So, I posted a blog on evangelism (which you should read if you want to understand the title! :D) a few weeks ago, but I am now posting about discipleship, which is a bit different. Here are my notes from the bible study I did on the subject earlier. (I had extra time today because I came home from work sick at noon.) Disciples of Jesus Christ... 1) Imitate Him. 5:1 Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; 8:31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, `then' are ye truly my disciples; --The word that translate as disciple is the greek word "mathetes". Literally translated, it actually means "learner" and suggests a person who follows another's teaching. The word used for followers in the New Testament could also be traced back to the greek word "mimos" (the origin of the English word mimic), meaning to imitate. Jesus meant for His disciples not just to learn from him, but to follow His example. Some ways you can imitate Christ according to scripture -Love your enemies. (Matt. 5:44)
-Forgive those who sin against you. (Matt. 6:14)
-Avoid sinning. (2 Tim. 2:19)
-Be fishers of men or Make disciples of all nations. (Matt. 4:19/Matt. 28:19) 2.) Have Fellowship. In the three years they spent with Jesus, His disciples... ...asked about scripture. 17:10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? ...asked what things He said meant. 8:9 And his disciples asked him what this parable might be. ...asked how they should live. 10:10 And in the house the disciples asked him again of this matter. (The matter they were asking about was wether it was a sin for them to be divorced or not...) ...asked about their failures. 9:28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, `How is it' that we could not cast it out? ...asked about His will. 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw `this', they said, Lord, wilt thou that we bid fire to come down from heaven, and consume them? The disciples had personal relationships with Jesus and were trying to learn as much from Him as they could, in order to live their lives how He would want them to. They were really learning how they could imitate Him! How we can have this kind of relationship -We may not live and walk around with Jesus in the same sense that the disciples did, but He is always with us in our hearts. We can have this kind of fellowship with Him by praying anytime! -We were also blessed with the bible. Because of it, we know Christ's teaching and we can see the example He set for us to follow. 3.) Serve Him. Jesus did assign us some work! 28:19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 28:20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and `so' shall ye be my disciples. -We must make disciples of all nations. We need to witness and bear much spiritual fruit, in order to glorify the Father! (Remember, evangelism is just like boxing. :P) --We do this because everyone needs Christ! --We can do this in everyday life by sharing our faith and sharing Christ's love! Helping, comforting, and caring for others, and being generally Christ-like! 21:15 So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, `son' of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 21:16 He saith to him again a second time, Simon, `son' of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep. -We must tend the sheep as well. --We do this because we are told to love one another (which will bring us to our next point.) --We do this by helping other Christians in need in any way that we can! 4.) Love one another. 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Loving one another is an important part of being like Christ. We should do this anywhere we happen to be! This includes respecting eachother, being patient, participating, and serving. 5.) Avoid sin. 2:19 Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness. Jesus was never unrighteous. So, that is why this goes back to imitating Him. As Christians, or disciples of Christ, we must avoid sin. It is what separates us from our Saviour. When we do sin, we must repent, and turn away from it. (1 John 1:6-2:6) 6.) Sacrifice. 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 16:25 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. 16:26 For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? 14:26 If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 14:27 Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 14:33 So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. The verses in Luke tell us to hate our family. That IS NOT what it means. The Greek word here is "miseo" meaning a preference for one thing over another or a disregard for. It only tells us that we are supposed to prefer NOTHING over Christ and things that distract us from Him, should be disregarded. Being a disciple can have great costs, but they are worth it! Peter was told he would give his life for Christ before he had to, but still proclaimed the Truth. (John 21:18-19) 7.) Set an example. Some disciples may be the one and only reflection of Christ that a person will ever see. Your example could be the key determining factor in wether or not that person's soul will be saved! Let your light shine in the darkest places, and be the example that Christ is for us. 8.) Are rewarded. 19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee; what then shall we have? 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 19:29 And every one that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life. 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them... 5:10 and madest them `to be' unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth. 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Jesus tells the twelve disciples that He will put them on thrones in Heaven where they will rule over the twelve tribes of Israel. He tells them that everyone who has given their lives to Him, will have eternal life and recieve their sacrifices back a hundred fold! Amen! So is it worth being a disciple to you? ------I didn't proofread this, I am too tired! Forgive any typos or jibberish. :D------- |
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