3. Imitation: It is More than Just Looking the Part!

Contents:

• Imitation Comes from Holy Spirit Transformation Through Sanctification (Eph 5:1-2)

  
  

• Where Imitation is Practiced and Strengthened (Eph 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:7-11)

  
  

• The Method has not Changed over Time (Deuteronomy 6:5-9, 12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17)

  
  

• Call to Action

Jesus has lots to say about the religious leaders of his day. They were “all show and no go” (See Matthew 23 for a full scathing rebuke). Are you, as his disciple, merely to be an actor (“hypocrite”) on a stage for display? Or will you join in the transformative process of sanctification that molds a disciple into the image of Christ through the Holy Spirit? (2 Cor 3:17-18)

Imitation Comes from Holy Spirit Transformation through Sanctification. 

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

(Eph 5:1-2, English Standard Version)

Our “imitation” is not a hypocritical act (pretending to be what you are not), but the sanctified actions of the Holy Spirit, chipping away at your being, and changing you from the inside out to be “his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph 2:10, ESV). Sanctification is the ongoing process of being “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet 1:4, ESV), walking in the example of Jesus (1 John 2:6), who became your obedience to God (Heb 5:8-9), as to do your part in engaging with the Holy Spirit to…

“...cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in fear of God.” (2 Cor 7:1, ESV)

Where Imitation is Practiced and Strengthened (Eph 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:7-11).

So, this is where the body of Christ, the church, comes in. Christ equips leaders (Eph 4:11) to train up the body to be the ministers/do the ministry (Eph 4:12), and thus pastor and member both work together, side by side, not one above the other in some man-imposed ecclesiastical hierarchy, so that effectual working, growth, and maturity can take place. Disciples gather on the first day of the week for the weekly service in community where certainly some of this equipping is voiced, and may be given time for some application, However, in all practicality, it is most effectively lived out in the small group setting where everyone can pray, discuss, ask questions, be shown, edified or rebuked, have opportunity to identify, learn, and use spiritual gifting. Very importantly, to promote future leadership identification and development that can take place in real time. This is where apprenticeship/mentoring can begin its formative work. 1 Peter 4:7-11 identifies “hospitality” (and where better, than from within one’s own welcoming home?), as a means of building on love, gifting, speaking, and service to one another.

The Method has NOT Changed over Time (Deuteronomy 6:5-9, 12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17).

This section deals with how disciples pass on biblical understanding to another disciple (the spiritual distinctives and spiritual formation will be discussed in a future blog post). A careful comparison and study of both verses above shows the Old and the New Testaments agree: believers (disciples-makers) make use of the Bible to teach unbelievers/new believers Bible truths that “make wise for salvation through faith in Jesus” (2 Tim 3:15). Notice in both these verses the start of this work is from someone’s childhood.  This applies well in a Christian home of active and growing disciples. These same principles apply to an “infant in the faith,” a new believer (1 Pet 2:2). Notice also this is a hands-on approach that requires time, patience, and opportunities to be acted on, or “caught” (Deut 6:6-9). Most times this tends to be prepared in advance and planned for a setting of instruction as “taught”.

Call to Action. 

This is where imitation meets daily life (Matthew 28:19). I noted “hospitality” above as a means for believers to connect, equip, and minister to one another from out of homes. This can also be an effective place to invite unbelievers to your small group ministry. When functioning like a church and not a social club, a small group can be a mission field just as much as going out into the world; both are needed. After all, outside the local church walls is your go-to mission field. How about inviting an unbeliever to your small group? This gives the opportunity for more follow-up in your home or in theirs, and include with it an invitation to a life with Christ! *(See Blog Download: Thoughts on the Gospel PDF, on this site).

They may be more likely to try the “church” in your living room or someone’s home before they will venture out to an environment that is foreign to them and full of a Christian culture they do not yet know.

Where to go to find the extra help you need:

Every believer – a disciple of Christ!

[1] Taigen Joos, “The Mandate for Home-Based Disciple-Making,” G3 Ministries.org, last updated February 2, 2023, https://g3min.org/the-mandate-for-home-based-disciple-making/?srsltid=AfmBOopH0Yl75LTfZ2hxTIdaH4GonEIl2fvQL5QL5m3joLLeX6Z3xFSx.

[2] Justin Gravitt, “Why do Small Groups Exist?” Discipleship.org, https://discipleship.org/blog/why-small-groups/.