The Mission
The Mission • Sermon • Submitted
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· 16 viewsWho is a disciple of Jesus Christ? What do they do? How do they Act? How do you become one?
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What is Disciple?
What is Disciple?
It is Strange that we Call Jesus our Lord But will not introduce Him to our family and Friends
We Will get directions from a stranger when we are lost but are reluctant to take our Father God’s direction for our lives.
Strange how we sing about the things of Heaven but live for this world.
How people think they are going to heaven but don not believe there is a hell.
Very strange how people like the idea of being a Christian but refuse to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Very strange how people like the idea of being a Christian but refuse to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Disciple - The Word means “a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher.”
Disciple - The Word means “a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher.”
The 12 Apostles and many others were Jesus’ disciples while He preformed His ministry here on earth. So what does being a Christian disciple involve and what does that life in Christ mean?
Matthew 28:18-20
Matthew 28:18-20
Great Commission
Great Commission
If you look closely you see the command ( not a suggestion) here is on making disciples. (hang on that Church-that is what we do!) Not just converting people to Christianity.
This Means that you first must become a disciple yourself before you can ever make a disciple!
This Means that you first must become a disciple yourself before you can ever make a disciple!
This is a multiple step process and many fail to get past the first step.
Let’s look at Paul in Acts Chapter 9. Paul had to be knocked off his high horse on the road to Damascus and be temporarily blinded;
Peter had to stop running and stop fishing; Thomas had to put his finger in the Lord’s side and hands to stop doubting.
Belief is only the first step. Becoming a disciple means you keep walking.
Being a disciple does not mean you stop at the cross, it means you pick it up and carry it to where the Holy Spirit leads.
We Must be Devoted
We Must be Devoted
To become devoted to Christ, we must give ourselves over to Him.
“Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33).
“Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33).
“Renouncing” may mean we give up something, but in this context the Lord says you must be willing to give up everything.
“Renouncing” may mean we give up something, but in this context the Lord says you must be willing to give up everything.
Everything in your life so that what we control no longer controls us. When we become one of His, we cannot continue to belong to this world. We cannot continue to be controlled by our feelings.
We cannot assume what God is doing, because many times He may be doing the exact opposite.
We must make a choice, for we cannot serve both God and money or serve both God and our flesh or serve both God and our feelings or God and our family. The rich young ruler, Demas, Judas and many who followed Jesus at first in Scripture, when confronted with that choice, turned their backs on the Lord.
Many people approach Christianity the same way.
They love the idea of eternal life, escaping hell, being free from burdens and sin, but they are not willing to leave the life they now live.
Their desires, lifestyle, pet sins, and their religious or worldly comforts are too precious to them.
They want Jesus to be their Plan “B” if their Plan “A” falls apart.
They want to retain ownership of everything and be in control of everything but add Jesus as the extended warranty. Or Jesus as a condiment or a side dish.
If we are going to be disciples of Christ, we must first count the cost of following Him.
If we are going to be disciples of Christ, we must first count the cost of following Him.
And then do it. Just because you are a believer, it doesn’t automatically make you a disciple of Jesus. Disciple also means instructed. So, to receive and heed instruction you must what?
Pay attention and learn from the Teacher and then apply it to your life! You must live what you believe. So instead of scratching our heads wondering what God is doing, let’s get up and praise God for what He has already done!
Jesus Equips Us
Jesus Equips Us
He equips us to be disciples and to make disciples via the Power of the Holy Spirit who resides in us.
“People love to say ‘Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll eat for a lifetime.’ What they don't say is ‘And it would be nice if you gave him a fishing rod.’ That's the part of the analogy that's missing.” - Trevor Noah
“People love to say ‘Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll eat for a lifetime.’ What they don't say is ‘And it would be nice if you gave him a fishing rod.’ That's the part of the analogy that's missing.” - Trevor Noah
Jesus gives us the fishing rod, the nets, the tools, the boat, the processing equipment, etc. ...everything we need to become “fishers of men”.
In Matthew 10:24-25 Jesus describes what a disciple should look like: “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.”
In Matthew 10:24-25 Jesus describes what a disciple should look like: “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.”
The word “disciple” suggests what? Discipline.
The word “disciple” suggests what? Discipline.
A true disciple is one who is a student and follows or obeys someone’s teachings. That is why in the early church the disciples were called Christians; or “imitators of Christ”.
To be a disciple is to strive to be like Christ.
To be a disciple is to strive to be like Christ.
In Romans 8:29 Paul said God’s goal for redeeming or saving mankind was that they were to be conformed into the image of His Son.
Are you determined to be a student of Christ? Are you trying to be like Him; if not, then you are not a disciple of Jesus Christ.
John 21:5-6
John 21:5-6
Question How many fish did they catch before Jesus guided them? ZERO.
How many after? 153! A disciple follows the guide of their Master and Saviour Jesus!