ.
Colossians 1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may
present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
3. Feed God’s people
John 21:15–17 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you
love Me more than these?”He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”He said to him, “Feed
My lambs.”16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”He said to Him,
“Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”17 He said to him the third
time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third
time, “Do you love Me?”And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love
You.”Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
4. Pray for the church and God’s people, enter into the spiritual battle against powers and
principalities, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places, whose sole aim is to
destroy the work of God. In this battle, co-workers of Christ are clothed with the full armor
of God.
Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of
God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day
of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand
firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in
place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all
this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take
the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all
occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for
all the Lord’s people.

CONTINUE TO GROW AS WE BUILD WITH JESUS

In the midst of our work for God and the body of Christ, the cleansing work continues inside us.
Disciples that already bear fruit are “pruned”, so that they might bear more fruit. Read John
15:1-8

The disciples’ development continue until the very end of their life. Their path is like the
shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the
full light of day.

Even as we build the church with Jesus, we should not neglect our personal development as
disciples until the day when Jesus will fetch all those who so faithfully followed Him and
served Him. Together with those whom we help in their walk with Christ, we will be presented
as a glorious church, each being without spot or wrinkle. What a glorious day it will be.

1 John 3:2-3. “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we
shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as
He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

SHARE: As a disciple grows deeper in his relationship with Jesus, the more he becomes aware
that Jesus wants to use him to help others have a relationship with Jesus as well and help them
grow in that same relationship. Is this what you experience now? Explain your answer. Commented [Z2]:
Commented [Z3]:
Commented [Z4]: