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The Call to Discipleship 06/24/2007 Dr. Dane Boyles. The Call to Discipleship. INTRODUCTION “Philosophers have only interpreted the world differently. But, the point is, to change it.” (Karl Marx). The Call to Discipleship.
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The Call to Discipleship INTRODUCTION “Philosophers have only interpreted the world differently. But, the point is, to change it.” (Karl Marx)
The Call to Discipleship “The revolutionary man is a con-secrated man. He has neither his own interests nor concerns nor feelings. He has no attachments, no property, nor either a name. All for him is absorbed in a single, exclusive interest. In one thought, in one passion - Revolution.” (Mitchiev)
The Call to Discipleship • The method was and is revolution. • The means was and is committed disciples.
The Call to Discipleship There is one thing in which I am dead earnest: the communist cause. It is my life, my business, my religion, my hobby, my sweetheart, my wife, my mistress, my breath, my meat. I work at it in the daytime, I dream of it at night. It’s hold on me grows as time goes on.
The Call to Discipleship Therefore I cannot carry on a friend- ship or a love affair, or even a conversation without relating it to this force which guides and drives my life.”
The Call to Discipleship • That’s a disciple! • The idea of consecration to a cause. • You cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple: Like begets like. Disciples breed disciples. • For how can one be a Christian if he is not a disciple?
The Call to Discipleship • The Essentials of Christianity The Founder: Jesus Christ His Goal: To change men through the regeneration of their minds His Method: Salvation through the Word
The Call to Discipleship Question: What is the means by which the Lord employs this? Answer: A disciple. A Committed, Consecrated, Dedicated Christian. • Not a listener. Not a spectator - A PARTICIPANT. • A committed practitioner of the faith.
The Call to Discipleship 23“Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) * Jesus spells out the essentials of discipleship.
The Call to Discipleship 1. Denial of Self • The word Deny. “Ordinarily, we use the word ‘self-denial’ in a restrictive sense. We use it to mean “doing without something” or “giving up something.”
The Call to Discipleship For instance: A week of self-denial is a week we do without certain pleasures or luxuries usually to contribute to some good cause. But that is only a very small part of what Jesus means by self-denial. To deny oneself means in every moment of life to say “No” to self and to say “Yes” to God.” (William Barclay)
The Call to Discipleship • The word Self. • Self is our personality. • It is our Desires, Wants, Motivations. • Baptism is a repudiation of one’s past. • This is the same idea as denyingself.
The Call to Discipleship 2. Take up your cross • The cross is synonymous with suffering. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.(Philippians 3:10-11)
The Call to Discipleship 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)
The Call to Discipleship 3. Follow me • Spiritually there is something that must take place. 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:20, NIV)
The Call to Discipleship • “Have we conformed our on desires, wants, and motivations to that of Christ’s?” • “Am I obedient to the command: • ‘Do exactly as I have done’?” (John 13:15)
The Call to Discipleship 5 This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (1 John 2:5b-6) • How is the Lord to show Himself in this world? Discipleship!
The Call to Discipleship CONCLUSION • They had forgotten the call to discipleship is not about power, prestige and comfort. • They had forgotten that through the call of Jesus men and women become individuals.
The Call to Discipleship • They had forgotten that we are compelled to decide by ourselves. • Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. • Faith is only real when there is obedience, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience.
The Call to Discipleship 23 “Then [Jesus] said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
The Call to Discipleship • To be with Christ, you must suffer the baptismal death, which is the fountain of grace, and in it you receive the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38).
