Boyd moved this here from the gc3family.wordpress.com site.

The Covenant Fellowship Church web site: http://www.covfel.org/ has several helpful pages on discipleship. They are from a series of messages given between April and August 2007.

The index to the resources are on http://www.covfel.org/pages/index.php?pID=321

There are sermon quotes and also “Take It Home” questions.

For example, here are some quotes from:

“The Disciple’s Reward”
Jim Donohue  June 17, 2007
Covenant Fellowship Church

Scripture Passage: Matt 6:1- 4, 16-18. “…and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

“I sometimes think that it is one of the most uncomfortable chapters to read in the entire Scriptures. It probes and examines and holds a mirror up before us, and it will not allow us to escape. There is no chapter which is more calculated to promote self-humbling and humiliation than this particular one. But I thank God for it.” D. Martin Lloyd Jones

“It would be hard to exaggerate the perversity of this. For giving is a real activity involving real people in real need. Its purpose is to alleviate the distress of the needy. Yet it is possible to turn this act of mercy into an act of vanity so that our principal motive in giving is not the benefit of the person receiving the gift but our own benefit who give it.” John Stott

“…the one thing that is important when we pray anywhere is that we must realize we are approaching God. That is the one thing that matters.” D. Martin Lloyd Jones

“A man may preach from false motives. A man may write books and make fine speeches and seem diligent in good works, and yet be a Judas Iscariot. But a man seldom goes into his closet, and pours out his soul before God in secret, unless he is in earnest.” J.C. Ryle

And the Take It Home questions:

Scripture Passage: Matt 6:1- 4, 16-18.
Main Point: Great rewards come to those who live for God, not for man.

Key Ideas
1. Give for God, not for man.
• True disciples prefer to do good in secret.
2. Pray for God, not for man.
• Even when we are praying in a group we should be more focused on God than on those around us.
3. Fast for God and not for man
• Who we live for determines our reward.
Fellowship Starters:
Truth Reigns
1. Read Matthew 6:1-4, 16-18 using ‘I’ rather than ‘you’. How does this affect the impact of this passage on you?

Humility Grows
2. Are there any recent experiences where you know you’ve done spiritual things for self-serving reasons?
3. Are there any ways right now where you want to be noticed or appreciated for what you are doing or have done? Consider these possibilities:
• appreciation by your spouse or children
• respect by a boss or co-workers
• recognition by pastors or other Christians you look up to
4. What are some ways you act diff erently at church than at home or in other places?

Prayer Covers
5. Pray as a group confessing to God where you experience conviction having sought the reward of man more than the reward of God.
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15 Sep 2007 at 12:01 am

      There’s a lot in that series on discipleship to think about - it will take some time. This is a good start. Thanks, Joe.

      Boyd
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15 Sep 2007 at 2:57 am2 jgowaty

      Hey guys,
      Question:
      What is God doing in your life? (Not necessarily your challenges or struggles)-where is His Spirit leading and growing you? Is He revealing His Glory and drawing you into closer worship? Is He stirring you to meditate on His Glory and drawing you deeper into prayer and adoration? Is He calling you into deeper intercession? He is jealous for our hearts - how is he drawing you?

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15 Sep 2007 at 10:41 pm3 T. Boyd

      I would say that I have rediscovered a joy in the Lord that I had back in college. That was 45 years ago. It’s like I re-found the ancient paths that were revealed to me back then, and all I can say, is thank You Lord! Because it is all about Him - He did it. He rediscovered me, or spoke my name again, something like that. The desert time, the wilderness time, was of my own making for the most part, but He knew what He was doing the whole time. I would say “yes” as the answer to all of Joe’s questions.

      Boyd
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15 Sep 2007 at 11:32 pm4 jgowaty

      I would have to say also that the Love from/for the Lord is where He is drawing me.
      I recently read Song of Solomon 8:6-7. Meditating on the Love God has for us is truely awesome.

      Set me as a seal upon your heart,
      as a seal upon your arm,
      for love is strong as death,
      jealousy is fierce as the grave.
      Its flashes are flashes of fire,
      the very flame of the Lord.
      Many waters cannot quench love,
      neither can floods drown it.