Survey of Discipleship
I. CURIOUS
Those who followed Christ and expressed a willingness to listen to His teachings.
Matthew 4:25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. 5:1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him...
II. CONVINCED
Those who believed Jesus was a prophet/priest.
John 2:11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
III. COMMITTED
Those who believed Jesus was the promised King, and who follow in spite of hardship, willing to pay the same price Jesus did to accomplish God's will for their lives.
John 6:66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69…Holy One of God."
1) Lk 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple.
2) Lk 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
3) Lk 14:33 same..any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
4) John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching,you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
5) John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you<span style="font-weight: bold;"> love</span> one another."
6) John 15:8…to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
IV. CONFORMED
Those who in the process of following Christ experience a transformation of values, attitudes, and actions, becoming like Christ.
Decision to be Made
Mt 9:9 Mk 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Luke 14:28-33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. 34 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Luke 9:62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
I to be Denied
Mt 19:27 We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us? 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
Luke 14:25 14:33…does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Mt. 10:37
Savior to be Followed
John 12:26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 1 Peter 2:21 John 10:4, 27; Mt 8:19
1Cor 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 2Th 3:9…make ourselves a model for you to follow.
Alternatives to following Christ
1TI 4:1…follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 5:15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. 2 Pt 2:2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam who loved the wages of wickedness. Jude 1:16 These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires 18 They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." 19 These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
Cross to be Carried
Luke 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Matthew 10:38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Incarnation to be Imitated
Immersion (in Water & Word) to be Continued
Matthew 28:18 "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore going make disciplesof all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Jn 8:30-32
Lk 6:40 student (disciple) is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
<span class="style2"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">P</span></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">roduction to be Produced</span>
Mark 1:17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Ac 14:21-23
Jn 15:5 vine…branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you <span style="text-decoration: underline;">bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples</span>.
<span class="style2"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">L</span></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ove to be Lavished</span>
Jn 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Ac 11:29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea.
VI. CROWNED
Those who have paid the cost that Christ paid will share in the reward that Christ received for His faithfulness and service.
<span class="style2"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">E</span></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">xpectation to be Earned</span>
Matthew 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." 24 Then Jesus said to his <span style="text-decoration: underline;">disciples</span>, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will <span style="text-decoration: underline;">reward</span> each person according to what he has done.
Matthew 10:41-42; 19:21 27-29; Lk 9:23 "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily & follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
2Jn 8 Watch out that you don’t lose what you have worked for but that you may be rewarded fully.
Col 3:23 work heartily… since you know that you’ll receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward
