What Does It Really Mean To Be A Disciple?

1. What Does It Really Mean To Be A Disciple?

2. Three Preliminary Questions • Does God exist? • Is Jesus the Son of God? • Is the Bible the word of God?

3. The Great Commission “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:19-20)

4. A Question That OnlyYou Can Answer • “Am I a truedisciple of Jesus Christ?”

5. What term is used most often in the NT to describe God’s people? • “Christian(s)” 3x • “Believer(s)”4x • “Saint(s)” 62x • “Disciple(s)”274x Only the term “brother(s)” or “brethren” is used more often in the NT

6. Used Primarily To Identify • “Disciple(s) of John” (Mt. 9:14) • “Disciple(s) of the Pharisees” (Mt. 22:15-16) • “Disciple(s) of Moses” (Jn. 9:28) • “Disciple(s) of Jesus” (Mt. 9:10)

7. Who Is A Disciple Of Jesus? • Any good moral person? • Any sincere religious person? • Anyone who claims to be saved? • Anyone who is a member of a church? Let’s Go To The Bible To Find Out

8. Discipleship Means… • Learning about Jesus (Mt. 11:28-30; Jn. 6:44-45)

9. Learning About Jesus • What the word “disciple” means • What Jesus invites all men to do (Mt. 11:28-30) • What all must do (Jn. 6:44-45) • Learning about Jesus means learning about: • What He thinks about things • How He feels about things • How He would act

10. “Disciple”(mathetes) • BAGD: “...learner, pupil, disciple. 1. gener. pupil, apprentice (in contrast to the teacher).... 2. disciple, adherent....” (pp. 485-486) • Thayer: “a learner, pupil, disciple....one who follows one’s teaching....The word is not found in th O.T., nor in the Ep. of the N.T., nor in the Apocalypse; in Grk. writ. fr. [Hdt.], Arstph., Xen., Plato, down.” (#3101, p. 386)

11. John 6:44-45 • To come to Christ you must be drawn by the Father • Those who come to Christ have heard and learned from the Father • Therefore, the way the Father draws is by teaching 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

12. The Attitude Of A Disciple • Samuel’s attitude:“Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears” (1 Sam. 3:10-11) • Isaiah’s attitude:Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” (Isa. 6:8)

13. Discipleship Means… • Learning about Jesus (Mt. 11:28-30; Jn. 6:44-45) • Becoming like Jesus (Mt. 10:24-25; Lk. 6:40)

14. Becoming Like Jesus • A disciple is a learnerand a follower (Mt. 10:24-25; Lk. 6:40) • Becoming like Jesus means: • Thinking the way He thinks • Feeling the way He feels • Acting and reacting the way He does • Discipleship means much more than: • Being better than those in the world • Being better than most Christians • Being as good as the best Christian you know

15. Discipleship Means… • Learning about Jesus (Mt. 11:28-30; Jn. 6:44-45) • Becoming like Jesus (Mt. 10:24-25; Lk. 6:40) • Abiding in Jesus’ Words (Jn. 8:31-32)

16. Abiding In Jesus’ Words Jn. 8:31-32:31Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

17. Sin Is The Reason We Need To Become Disciples Jn. 8:33-36:33They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.35“And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.36“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

18. Romans 3:9, 23 9What then? Are we better thanthey? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all undersin. …. 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

19. 1 Jn. 3:4 “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” Sin = To Miss The Mark

20. Evil thoughts (Mt. 15:19) Thefts (Mt. 15:19) Ingratitude (Rom. 1:21) Covetousness (Rom. 1:29) Envy (Rom. 1:29) Deceit (Rom. 1:29) Pride (Rom. 1:30) Disobedience to parents (Rom. 1:30) Drunkenness (Rom. 13:13) Coarse jesting (Eph. 5:4) Failing to do good(Jas. 4:17) Unbelief (Rev. 21:8) Lying (Rev. 21:8) Sins Against God

21. Isa. 59:1-2 1 Behold the Lord’s hand is not shortened That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that he will not hear.

22. Abiding In Jesus’ Words • Abiding in all the words of Jesus (Mt. 28:19-20) • Abiding in only the words of Jesus (Acts 3:22-23; Heb. 1:1-2)

23. OT NT • Prophesied a “new covenant” (Jer. 31:31-33) • Till the Seed should come (Gal. 3:19, 16) • Nailedto the cross (Rom. 7:4-7; Gal. 3:23-25; Col. 2:13-14) • Replacedby the NT (Heb. 8:6-13; 10:8-10)

24. Abraham & Christ(Gal. 3:6-29) Seed “Till” 430 years Under Guard NationLandSeed Gen. 12:1-3 No LongerUnder Tutor

25. The Value Of The OT • Its creation account explains origins (Gen. 1 & 2) • Its history provides the background for the NT • Its revelation of God enlightens (Psa. 119:15, 27) • Its prophecies confirm (Jn. 5:39, 46-47; Lk. 24:44-47; 2 Pet. 1:19)

26. The Value Of The OT • Its principles instruct (Rom. 15:4) • Its examples warn and teach (1 Cor. 10:6, 11) • Its types and shadows illuminate (Heb. 10:1) • Its message makes us wise unto salvation (2 Tim. 3:14-15)

27. Abiding In Jesus’ Words • Moses & Prophets • Parents or Ancestors • Pope • Denomination • Church • Preacher Not

28. Jesus’ Words • What Jesus taught (Jn. 12:48-50; 14:24; Heb. 1:1-2) • What Jesus’ apostles taught (Jn. 14:26; 16:12-15; 17:6-8; 17-19; 1 Th. 2:13; 1 Cor. 14:37) • What Jesus’ prophets taught (Eph. 2:19-22; 3:3-5; 4:11-16) • What has been preserved in the NT (Eph. 3:3-5)

29. God Heb. 1:2Jn. 12:49-50 Heb. 1:1 Prophets Christ Jn. 15:1517:6-8, 17-19 HS Jn. 14:26; 16:12-15;1 Cor. 2:6-7, 10-13 Apostles Eph. 3:3-5 1 Th. 2:131 Cor. 14:37 NT

30. Abiding In Jesus’ Words • Know(1 Pet. 2:2) • Do (Jas. 1:21-25; cf. Lk. 6:46) • Do only (Gal. 1:6-10; 2 Jn. 9-11)

31. Exodus 25:9 “According to all that I show you, that is,the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, justso you shall make it.” (cf. Ex. 25:40; 26:30; 27:8; 31:11; 39:42-43; Acts 7:44; 2 Tim. 1:13; Heb. 8:5)

32. Numbers 22:18 “Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.” (cf. Num. 24:13; 1 Cor. 4:6)

33. Deuteronomy 4:2 “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the command-ments of the Lord your God which I command you.” (cf. Dt.12:32; Pr. 30:5-6; Gal. 3:15; Rev. 22:18-19)

34. Deuteronomy 5:32 Therefore you shall be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the righthand or to the left.” (cf. Dt. 17:11, 18-20; 28:13-14; Josh. 1:7; 23:6; Pr. 4:26-27)

35. Galatians 1:8-9 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any othergospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

36. 1 Tim. 1:3-4 3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no otherdoctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. (cf. 1 Tim. 6:3-5)

37. 1 Peter 4:11 “If anyone speaks, let himspeak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ….”

38. 2 John 9-11 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

39. Going Beyond The Doctrine(2 Jn. 9-11) Doctrine Of Christ The Doctrine Of Christ Does Not Have God Has Both The Father And The Son

40. Respect For God’s Word • According To The Pattern (Ex. 25:9, 40; 26:30; 27:8; 31:11; 39:42-43; Acts 7:44; 2 Tim. 1:13; Heb. 8:5) • Don’t Go Beyond (Num. 22:18; 24:13; 1 Cor. 4:6; 2 Jn. 9-11) • Don’t Add Or Subtract (Dt. 4:1-2; 12:32; Pr. 30:5-6; Gal. 3:15; Rev. 22:18-19) • Don’t Turn Aside (Dt. 5:32-33; 17:11, 18-20; 28:13-14; Josh. 1:7; 23:6; Pr. 4:26-27)

41. Respect For God’s Word • Don’t Preach Another Gospel (Gal. 1:6-10) • Don’t Teach A Different Doctrine (1 Tim. 1:3-7; 6:3-5) • Don’t teach the commandments of men (Mt. 15:7-9; Mk. 7:6-9; Col. 2:16-23) • Hold firm apostolic traditions(1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Th. 2:15; 3:6) • Speak As The Oracles Of God (1 Pet. 4:11)

42. The Consequences • One will be rebuked by God (Pr. 30:5-6) • One is accursed (Gal. 1:6-10) • One is proud and knows nothing (1 Tim. 6:3-5) • One does not have God (2 Jn. 9-11) • One will receive plagues and God will take away his part from the Book of Life (Rev. 22:18-19)

43. Mt. 7:21-23 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!”(See 1 Jn. 3:4)

44. Loyalty To The Lord • Preaching the Lord Jesus (Acts 11:20) • Believed and turned to the Lord (Acts 11:21) • Continue with the Lord (Acts 11:23) • Added to the Lord (Acts 11:24) • Disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:26)

45. Four Attitudes Toward Truth(1 Ki. 22) [Homework] • Ahab • The prophets • Jehoshaphat • Micaiah

46. Four Attitudes Toward Truth • Ahab hated the truth(1 Ki. 22:3, 6, 8, 17-18, 26-27) • The prophets perverted the truth(1 Ki. 22:6, 11-13) • Jehoshaphat wanted the truth on his side(1 Ki. 22:5, 7) • Micaiah wanted to beon the side of truth (1 Ki. 22:14) What Is Your Attitude Toward Truth?

47. Richard Whately “It is one thing to wish to have truth on our side, and another to wish sincerely to be on the side of truth.”

48. Discipleship Means… • Learning about Jesus (Mt. 11:28-30; Jn. 6:44-45) • Becoming like Jesus (Mt. 10:24-25; Lk. 6:40) • Abiding in Jesus’ Words (Jn. 8:31-32) • Bearing Fruit for Jesus (Jn. 15:1-2, 5, 8)

49. Bearing Fruit For Jesus • Turning from sin and changing our lives(Mt. 3:8; Lk. 3:8) • Living righteous lives(Rom. 6:17-22; Eph. 5:9; Phil. 1:11; Heb. 12:11) • Manifesting the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)

50. Bearing Fruit For Jesus • Praising God (Heb. 13:15) • Doing good works (Col. 1:10) • Helping needy saints (Rom. 15:25, 28) • Converting sinners to Christ(Rom. 1:13; Phil. 4:17)