The Followers Journey - "Parent" - 1 Cor 4:15-17, Ephesians 4:11-16 - Mike Maglish

The Followers Journey: Parent 1 Cor 4:15-17, Ephesians 4:11-16
Mike Maglish

Part of The Follower's Journey

April 13, 2025

15 “For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.” —1 CORINTHIANS 4:15-17 

CHARACTERISTICS OF SPIRTUAL PARENTS: 
• Coach mindset - intentional, strategic 
• Think multiplication through addition 
• Self-feeding 
• Mission-minded 
• Team-minded 
• Dependable 
• Spirit-filled 
• Aware of false teaching 
• Encouraging 

Parents FEED themselves and OTHERS. 

HABITS OF SPIRITUAL PARENTS: 
• Daily Bible study 
• Pursue biblical teaching regularly 
• Fills their head with Christ-edifying music 
• Active in a Life Group 
• Surrounded with OTHER spiritual parents 
• Find someone to disciple 

Parents FIND someone to DISCIPLE. 

PHRASES OF PARENTS: 
• “This guy at work asked me to explain the Bible to him. We will be starting during the lunch hour Tuesday. Pray for 
me.” 
• “We get to baptize someone from our small group tonight. When is the next Starting Point class? 
I want to get her plugged in ministry somewhere.” 
• “Our small group is going on a mission trip, and I have given each person a different responsibility.” 
• “I realize disciples happens at home, too. Will you hold me accountable to spend time discipling my kids?” 
• “I have a person in my small group who is passionate about children. Can you have the children’s ministry people call me?” 
• “I understand you’re having a rough go leading in your ministry. Would you like some feedback?” 

Parents take INITIATIVE on behalf of OTHERS. 

NEEDS OF PARENTS (COACH): 
• A team 
• An invitation 
• A game plan 
• Opportunity to assess, train, and release disciples 
• Encouragement 

11 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” —EPHESIANS 4:11-16 

SCRIPTURES ABOUT CHURCH LEADERS: 
• 1 Timothy 3 
• 1 Timothy 5:17 
• Hebrews 13:7,17 
• Acts 20:28 
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12 
• Titus 1:5-9 

CALL TO ACTION: 
• Pray 
• Listen 
• Assess but don’t judge 
• Be available 
• Take on a disciple 
• Release others to ministry 

TAKEAWAY: Parents RAISE UP individuals to REPRODUCE mature believers.