DEFINING DISCIPLESHIP
INTRODUCTION:
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Smart Phone iPhone Christians ?
- The compelling question is not “Are we making disciples?” but “What kind of
disciples are we and we reproduce?”
- The bible is certain about God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Christ’s work
What kind of Christians? Not one of a kind but A CERTAIN KIND
A CERTAIN KIND OF PERSON
Act 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived
that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took
knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
He is a Christ-mastered, with depth in grace, growth and godliness, and seeks
God’s empowering to fulfill God’s will in God’s way for God’s glory.
3 Characteristics of a certain kind of Disciples/Disciplers:
- Authenticity in our Worship of God.
- Brokenness in our Walk with God
- Courage in our Work for God.
This is a profound sense of destiny (Matt. 5:13-16)
Consumed with the passion to fulfill their destiny.
Act 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear
unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which
I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
A CERTAIN KIND OF PURPOSE
A kingdom purpose for their lives.
- They are kingdom people with kingdom vision who embrace God’s kingdom
purpose of changing the world. (Matt 28:19-20)
A CERTAIN KIND OF PROCESS (2 Tim. 2:2)
- The intentional process of testifying, teaching, training and transmitting our
conviction and our life to those who would pass it on to others.
A CERTAIN KIND OF PRODUCT (Matt. 4:19)
- The crisis of today is a crisis of product. What Kind?
1. WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?
q. What is the difference bet. Christian and Disciple?
True or false quiz?
1. Many are Christians but few are disciples?
2. There’s no difference bet. a Christian and a disciple?
3. There’s a real difference bet. a Christian and a disciple?
4. All disciples are Christians?
5. All Christians are disciples?
6. The terms disciple and Christian are related but not synonymous.
7. The terms disciple and Christian are synonymous.
- The answer from 1-7 is True!
Christian means belonging to Christ/ Christ-ones.
- The term was never used by the Lord, it was used first by the world (Acts
11:26).
o The disciples were first called Christian in Antioch.
o It is true that all Christians are disciples.
o They were synonyms/ no difference.
▪ But Jesus drew a line between being a true disciple and being a
Christian.
▪ In our today’s context, many are Christians but few are disciples.
▪ Our problem today, Christians not disciples in name only.
Result: Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back,
and walked no more with him.
What then is a disciple?
Greek word: mathetes (disciple) is from the verb manthano (learner).
- A Disciple is a learner.
Pre-Socratic Greek culture, manthano was used to denote the learning process
by which a person sought theoretical knowledge.
- Hence, the word mathetes describes both the apprentice who was
learning a trade and an enthusiast of a philosophical school.
In Jesus time, “Disciple” was not a religious term.
- It means apprenticeship – the relationship bet. the master and the disciple.
o He used this term to spell out the demands of true discipleship to
Himself.
2. WHAT IS DISCIPLESHIP?
Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of
men.
If I said to you, “follow me”, what would you say?
- Who are you that I should follow you?
Now, if you knew me and I ask you “follow me, What would you say?
- Where are goin?
When Jesus asked the disciples FOLLOW ME, none of them asked Him “WHO
ARE YOU?” or “WHERE ARE YOU GOIN.”
- 1st, they knew Him or heard something about Him.
- 2nd, they know indirectly that this is a call of apprenticeship (culture).
- This discipleship is radical because it was a special invitation to life.
- It was a specific calling to a specific way of life.
- Jesus was calling them not to place but to pilgrimage, not to particular
destination but to particular destiny.
What is means to be His disciples?
There is a cost and we have to count the cost of discipleship.
Luk 14:25-35 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and
said unto them, (26) If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and
mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own
life also, he cannot be my disciple. (27) And whosoever doth not bear his
cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (28) For which of you,
intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost,
whether he have sufficient to finish it? (29) Lest haply, after he hath laid the
foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock
him, (30) Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to
finish. (31) Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not
down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him
that cometh against him with twenty thousand? (32) Or else, while the other
is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of
peace. (33) So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that
he hath, he cannot be my disciple. (34) Salt is good: but if the salt have lost
his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? (35) It is neither fit for the land,
nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him
hear.
Luk 9:57-62 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain
man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou
goest. (58) And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air
have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (59) And he
said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury
my father. (60) Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go
thou and preach the kingdom of God. (61) And another also said, Lord, I will
follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my
house. (62) And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the
plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Luk 9:23-27 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (24) For whosoever
will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the
same shall save it. (25) For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole
world, and lose himself, or be cast away? (26) For whosoever shall be
ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed,
when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy
angels. (27) But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which
shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
Biblical discipleship involves “counting the cost” and being willing to pay the
price.
Discipleship is not a task but a passion (desire/craving/hunger/thirst/appetite).
“Christianity started in Palestine as a passion. It moved to Greece and became
a philosophy. It went to Rome and became an institution. It went to Europe
and became a culture, Then it came to America and became an enterprise.
WHAT IS DISCIPLEMAKING?
- Disciplemaking is the process of bringing people into right relationship with
God, and developing them to full maturity in Christ through intentional
growth strategies, that they might multiply the entire process into others
also.