Discipleship

Discipleship

Scriptures to be used:

Acts 11:25-26
Mark 1:16-20
Luke 9:23-26
Luke 14:25-33
Matt. 28:18-20

Goal: Find out what it means to be a Christian.

Today there is a wide variety of what defines a Christian.

What is your definition of a Christian?
What is your definition of a disciple?
Do you think there is a difference between the two?

Let's find out exactly what Jesus says it takes to follow him!

Acts 11:25-26

30 years after Jesus death, this is the first time we see the word Christian being used.
How many times do you think the word “Christian” is used in the bible? Only 3
The word disciple is used well over 250 times (Jesus referred to his followers as disciples).
The word “Disciple” and “Christian” are the same… one is a nickname of for the other.
Did you ever have a nickname growing up? No matter what people called you, you were the same person… same way with the words: disciple and Christian.

From this we can form the equation: Disciple = Christian = Saved
Is it possible to be a Disciple and not be a Christian? (NO)
Can you be a Christian and not be a Disciple? (NO) They are the same thing.

It is necessary to understand the biblical characteristics of what it takes to be a Disciple (or Christian).

Mark 1:16-20

Jesus is starting his personal ministry, and calling people to follow him…
We see a few characteristics of discipleship:

How do these guys respond to Jesus when He calls them? (They were urgent; a disciple is urgent to follow Christ). “At once they left their nets…”
In verse 17, Jesus tells them, “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Jesus changes these guys purpose in life…
Before Jesus met them, what was there purpose in life (fishing for fish), but Jesus says “Follow me and I will change your purpose in life… it will go from fishing for fish to fishing for men.
What is your purpose in life? (Whatever it is, it needs to change, it needs to become “fishing for men”… sharing your faith).
The purpose of every Christian is to be a fisher of men, to help people have a relationship with God. This is Christianity 101, the basics; it is the first thing Jesus tells these guys.
Some churches teach that it is the evangelist’s job to “evangelize”, Jesus teaches that it’s everyone’s job to evangelize.

Luke 9:23-26

Whom is Jesus talking to when He says, “If ‘anyone’ would come after me…” (He is talking to everyone, anyone is everyone! You, me, everyone).
Anyone who wants to follow Jesus must do two things… 1) Deny your self and 2) take up your cross daily
What does it mean to deny yourself? What does Jesus want us to deny ourselves of? (Sin)
What do you think he means by “take up your cross daily” (it means to die to yourself daily, die to your sinful nature)
What do you need to start denying yourself of to be more like Christ?

Vs. 24-

“If you try to save your life you will lose it”… selfishness makes you unhappy, giving of yourself will “save” your life spiritually.

Vs. 25-

Having a relationship with God is worth more than anything in the world… worth more than even the world itself!
That is how important one soul is to God, it is more important than the entire world!

Vs. 26-

If we are ashamed of Jesus (ashamed to talk about him), he will be ashamed of us… Jesus was very straightforward with people.

Luke 14:25-33

Vs. 25-27

WOW! Jesus tells us that we need to love him more than anyone or anything.
The Greek word for hate means, “to love less”.
We must put Jesus first in our lives.

Vs. 28-30

Jesus doesn’t want us to just “jump right in” to a decision to follow him. He wants us to “count the cost”.
Jesus wants us to understand what it’s going to take before we ever decide to go after a relationship with him.

Vs. 31-33

We are the king with 10,000 men; Jesus is the king with 20,000. Jesus teaches that it would be much easier for us to surrender to him then try to fight him.
We must be willing to give up everything to follow Christ! “Or you cannot be my disciple” Wow, strong words… the religious world has really watered down what it takes to follow Jesus.

Matt. 28:18-28

After Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection… some of the last words that Jesus speaks before he ascends into heaven. Probably pretty important huh?
Jesus tells us to “go make disciples of all nations…”
It’s interesting that one of the very last things that Jesus says is the same as one of the first things he said… “I will make you fishers of men (Mark 1:16-20).”
You start to get the picture that Jesus wants our purpose to be about helping other people have a relationship with him.

Let's review all the characteristics of what Jesus tells us we need to do to be a Christian:

A disciple and a Christian are the same thing (nickname).
A disciple is urgent.
A disciple is a “fisher of men”… (he/she shares her faith).
A disciple denies him/herself.
A disciple puts God first in their life.
A disciple “counts the cost” of what it will take to follow Christ
A disciple makes other disciples.

Considering all this… are you a disciple.
If not, don't worry. You can start today. Look at what you learned in this study, and start putting it into practice today.

Make plans for your next Bible Syudy now. Share what you learned today with someone.