7.22.2001 | CHRISTIAN TERMINOLOGY- "Discipleship"

Rock trivia...1975...British band….The Who, Song...Pinball wizard…

Disciple defined in basic, general terms…(Webster’s)

1. “One who believes in and helps disseminate the teachings of a master” (Basically any religion or cult can have disciples)
2. “An active adherent of a movement or philosophy.”
3. “One of the companions of Christ.”

Thesis: Discipleship means radical obedience to God.

What is a Christian disciple? (define it, give me some thoughts)

“A student and follower of Jesus Christ.”

What does the bible say regarding disciples and what our actions should be?

Luke 9:23-24, Deny yourself, take up your cross, follow Jesus, lose your life (own purpose) for the greater purpose of God.

“Take up your cross”….The cross today is jewelry or a painting...To the disciples, it represented torture, physical abuse and death. They had seen and smelled death firsthand. Jesus’ reference to “take up the cross” must’ve sent waves of fear through the ordinary men called to do extraordinary things.

To take up the cross daily is to live each day, not for self, but for Christ.

“What our Lord said about cross-bearing and obedience is not in fine print. It is in bold print right on the face of the contract. Vance Haven

Luke 14:26, This is radical obedience! Are you willing to give up what seems to be the most important things in your life to follow Christ?

John 13:34-35, Love, love, love. We should be known for it.

John 15:8, Bearing fruit. What is the fruit (or outward signs) that we are disciples of Christ?

Who were the very first disciples?

... The apostles. They gave up everything, Luke 5: 6-11, 27 Followed a rebel, (Jesus’ teaching was so radical most misunderstood him..) And died for his cause... Following Christ means radical, everyday obedience...not just when we feel like it.

Coastlands disciple making wheel… Our goal is not so much assimilation as it is that you become followers of Christ.

“If we were willing to learn the meaning of real discipleship and actually to become disciples, the church of the west would be transformed and the resultant impact on society would be staggering.”
David Watson

How do you become a true disciple of Christ?

• Give your life to Christ
• Be baptized.
• Discover your spiritual gifts.
• Serve the church.
• Learn the importance of tithing…then do it!
• Get involved in a small group.
• Read, study, dig into and apply the bible to life.
• Have an active prayer life.
• Evangelize! (What do we remember about evangelism? How to do it?)
  Other suggestions?
• Home fellowship, meeting outside of Sunday am.
  

  “Our salvation is the work of God’s sovereign grace. Our work as his disciples is to disciple lives until they are wholly yielded to God.” Oswald Chambers

Why be discipled?

• Discipline….
• Christian growth
• Accountability Prov. 27:17 As iron sharpens iron….
• To become more Christ-like -
• John 8:31-32, To learn the truth.

  Do you need to be discipled?

  Do you need to get in a small grp?

We need to be able to count the cost of discipleship. Being sold out to God will cost you...in what way?

Conclusion:

• In 1974 an ex-soldier sent a note to the US government, “I’m sending you $10 for the blankets I stole in WW II. My mind could not rest. Sorry I’m late. I want to be ready to meet my God.”
• His money was placed in a “conscience fund” begun in 1811. That fund receives an average of $45,000.00 a year and has taken in a total of more than $3.5 mil.
• Regret is a powerful emotion. Will you live your Christian life always in regret as to what you could’ve done?
• When will you get serious about your faith and growth in Christ?
• When will you become a true disciple of Christ?

Thesis: Discipleship means radical obedience to God.

You can’t be a disciple of Christ unless you’re a Christian…
We want to give you that opportunity today...Rom. 3:22-24

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