Discipleship
1. WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?
A. A ” follower of the teaching” & the Master Teacher:
Mat.10:24,25 – The disciple [should] be as his master (See Lk.6:40)
Jn.12:26 – If any man serve Me, let him follow Me
Jn.13:15 – I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done
1Pet.2:21 – Christ (left) us an example…follow His steps
B. A disciple abides (lives, dwells) in Jesus:
Jn.15:4 – Abide in Me, & I in you
Jn.15:9,10 – If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love
1Jn.2:6 – He that…abideth in Him ought…to walk as He walked
1Jn.3:24 – He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him
(See also 2Cor.5:17; 1Jn.2:5,10,24,28.)
C. A disciple serves Jesus out of love & gratitude:
Jn.14:21,23 – If a man love Me, he will keep My Words
1Cor.6:19,20 – Ye are not your own…for ye are bought with a price
2Cor.5:14 – The love of Christ constraineth (motivates) us
Eph.5:1,2 – Be followers of God…walk in love, as Christ loved us
Phi.1:21 – For me to live is Christ, & to die is gain
(See also Exo.21:5,6)
D. A disciple must love Jesus above all else & all others:
Mat.6:24 – No man can serve two masters: he will hate one, & love the other…hold to one & despise the other
Mat.10:37 – He that loveth father, mother, son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me
Lk.14:26 – If any man come to Me & [by comparison] hate not his father, mother, children…he cannot be My disciple
2. A DISCIPLE’S JOB:
A. To win souls (“bear fruit”):
Jn.15:8 – Bear much fruit, so shall ye be My disciples
Mat.4:19 – Follow Me, & I will make you fishers of men
Mk.16:15 – Go ye into all the world & preach the gospel to every creature
Lk.9:59,60 – Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou & preach
(See also Mat.7:20; Rom.7:4.)
B. To train more disciples:
Mat.28:19 – Go therefore & teach [make disciples of] all nations
Jn.21:15-17 – Lovest thou Me? Feed [teach & instruct] My sheep
2Tim.2:2 – Things which thou hast heard…[teach] faithful men
(See also Acts 20:20)
3. A DISCIPLE IS ONE WHO OBEYS THE MASTER:
Mat.12:48-50 – Who are My brethren?…His disciples…whosoever shall do the will of My Father…is My brother
Jn.8:31 – If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples
4. DEDICATING ONESELF TOTALLY TO THE LORD:
A. Abandoning other pursuits to follow Jesus:
Mat.13:44 – Kingdom is like treasure hid in a field…selleth all that he hath & buyeth that field
Mat.13:45,46 – Found pearl of great price…sold all he had & bought it
Lk.14:33 – He…that forsaketh not all…cannot be My disciple
B. Forsaking the pursuit of material possessions:
Mat.6:19,20 – Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth
Mk.10:21 – Sell whatsoever thou hast…& take up cross & follow
Lk.12:15 – A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth
Acts 4:34,35a – Possessors of lands or houses sold them, & brought the prices…& laid them down at apostles’ feet
Phi.3:8 – Jesus…for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, & do count them but dung
(See also Mat.19:22; Lk.12:33.)
C. Forsaking worldly & materialistic ambitions:
Mat.6:24 – Ye cannot serve God & mammon
Mk.4:19 – The cares of this world, & deceitfulness of riches…choke the Word…it becometh unfruitful
Mk.10:17-25 – [Jesus challenged the rich young ruler to forsake all]
Jn.6:27 – Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for
2Tim.2:4 – No man that warreth entangleth himself with…this life
Heb.12:1 – Lay aside every weight…let us run the race
(See also 2Cor.6:17)
5. THE DECISION TO DEDICATE ONESELF TO CHRIST AS A DISCIPLE:
A. Count the cost first:
Lk.14:27-32 – Intending to build…sitteth down & counteth the cost
Pro.24:6 – By wise counsel thou shalt make thy war
B. Burn your bridges behind you:
1Ki.19:19,21 – [Elisha, deciding to follow Elijah, burned his plow & yoke & sacrificed the oxen]
(See also Acts 4:34,37)
C. Be single-minded & don’t look back:
Lk.9:61,62 – No man…looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God
Phi.3:13,14 – Forgetting things which are behind, & reaching forth…I press toward the…high calling of God
Heb.11:27 – (Moses) forsook Egypt… endured, as seeing Him (God)
D. Some made a sudden decision to follow:
Mat.9:9 – As Jesus passed…He saw Matthew sitting at receipt of custom: Follow Me. And he arose, & followed Him
Jn.4:35 – Say not ye, There are yet 4 months, & then cometh harvest? Look on the fields, they are white already
1Ki.18:21 – How long halt ye…? If the Lord be God, follow Him
Heb.4:7 – Today if ye…hear His voice, harden not your hearts
E. Delay & excuses can result in never serving God:
Lk.9:57-62 – Let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home
F. Some took more time to count the cost:
Lk.14:28-30 – Sit…down first, & count the cost
Peter & Andrew first met Jesus at the Jordan(Jn.1:37-42); They followed Him back to Galilee(Jn.1:43; 2:1,2); He called them some time later & they then forsook all to follow Him fulltime(Mat.4:18-22; Mk.1:16-20).
6. DIFFERENT MINISTRIES OF DISCIPLES:
A. Being a disciple does not always mean abandoning all other pursuits:
Mat.27:57 – Rich man…named Joseph, who also was Jesus’ disciple
Jn.19:38-40 – Joseph of Arimathaea, a disciple of Jesus, secretly
Acts 9:36,39b – A disciple named Tabitha [made coats & garments]
(See also Mk.14:8a)
B. Some disciples had prominent positions in society:
Mk.15:43 – Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor (See also Lk.23:50-51.)
Acts 19:31 – Certain of the chief of Asia…were (Paul’s) friends
Acts 10:24, 44-48 – [Cornelius the centurion, his relatives & friends]
Rom.16:23 – Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you
C. Sacrificial giving a requirement for all disciples:
Lk.8:3 – Joanna the wife of Chuza…& Susana, & many others, which ministered unto Him of their substance
Acts 11:29 – The disciples, every man according to his ability
2Cor.8:14,15 – That…your abundance may be a supply for their want
1Tim.6:17,18 – (Command) them that are rich…(be) ready to distribute
D. The disciple’s attitude towards those who can’t devote their full time to serving God:
Mk.10:21 – [Jesus loved the rich young ruler, even though he didn't forsake all]
Lk.9:49,50 – We forbad him, because he followeth not with us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not.
E. Not all are capable of or fit to be His disciples:
Lk.8:38,39 – The man…besought Him that he might be with Him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine house (See also Mk.5:18-20)
Jn.6:53-61,66 – [Jesus weeded out weak followers who were there for the wrong motives]
Mat.22:14 – For many are called, but few are chosen
(See also Jer.12:5 – & Mat.13:47,48.)
F. Different degrees of discipleship:
The 3 innermost disciples(Mk.9:2; 14:32,33); the 12 apostles(Mk.3:13-19); the “other 70″(Lk.10:1); the “multitude of the disciples”(Lk.19:37)
7. DISCIPLESHIP & FAMILY OBLIGATIONS:
A. Putting God’s service even before loved ones:
Psa.45:10,11 – Forget also thine own people, & thy father’s house
Mat.10:36,37 – He that loveth [family] more than Me is not worthy
Mat.12:48-50 – Who are my brethren? Whosoever shall do (God’s) will
Mat.19:29 – Forsaken houses, brethren, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, lands, for My name’s sake
Mk.1:19,20 – James & John…left their father & went after Him
B. Jesus’ call to utter commitment:
Lk.9:59,60 – Suffer me…to go & bury my father. Jesus said, Let the dead bury the dead
Lk.9:61,62 – Let me…bid them farewell at home. Jesus said, No man…looking back, is fit for the Kingdom
(See also Exo.20:3; Mat.22:37.)
8. DISCIPLESHIP & “LOSING YOUR OWN LIFE”:
A. Forsake own life, plans, ambitions:
Mat.16:25 – Whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it
Lk.14:26 – If any…hate not his own life, he cannot be My disciple
Mat.6:21 – Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also
Lk.9:59,61 – [Wrong attitude:] I will follow Thee, but… me first
B. Discipleship A life of death to self:
Mat.6:33 – Seek first the Kingdom of God
Mat.10:38 – He that taketh not his cross, & followeth after Me
Mat.16:24 – If any man come after Me, let him deny himself
Mk.10:21b – Come, take up the cross, & follow Me
Jn.12:24 – Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground & die
Jn.12:25 – He that loveth his life shall lose it
2Cor.5:15 – They should not live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them
9. THE PATH THE DISCIPLE FOLLOWS:
A. A disciple obeys God’s will & follows:
Num.22:18 – I cannot go beyond the Word of the Lord, to do less or more
Lk.6:46 – Why call Me, Lord, Lord, & do not the things I say?
Lk.14:27 – Whosoever doth not…come after Me, cannot be My disciple
Jn.2:5 – Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it
Jn.8:31 – If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed
Rev.14:4 – They…follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth
B. A disciple humbly submits to his pastors & spiritual overseers:
1Cor.11:1 – Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ
1Cor.16:16 – Submit yourselves unto such, & to every one that helpeth with us & laboureth
Phi.3:17 – Be followers of me &…them which walk as ye have us for an (example)
1Thes.1:6 – Ye became followers of us, & of the Lord, having received the Word
Heb.13:7 – Them which have rule over you…whose faith follow
Heb.13:17 – Obey them that have rule over you, submit yourselves
C. Disciples obey & follow God, even without understanding details:
Jn.21:21,22 – What will (he) do? What is that to thee? Follow thou Me
2Cor.5:7 – We walk by faith, not by sight
Heb.11:8 – Abraham went out, not knowing whither he went
D. Disciples willingly adapt & change:
Lk.9:3 – Take nothing for your journey, neither…money
Lk.22:35-36 – I sent you without purse…But now…take it
E. Love other disciples & work in unity with them:
Jn.13:35 – Ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another
Phi.1:27 – With one mind striving together for the…gospel
10. THE LIFE OF A DISCIPLE:
A. Give sacrificially & be willing to call nothing your own:
Mat.5:42 – Give to him that asketh thee…turn not thou away
Lk.3:11 – He that hath two coats, (give) to him that hath none
Lk.6:30 – Him that taketh thy goods, ask them not again
Acts 2:44,45 – And all that believed…had all things common
Acts 4:32-35 – Neither said any that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; they had all things common
1Tim.6:7,8 – Having food & raiment let us be therewith content (See also Lk.9:23-26)
B. Disciples must be willing to endure hardships:
Lk.9:57,58 – I will follow Thee…Foxes have holes, but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head
2Tim.2:3 – Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ
(See also 2Cor.11:23-28)
C. Be willing to endure persecution:
Phi.1:29 – Not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer
2Tim.3:12 – All that live godly in Jesus shall suffer persecution
Acts 15:26 – Men that have hazarded their lives for Jesus Christ (See also Jn.16:33)
D. Be willing to literally die for Jesus:
Acts 21:13 – I am ready not to be bound only, but to die for Jesus
Phi.1:20 – Christ be magnified…whether by (my) life or death
(See also Acts 20:24; Heb.11:35-38; Rev.12:11.)
E. Be zealous & enthusiastic:
Eccl.9:10a – Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might
Gal.4:18 – It is good to be zealous…always in a good thing
Rev.3:15 – I would thou wert cold or hot
F. An unswerving continuance in God’s Word:
Jn.8:31 – If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples
11. THE BENEFITS OF DISCIPLESHIP:
A. Discipleship a privilege:
Psa.4:3 – Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself
Mat.22:14 – For many are called, but few are chosen
Phi.3:14 – The prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus
2Tim.1:9 – Who hath saved us, & called us with an holy calling
(See also Mat.11:25; 13:16,17; Lk.8:10.)
B. Rewards for serving Jesus:
Mat.10:39 – He that loseth his life for My sake shall find it
Mat.19:27-29 – We have forsaken all, & followed; what shall we have?…Ye shall sit upon thrones…receive an 100-fold
Mk.10:28-30 – Shall receive an 100-fold now in this time
Lk.12:33 – Sell that ye have…provide yourselves a treasure in the heavens that faileth not
Jn.12:26b – If any man serve Me, him will My Father honour
1Cor.2:9 – Eye hath not seen…the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him
(See also Mat.5:10-12; 16:25,27; Jn.12:25; 2Tim.2:12.)
C. Faithful overcomers rewarded:
Rev.2:26-28 – He that overcometh…will I give power over nations
Rev.3:21 – Him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me
Mat.25:14-29 – [The parable of faithfulness with the talents]
Lk.12:42-44 – Faithful steward…Lord will make him ruler (See also Lk.12:35-38)
Lk.19:12-26 – [Parable of nobleman giving pounds to his servants]
12. JESUS’ LAST WORDS & PRAYER FOR HIS DISCIPLES:
(See John chapters 14-17; Acts 1:8.)
27. Discipleship, Copyright © 1998-2012, The Family International