Lesson Outline

Series: Abraham; journey of faith

Title: Discipleship

Lesson 0607-7 (Miller)

 

KEY VERSE: Genesis 14:1-17

 1 At this time Amraphel king of Shinar, [a] Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim 2 went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (the Salt Sea [b] ). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim 6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert. 7 Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazazon Tamar. 8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. 11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom. 13 One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother [c] of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.

 

OUTLINE:

INTRODUCTION: Abram is slowly becoming a prophet to the region. He has begun to work through his own personal issues and has grown in his integrity and relationship with God. At this point in his life we find the kings of the area (Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zoboiim and Zoar) going to war with other kings. The kings are taken captive and Abram takes it upon himself to rescue Lot and the kings that were with them. They were not righteous and did not serve God Most High. Two were very wicked and will soon be destroyed. But notice that Abram does not pass judgment on their character. Abram just rescues them. He is beginning to take his role as father and leader to the region very seriously. Evidently he had been practicing this role already as we will soon see.

 

 

  1. God gave Abram the role “blessing to the nations”
    1. Did he receive this role from God? Yes, the promise says that ‘you will be a blessing to the nations.’ Abram understood his calling and walked in it. Abram is not necessarily in relationship with these kings but he knows them and they probably know him. His nephew Lot is living with Sodom. Abram is not yet called prophet but is beginning function in his calling. From the passages in Genesis 14 we can ascertain a few interesting facts.

                                                               i.      He had three hundred eighteen male servants that were born in his house

                                                             ii.      He must have had many more servants that were either women or children.

  1. He prepared to be a blessing to the nations by being a blessing to his servants.
    1. He trained them.

1.      This insinuates:

a.       Discipleship

b.      Preparation for battle

c.       Warriors

d.      Spiritual nurturing as evident later in Genesis 24:12 when a servant prays to the “God of my master Abraham”

e.       Sonship. Abram did not have any of his own sons yet so was able to mentor and lead others as a father should.

  1. Abram made disciples.
    1. Discipleship must have a purpose and its purpose must revolve around training and instruction.
    2. Discipleship is founded in relationships.

                                                               i.      Discipleship is the manner in which people come into relationship with God.

                                                             ii.      Discipleship creates responsibility.

1.      Abram took responsibility for others.

                                                            iii.      I cannot be a “disciple” and then not become a “discipler”. Peter was discipled and then Jesus told him to “Feed His sheep!” (John 21:15)

  1. Discipleship does not teach us to be slaves but family
    1. Abram treated his young men as his own sons.
    2. Discipleship should remove the plantation mindset. The plantation mindset sees you and your talents as an asset to build a kingdom, but not necessarily God’s kingdom. Plantation is a place where a master lords it over many slaves. Slaves do not have a right to enter the master’s house or ever live there. A family mindset will see you and your talents as an asset to build God’s kingdom. A father serves his children by working hard to see them more successful than himself. A plantation owner uses a slave to build his kingdom and make himself more successful.
  2. Discipleship will focus on obedience to God’s will
    1. John 6
      38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. “Not my will but thy will be done.”
  3. The agenda of Jesus was to do the will of the Father
  4. We are not creating an empire or a kingdom but I am building God’s kingdom, His family.

 

 

 

DISCUSSION KEYWORDS:

            Blessing

            Responsibility

            Discipleship

            Mentoring

           

 

OPTIONAL DISCUSSION TOPICS:

Abram trained up 318 young men that were born in his house, how many young people are we mentoring?

Big brother and big sister?

Are we spiritual warriors? Can we train others for spiritual battle?