The Path of Discipleship
Disciples R Us • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 56:10
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· 26 viewsDiscipleship requires some activities from the disciple, including perseverance, priority and dedication.
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57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”
62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Introduction
Introduction
Discipleship
Discipleship
Reminder of the definition of discipleship. The Greek word
μαθητεύω (mathēteuō) - verb
to cause one to be a pupil, teach
Those who are disciples are learners, the expectation is that we are open to learning. In the case of a Christian we are to learn all that Jesus taught to His Apostles and has been handed down through centuries through the Word of God. That is what we are about and that is who every believer should be.
I found this tweet from Thabiti Anyabwile and I think it shows the importance of discipleship in the Church, so if you wonder why DPCC thinks discipleship is important check this out.
"Until we humbly and earnestly recognize that a church is more than a preaching point … but a covenant community of disciples-making-disciples according to the word of God … we will continue risking spiritual disappointment in the church and hunger for deep communion."
Church is intended to be full of disciples who make disciples according to the Word of God. A place for believers to learn about God, about Jesus, about how we walk in this world, how to love, how to forgive, how to stand for Christ. We learn that in the Church, we learn as disciples.
The Series - Disciples ‘R’ Us
The Series - Disciples ‘R’ Us
Pastor Barry Preached on the ‘Blueprint for Making Disciples’ from Matthew 28:18-20. He looked at the imperative that Jesus gave following His resurrection. The command was not to Go, or Baptize. The command was to make Disciples as you are Going, by baptizing and teaching. This is the blueprint, this is where we start.
Then Pastor Ron preached ‘Real Disciples Follow Jesus’ from John 12:20-26. Pastor Ron looked at the example that Jesus provided for disciples. To Glorify the Father and Sacrifice for the Gospel, sacrifice to bear fruit.
Today we are going to talk about the ‘Path of a Disciple’. from Luke 9:57-62.
The Book of Luke
The Book of Luke
We are coming from the Biography of Jesus written by Dr. Luke. Luke wrote this biography of Jesus to Theophilus, to provide an orderly account of the life and works of Jesus so that Theophilus may have certainty concerning the things that he was taught. Luke is also the author of Acts and accompanied Paul, so the Apostolic authority for this book of the Bible is Paul.
When we pick up in chapter 9 of Luke, Jesus has selected his Apostles, He has sent out His Apostles to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick and after feeding the 5000 has set His face to Jerusalem, where He will carry out His passion. So we pick up in chapter 9 as Jesus is on the Road to Jerusalem, where He has three short dialogues with some men on the way to Jerusalem.
Perseverance
Perseverance
57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
Going Along the Road
Going Along the Road
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
Jesus and His disciples were travelling to Jerusalem and on the way there Jesus encounters three persons that are prospective disciples.
To Follow = Be a Disciple
To Follow = Be a Disciple
During that time a disciple would follow their teacher around and learn from them. want to ‘Follow’, so when the man says to Jesus ‘I will Follow You’, he is basically saying I want to be an apostle. We see this in Scripture with Jesus several times:
We see this with Philip in the Gospel of John
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
Philip, heard this and followed and was called out as an Apostle, selected as one of the 12.
We see this with Simon, or Peter, and his brother Andrew, where they were fishing and Jesus said to them ‘Follow Me.
16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Again like Philip they followed and were selected to be Apostles.
We also see this with Levi, or Matthew, who left his tax booth to follow Jesus, once he was called. Matthew was also later selected to be an Apostle by Jesus.
27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.”
So this was not simply a request to let Jesus lead the way, or to simply follow Him wherever He was going, not sure if the man knew. This man like the other men was asking to be a disciple. This man was asking to be discipled, to be a learner.
58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Son of Man
Son of Man
Jesus provides a response that is interesting. Jesus uses a title for Himself that Pastor Ron talked about in his message ‘Real Disciples Follow Jesus’. The Son of Man, I want to look at that a bit. Son of Man, which comes from the book of Daniel, Daniel 7:13-14, where one like the son of man came to the Ancient of Days. Here Jesus is using this term to talk about himself distinctly. Almost to say that of all people I have no where to lay my head.
You see Jesus would flex on ‘em when he needed to, he did to the Pharisees and Sadducees and Scribes through His ministry. We see that in a couple of verses.
24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
The Authority to forgive only what God could forgive. I can’’t forgive a wrong done to Sister Talley. Where do I fit in this picture. If all sin is ultimately against God, and this Son of Man has the authority to forgive sins, then this ain’t no natural man.
5 And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
Same for the Sabbath. The Lord God put the Sabbath in place at creation, and on the 7th day He rested. Here comes Jesus, noting that as the Son of Man He is Lord of the Sabbath. That is not something to be taken likely. Again this ain’t no ordinary man.
26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
One last example, when Jesus says that as the Son of Man he will coming in His glory and the glory of the Father with the holy angels. This ain’t no ordinary man. This is the Messiah, this was not Elijah as some were saying or a prophet or John the Baptist. This is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who is Lord and Savior.
Why is this interesting, because this Son of Man, who forgive sins, who is Lord of the Sabbath, who is coming in future glory does not have what the foxes and birds of the air have, homes, places to lay their head. The Son of Man faces rejection in the place that He created. So while this man is thinking that he will follow Jesus where ever He goes. Jesus is saying hold up, make sure you know what you are getting into.
Application
Application
You sure … (Count the Cost Luke 14:25-33) - Reminds me of the 5 Heartbeat movie line ‘Yall sure you want to hang with old Eddie Kane’. Not that Jesus had issues with drugs or women, but the background being. This is not all that it is cracked up to be. This is not all roses and rainbows. I think that we need to remember that as Disciples. Too many people want to flee at the earliest sign of trouble, like being a disciple removes that from you. No, it doesn’t if the Son of Man has trouble in this world, has no place to rest, lay his head, that is his own, then what should we as his disciples expect.
The Road is not going to easy. All you need to do is read through Luke 9. It starts with Jesus sending out the 12 with authority the heal and cast out demons, as they go and proclaim the Kingdom of God, then they can’t even cast the demon out of a child. They get to see the miracle of Jesus feeding 5000 and some get to see Him on the Mt of Transfiguration, but Jesus is rejected by the Samaritans, there are people who do not even know who Jesus is, then Jesus is telling them that He is going to be killed, going to die. In just this one chapter you run the gamut of emotions and activities. This is not a cake walk.
All this to say that we as disciples are not owed anything. We have received more than enough through grace, in the forgiveness of our sin through the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Priority
Priority
59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
Follow Me
Follow Me
We see the formula that Jesus used previously on another man on the road. Jesus calls to the man ‘Follow Me’. Jesus gives this as a command and the man responds interestingly. The man gives an indication of something that he has to do first.
Let me First Go Bury My Father
Let me First Go Bury My Father
This is not an out of the box request. This could be looked at as this man honoring his father and taking care of this last thing for him. There are some that say the man would have to wait for his father to die, which could take a minute, there are others that say it could have taken a year because of the ritual of moving the bones of the one buried to an ossuary. I am not convinced of either of these, do not know if his father was ill even. With all of that said if we focus on these things then I think there is an opportunity to miss the point that Jesus if trying to make here.
60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Leave the Dead to Bury the Dead (Spiritually Dead)
Leave the Dead to Bury the Dead (Spiritually Dead)
I like that Jesus uses the word Leave, which is the opposite of Follow. We also need to look at His statement carefully. The physically dead cannot bury anyone, so Jesus is referring to those who have nothing to do with the Kingdom of God, those who are not following Him. They are still dead in their trespasses and sins. Jesus is talking about their spiritual death. While there is the opportunity to abuse this, Jesu is pointing to priority.
We see this in the contrast that He gives the man.
Go and Proclaim the Kingdom of God
Go and Proclaim the Kingdom of God
Look, Jesus is pointing to the priority that must given to following Him. If one does not hate their mother, brother, sister, father, family, in comparison to Jesus. There are levels to this, the love that you have for Jesus will be greater than the love for family. The priority given to the being a disciple is greater than the burial of the spiritually dead. Matter of fact if you go, go proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
Kingdom of God
Kingdom of God
Go teaching the Kingdom of God as Jesus and His Apostles have taught throughout Jesus’ ministry. The Kingdom of God is taught through teaching and parables. Teaching that the Kingdom of God is available to those who believe in Jesus, that redemption is found in Jesus alone and only the redeemed are allowed to enter the Kingdom of God.
Go and tell of the Kingdom of God growing in the earth right now, like a mustard seed or leavened bread.
18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”
20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?
21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
That in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus Christ the rule of God reigns and as those who believe carry out the blueprint to disciple other the Kingdom of God grows now, as those are in Christ live and rule and love and care for each other and those in the world as Jesus Commands. We continue to share the Gospel and make disciples the kingdom continued to grow now.
Also teaching and realizing, however, that while the Kingdom of God is already here, that we as those who are disciples of Christ are anticipating for His glorious return where the Kingdom of God will be fully revealed in all its Glory, with the Son of Man as ruler of the Kingdom and we seeing and experiencing the consummation of the Kingdom of God. So while the Kingdom of God is here now we also now that it is not yet as we wait.
Jesus is saying that this takes priority, that discipleship takes priority. Regardless of what may have been acceptable in the past, right now and right here, we need to be serious about being a disciple. There is no reason to delay, there is no reason to skip the things that help form you.
Application
Application
How do we make discipleship a priority. We avail ourselves that which God has put in place. Thabiti said it in his tweet, the Church, is the place for disciple making disciples. That is the mission statement of DPCC, which you have heard for the past two weeks extensively and prior to that in passing. We are here to make disciples who make disciples for the glory of Christ. That is why we exist.
It also needs to be made a priority in our lives. Look I am as much an introvert as anybody in here, but we need to avail ourselves of the community that DPCC has created. There is safety there, openness there, comfort there, the opportunity to discuss subjects there.
We also need to make sure that we are in the Word of God, realizing and recognizing the truth of God’s word. That thy Word is truth, this word is inspired, or God-breathed, and men wrote as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. We want to teach that word rightly and teach you how to read the rightly so that we all can grasp this wonderful word of God.
We also need to avail ourselves of the Wisdom of God, the application of the Word of God. There are a lot of philosophies, supposed truths, factions, information out there. When I say we are buffeted on all sides by all types of new age thinking, where we should fall how we should think, what is good for us, what is not good for us. We need to weight all of that against the Word of God.
Finally Prayer, we need to be in communication with the lover of our souls. We need to be able to take the tough questions to Him and ask Him to address our questions. Notice I did not say answer, but to address, to give us a peace with Him, to remind us if need be of who He is, to show His power when necessary, or comfort us as needed.
Dedication
Dedication
60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Another One (I will Follow)
Another One (I will Follow)
Here is the third short dialogue in this pericope. There is another man who says that he will follow Jesus. Another man who has a first let me.
First Let Me ...
First Let Me ...
This time the man wants to ‘say farewell to those at my home.’ Which again is not an outrageous request. You see with none of these men and their requests have they been anything that you might consider outrageous, maybe they take time but they are valid requests. This man wants to go and say bye. We see a similar scenario with Elijah and Elisha in 1 Kings 19.
19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.
20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”
21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
Elisha went and said bye then returned after burning the equipment and offering the oxen as a sacrifice.
62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Focus on Christ
Focus on Christ
Jesus gives us an illustration of a man plowing a field. Where the yoke would be on some oxen and a blade would go into the ground to turn the soil so that seed could be planted and hopefully yield a good harvest.
Jesus’ response is not just that you shouldn’t be double minded, which looking back longingly for something that you had in the past can be a problem. You cannot serve two masters, you will love the one and hate the other. That is not something that we want.
Jesus is also talking about taking the right path, having the right focus, paying attention to where you are going. You see the person plowing had to make sure they were continuously putting the right amount of pressure on the plow so they could get the right depth for planting the seed. Did not want it to be to shallow or to deep, so care and attention were needed there, but the person plowing also had be wary of things that were in their way, rocks or stones or tree stumps, whatever there may be. So careful attention needed to be paid to the activity that they were doing.
That is what Jesus is saying here there is a dedication that must be made to being a disciple, not just in distraction, but also in accuracy, also in quality.
You see attention to accuracy allows us as disciples to go to Christ when we have questions. When we have things come up that we don’t quite understand or can’t quite see correctly. John the Baptist did this, when he had questions.
19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ ”
21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight.
22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.
23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
John went to Jesus with His questions, not losing focus, wanting accuracy and clarity he went to Jesus. Imagine if John the Baptist had gone to those who thought the Jesus was Elijah or another Prophet. He would have possibly been led astray.
We see it with the Apostle Thomas, when Jesus approaches him following his unbelief that Jesus was raised from the dead.
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Again John did not neglect the community or run away, and when Jesus was near Thomas gained clarity, saying ‘My Lord and my God.’
Conclusion
Conclusion
Being a Disciple requires
Perseverance
Priority
Dedication
I want to read a quote from the book Deep Discipleship by J.T. English.
“Over the past several decades the Western church has noticed alarming symptoms of our discipleship disease. Some of these symptoms include people leaving the church;
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students dropping out of church after high school; attendance dropping; and perhaps most important, a lack of seriousness among our people about what it really means to be a follower of Christ.” ...
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“People are leaving not because we have given them too much but because we have given them far too little.” ...
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“Deep discipleship is about giving people more Bible, not less; more theology, not less; more spiritual disciplines, not less; more gospel, not less; more Christ, not less.”
This is what we want, giving mode Bible, more Theology, more Spiritual Disciplines, more Christ. To do that we all also must be on the ‘Path of Discipleship’.