Becoming Jesus’ Disciple
The Mustard Seed newsletter, Campus Ministry column
September 2013 - May 2014
Pastor Ron Friedrich
September 2013 - May 2014
Pastor Ron Friedrich
Part 1
One of the last things that Jesus said to His Eleven Disciples shortly before He ascended back to heaven was this:
One of the last things that Jesus said to His Eleven Disciples shortly before He ascended back to heaven was this:
"I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
(Matthew 28:18-19 NLT)
Today we call these final verses in the Gospel of Matthew "The Great Commission." The Eleven to whom Jesus gave this command have long since died -- most, possibly all, died as martyrs for Christ. But the command did not die with them. Christ has passed it on to us. Now to us He says, "Go and make disciples..." But before we can help other people become His disciples, we must (1) understand what a disciple of Christ is and does, and (2) we must become His disciples ourselves.
This past summer at Christ Lutheran Church of the Deaf we have studied God's Word about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Now we will summarize some of our discoveries for our university students (and anyone else who finds this helpful).
The first problem we encounter is: How should we sign the word "disciple?" Some folks sign "follower." Many sign "follow" with a double-D handshape. The problem here is the New Testament Greek word μαθητής (pronounced "math-ay-TASE") which we translate as "disciple" does not come from the verb that means "follow." Rather, it comes from a word that means to teach, train, instruct, equip. The mathetes eagerly receives that training with the goal of becoming like the one who is training him/her. "Student" is a fair translation. "Devoted student" is more accurate. Your university professors hope to inspire you to become their disciples, their devoted learners. They want you to not merely acquire their knowledge, but they hope you will absorb their passion for their field. Our goal in life is to become devoted disciples of Christ, to become like Him. Only then will we be able to help others also become His disciples, too.
Disciples of Jesus are totally committed to Him.
Pastor Richard Wurmbrand (Google that name, if you don't already know his amazing story) often said that many Christians come to Jesus, not as His disciple, but as His customer, simply to get something from Him. When you go to a bakery to buy a loaf of bread, you do not become the baker's disciple. You are merely his customer. But if you want to become the baker's disciple, you would quit your job, work with the baker all day, every day, and learn all you can from him about his craft.
We come to Jesus to get forgiveness and salvation, as we must. ...and oh, yes, we have other things we also want from Him -- good health, financial security, a happy family, and world peace. But in all these things, we often act like we are His customers, not His disciples.
When Jesus first called His Twelve Disciples, they left everything for Him. Peter and Andrew, James and John, left their family fishing business to become "fishers of men." Levi (a.k.a. Matthew) left his very profitable tax office in favor of the true riches of knowing Christ. Their commitment to Jesus was total surrender of everything they were, everything they had, and everything they could hope to do. Like their ancestor Abraham, they followed, not knowing where or how their Lord would lead them.
Along the way they met others who asked to join them. "But first," said the new volunteers, "let me go and..." (take care of some other personal business). In other words, "Jesus, I will follow you... later." Jesus always had an answer to these procrastinators, in which He alerted them to the danger of putting anything ahead of Him in their daily priorities. (See Luke 9:57-62 for specific examples.)
The customer asks, "What can Jesus do for me?" But the disciple asks, "What can Jesus do through me?"
This past summer at Christ Lutheran Church of the Deaf we have studied God's Word about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Now we will summarize some of our discoveries for our university students (and anyone else who finds this helpful).
The first problem we encounter is: How should we sign the word "disciple?" Some folks sign "follower." Many sign "follow" with a double-D handshape. The problem here is the New Testament Greek word μαθητής (pronounced "math-ay-TASE") which we translate as "disciple" does not come from the verb that means "follow." Rather, it comes from a word that means to teach, train, instruct, equip. The mathetes eagerly receives that training with the goal of becoming like the one who is training him/her. "Student" is a fair translation. "Devoted student" is more accurate. Your university professors hope to inspire you to become their disciples, their devoted learners. They want you to not merely acquire their knowledge, but they hope you will absorb their passion for their field. Our goal in life is to become devoted disciples of Christ, to become like Him. Only then will we be able to help others also become His disciples, too.
Disciples of Jesus are totally committed to Him.
Pastor Richard Wurmbrand (Google that name, if you don't already know his amazing story) often said that many Christians come to Jesus, not as His disciple, but as His customer, simply to get something from Him. When you go to a bakery to buy a loaf of bread, you do not become the baker's disciple. You are merely his customer. But if you want to become the baker's disciple, you would quit your job, work with the baker all day, every day, and learn all you can from him about his craft.
We come to Jesus to get forgiveness and salvation, as we must. ...and oh, yes, we have other things we also want from Him -- good health, financial security, a happy family, and world peace. But in all these things, we often act like we are His customers, not His disciples.
When Jesus first called His Twelve Disciples, they left everything for Him. Peter and Andrew, James and John, left their family fishing business to become "fishers of men." Levi (a.k.a. Matthew) left his very profitable tax office in favor of the true riches of knowing Christ. Their commitment to Jesus was total surrender of everything they were, everything they had, and everything they could hope to do. Like their ancestor Abraham, they followed, not knowing where or how their Lord would lead them.
Along the way they met others who asked to join them. "But first," said the new volunteers, "let me go and..." (take care of some other personal business). In other words, "Jesus, I will follow you... later." Jesus always had an answer to these procrastinators, in which He alerted them to the danger of putting anything ahead of Him in their daily priorities. (See Luke 9:57-62 for specific examples.)
The customer asks, "What can Jesus do for me?" But the disciple asks, "What can Jesus do through me?"
Part 2
Before Jesus ascended back into heaven, Jesus told us, "Go and make disciples of all nations... Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19) But if we hope to help other people become His disciples, we must understand what a disciple of Christ is and does, and we must become His disciples ourselves.
Two contrasting characteristics of disciples of Jesus are illustrated in a familiar story in Luke chapter 10.
Before Jesus ascended back into heaven, Jesus told us, "Go and make disciples of all nations... Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19) But if we hope to help other people become His disciples, we must understand what a disciple of Christ is and does, and we must become His disciples ourselves.
Two contrasting characteristics of disciples of Jesus are illustrated in a familiar story in Luke chapter 10.
Jesus and His disciples went on their way. Jesus came to a village where a woman named Martha lived. She welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary.
Mary sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. But Martha was busy with all the things that had to be done. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, my sister has left me to do the work by myself. Don’t you care? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered. “You are worried and upset about many things. But only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better. And it will not be taken away from her.” (NIRV)
These sisters showed their respect for Jesus in two very different ways. Martha was busy doing things for Jesus. Mary sat, attentive to what Jesus had to tell her. When Martha expressed her irritation, Jesus sided with Mary. She made the better choice.
In Matthew 28, Jesus told us to teach all nations. Teach what? We can't teach what we don't have. Jesus' 12 Disciples had His personal instruction for three years. Mary sat at Jesus' feet listening to Him. What about us? Jesus isn't here to teach us like He taught them -- wrong! Although we can't see Him, Jesus is here. We also have His teaching, His Word, the Bible. And the lesson we learn from Mary is that
Disciples are attentive to Jesus and His Word.
We study, absorb, meditate on His Word, why?
1. So we can know Him:
Who He is.
What He has done... is doing... will do.
2. So He can transform us.
3. So we can learn
What is true and discern what is false.
What to do; so He can speak to us & guide us.
4. So we can disciple others.
The Apostle Paul wrote from his Roman prison cell to his assistant, Timothy:
In Matthew 28, Jesus told us to teach all nations. Teach what? We can't teach what we don't have. Jesus' 12 Disciples had His personal instruction for three years. Mary sat at Jesus' feet listening to Him. What about us? Jesus isn't here to teach us like He taught them -- wrong! Although we can't see Him, Jesus is here. We also have His teaching, His Word, the Bible. And the lesson we learn from Mary is that
Disciples are attentive to Jesus and His Word.
We study, absorb, meditate on His Word, why?
1. So we can know Him:
Who He is.
What He has done... is doing... will do.
2. So He can transform us.
3. So we can learn
What is true and discern what is false.
What to do; so He can speak to us & guide us.
4. So we can disciple others.
The Apostle Paul wrote from his Roman prison cell to his assistant, Timothy:
I want you to continue to follow what you have learned. Don’t give up what you are sure of. You know the people you learned it from. You have known the Holy Scriptures ever since you were a little child. They are able to teach you how to be saved by believing in Christ Jesus. God has breathed life into all of Scripture.
It is useful for teaching us what is true.
It is useful for correcting our mistakes.
It is useful for making our lives whole again.
It is useful for training us to do what is right.
By using Scripture, a man of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing." (2 Timothy 3:14-17 NIRV)
Part 3
Who is best qualified to tell an unbeliever about Jesus:
(a) a pastor?
(b) a church member?
(c) a new convert who has recently come to faith in Christ?
Experience tells us that the answer is (C) a new believer, a "baby Christian." Why? Because these are the folks who are most excited about their relationship with Christ. They have a fresh story to tell about their life without Him and the new life with Him. They are not afraid to tell everyone they meet about His wonderful mercy, love, and forgiveness. They want everyone to experience the peace, joy, hope, and purpose in life that they now have in Jesus.
Long time church members, folks who have been Christians most of their lives, feel intimidated by the thought of telling another person about Jesus. "I don't know the Bible well enough. I don't know how to answer questions about God. I am afraid of offending people." Isn't it great that none of those limitations inhibit new believers from sharing their joy. Even so, you folks who have had no special training are more effective in winning people to Christ than your pastor is!
The Bible has a wonderful story that illustrates this truth. In Mark chapter 5 we read about a man who was so badly possessed by demons that they drove him insane. He lived naked in the tombs, screaming, cutting himself. His supernatural strength made it impossible to restrain him. Then he met Jesus, and Jesus freed him from his tormentors.
The local townsfolk heard about what happened and they ran out to see for themselves. When they saw the man clothed and in his right mind, talking with Jesus, they became afraid. They asked Jesus to leave. As Jesus got in the boat to leave, the man wanted to go with Him. But Jesus told the man, "Go home to your people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you."
Whenever I read that, I want to scream, "No! Jesus, you are sending him right back into the situation that messed him up in the first place! His faith is too young, too tender. He needs to grow, learn, mature..." Wrong me!
Two chapters later Jesus returned to that same area, and we learn what happened while He was away. Instead of chasing Jesus away, now the people welcomed Him. And since they had a friend who never had a chance to hear the man's story, they brought their deaf friend to meet Jesus in person. (Mark 7:31-37)
When we look at Jesus' 12 Disciples, we see that they spent most of their time walking with Him, talking with Him, following Him, learning from Him. That's all good stuff, which we also must do in our daily life in Christ. But that was not Jesus' chief plan for them. When Jesus first called the 12, and then again when He physically left them, He gave them one assignment. At the beginning He said, "Come follow me, and I will make you fish for people." (Mark 1:16) Near the end, after His resurrection, Jesus commanded them, "Go and make disciples of all people." (Matthew 28:19) And on His final day He promised them, "When the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power and you will be my witnesses." (Acts 1:8)
In this series we learned that (1) disciples of Jesus are totally committed to Him, and (2) disciples are attentive to Christ and His Word. But here we learn our #1 job assignment:
Disciples of Jesus seek people who are lost,
introduce them to Jesus,
and help them become His disciples.
In other words, disciples make disciples.
You don't need to look far to find folks who are lost. You don't need to become a missionary to far off lands. Look around you. The lost ones are your friends, neighbors, and perhaps even your relatives.
To you "old timers," who have been Christians so long that you have lost your motivation to share Christ, the Bible offers this advice:
Who is best qualified to tell an unbeliever about Jesus:
(a) a pastor?
(b) a church member?
(c) a new convert who has recently come to faith in Christ?
Experience tells us that the answer is (C) a new believer, a "baby Christian." Why? Because these are the folks who are most excited about their relationship with Christ. They have a fresh story to tell about their life without Him and the new life with Him. They are not afraid to tell everyone they meet about His wonderful mercy, love, and forgiveness. They want everyone to experience the peace, joy, hope, and purpose in life that they now have in Jesus.
Long time church members, folks who have been Christians most of their lives, feel intimidated by the thought of telling another person about Jesus. "I don't know the Bible well enough. I don't know how to answer questions about God. I am afraid of offending people." Isn't it great that none of those limitations inhibit new believers from sharing their joy. Even so, you folks who have had no special training are more effective in winning people to Christ than your pastor is!
The Bible has a wonderful story that illustrates this truth. In Mark chapter 5 we read about a man who was so badly possessed by demons that they drove him insane. He lived naked in the tombs, screaming, cutting himself. His supernatural strength made it impossible to restrain him. Then he met Jesus, and Jesus freed him from his tormentors.
The local townsfolk heard about what happened and they ran out to see for themselves. When they saw the man clothed and in his right mind, talking with Jesus, they became afraid. They asked Jesus to leave. As Jesus got in the boat to leave, the man wanted to go with Him. But Jesus told the man, "Go home to your people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you."
Whenever I read that, I want to scream, "No! Jesus, you are sending him right back into the situation that messed him up in the first place! His faith is too young, too tender. He needs to grow, learn, mature..." Wrong me!
Two chapters later Jesus returned to that same area, and we learn what happened while He was away. Instead of chasing Jesus away, now the people welcomed Him. And since they had a friend who never had a chance to hear the man's story, they brought their deaf friend to meet Jesus in person. (Mark 7:31-37)
When we look at Jesus' 12 Disciples, we see that they spent most of their time walking with Him, talking with Him, following Him, learning from Him. That's all good stuff, which we also must do in our daily life in Christ. But that was not Jesus' chief plan for them. When Jesus first called the 12, and then again when He physically left them, He gave them one assignment. At the beginning He said, "Come follow me, and I will make you fish for people." (Mark 1:16) Near the end, after His resurrection, Jesus commanded them, "Go and make disciples of all people." (Matthew 28:19) And on His final day He promised them, "When the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power and you will be my witnesses." (Acts 1:8)
In this series we learned that (1) disciples of Jesus are totally committed to Him, and (2) disciples are attentive to Christ and His Word. But here we learn our #1 job assignment:
Disciples of Jesus seek people who are lost,
introduce them to Jesus,
and help them become His disciples.
In other words, disciples make disciples.
You don't need to look far to find folks who are lost. You don't need to become a missionary to far off lands. Look around you. The lost ones are your friends, neighbors, and perhaps even your relatives.
To you "old timers," who have been Christians so long that you have lost your motivation to share Christ, the Bible offers this advice:
"Respect Christ as the holy Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have, but answer in a gentle way and with respect. Keep a clear conscience so that those who speak evil of your good life in Christ will be ashamed." (1 Peter 3:15-16 NCV)
Part 4
Recently I met a man who said that the government in his home country is so corrupt, the only way to get officials to just do their job is to pay them large bribes. He told me he had worked in a government finance office. He was a Christian trying to work with integrity.
I said, "I bet that was hard. If you didn't play the game and go along with the corruption, you could get fired."
"No," he said, "you can get killed! Assassinated. So I finally quit that job. It was too dangerous."
Following Jesus can be dangerous. Jesus promised, "In this world you will have trouble." (John 16:33) What kind of trouble? Persecution. False accusations. Legal trouble. Financial trouble. Even death. During the Last Supper, the night before Jesus' crucifixion, He told us,
Recently I met a man who said that the government in his home country is so corrupt, the only way to get officials to just do their job is to pay them large bribes. He told me he had worked in a government finance office. He was a Christian trying to work with integrity.
I said, "I bet that was hard. If you didn't play the game and go along with the corruption, you could get fired."
"No," he said, "you can get killed! Assassinated. So I finally quit that job. It was too dangerous."
Following Jesus can be dangerous. Jesus promised, "In this world you will have trouble." (John 16:33) What kind of trouble? Persecution. False accusations. Legal trouble. Financial trouble. Even death. During the Last Supper, the night before Jesus' crucifixion, He told us,
"Does the world hate you? Remember that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you like one of its own. But you do not belong to the world. I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you. I said, ‘A servant is not more important than his master.’ If people hated me and tried to hurt me, they will do the same to you. They will treat you like that because of my name." (John 15:18-21 NIRV)
Many times and in many ways Jesus said,
"If you want to be my disciple, you must take up your cross every day and follow me."
(Matthew 10:38; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23)
What does it mean to "take up your cross?" When I hear Christians use the phrase, "carry my cross," it sounds like big load of self-pity. That's not a "cross." In Jesus' time, a cross had only one purpose: Crucifixion! Death! A cross was not a piece of jewelry.
When you surrender your life to Christ, you die to yourself, you die to the world, and Christ is free to live His life in you. Paul said,
When you surrender your life to Christ, you die to yourself, you die to the world, and Christ is free to live His life in you. Paul said,
"I have been crucified with Christ. I don’t live any longer. Christ lives in me. My faith in the Son of God helps me to live my life in my body. He loved me. He gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20 NIRV)
When you surrender your life to Christ and become His disciple, what do you lose? Absolutely nothing! All the pleasures and treasures that this world offers will soon be gone, anyway. So we suffer no loss when we follow the way of the cross. This helps us stand calm and strong for Christ in the face of hate from those who oppose Christ.
Disciples of Jesus accept suffering for Him.
Most of us have not suffered the kind of persecution that killed New Testament Christians. However, we often find ourselves following the way of the cross when we get hit with a difficult choice -- the choice of doing what is practical and profitable, or doing what is right at a great cost. Disciples of Jesus do what is right even at the risk of suffering loss. Remember that little tests today are just practice for the big tests yet to come.
Disciples of Jesus accept suffering for Him.
Most of us have not suffered the kind of persecution that killed New Testament Christians. However, we often find ourselves following the way of the cross when we get hit with a difficult choice -- the choice of doing what is practical and profitable, or doing what is right at a great cost. Disciples of Jesus do what is right even at the risk of suffering loss. Remember that little tests today are just practice for the big tests yet to come.
Part 5
Jesus called the Twelve to Him. Then He sent them out two by two. He gave them authority to drive out evil spirits. Here were His orders. "Take only a walking stick for your trip. Do not take bread or a bag. Take no money in your belts. Wear sandals. But do not take extra clothes. When you are invited into a house, stay there until you leave town. Some places may not welcome you or listen to you. If they don't, shake the dust off your feet when you leave. That will be a witness against the people living there." They went out. And they preached that people should turn away from their sins. (Mark 6:7-12 NIRV)
There is something in this story that bothers me. It's the part where Jesus tells His Disciples, "Do not take bread or a bag. Take no money in your belts. Wear sandals. But do not take extra clothes." That seems like bad planning. I have gone on many trips in my life. Never have I gone without packing enough clean clothes for the time I am gone. Never have I hit the road with enough money either in cash or credit to get me to my destination and home again, and enough to pay for all my meals. We can safely assume that the Disciples received all that they needed during their travels, and that they returned without any new debt. But never have I sensed that Jesus has asked me to do as He commanded His 12 Disciples that day.
So what lesson can we learn from this strange part of the story? Is there an application for us today? Yes. It is a lesson that appears often in the Bible:
Disciples of Jesus "travel light."
While we are on our earthly pilgrimage, we must not become weighed down with this world's fleeting treasures.
So what lesson can we learn from this strange part of the story? Is there an application for us today? Yes. It is a lesson that appears often in the Bible:
Disciples of Jesus "travel light."
While we are on our earthly pilgrimage, we must not become weighed down with this world's fleeting treasures.
You gain a lot when you live a godly life. But you must be happy with what you have. We didn’t bring anything into the world. We can't take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we will be happy with that. People who want to get rich are tempted. They fall into a trap... Love for money causes all kinds of evil. Some people want to get rich. They have wandered away from the faith. They have wounded themselves with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:6-10 NIRV)
Do not love the world or anything in it. If you love the world, love for the Father is not in you. Here is what people who belong to this world do. They try to satisfy what their sinful natures want to do. They desire what their sinful eyes look at. They brag about what they have and what they do. All of this comes from the world. It doesn’t come from the Father. The world and its evil desires are passing away. But those who do what God wants them to do live forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
Disciples of Christ trust Him for their daily needs.
I can attest from personal experience: God is faithful. He cares for His own. He provides for our need, not for our greed. And He expects us to manage His provision righteously.
A famous Bible smuggler named "Brother Andrew" had an experience very similar to that of the Twelve Disciples when Jesus sent them out without any extra cash. Brother Andrew received his early training in a Bible school that sent its students out on month-long evangelistic trips with only $30 (at today's currency value), which they were suppose to pay back when they returned. Also, they were not allowed to ask for money, take a collection, or mention their financial needs to others. How did things work out?
Brother Andrew wrote:
I can attest from personal experience: God is faithful. He cares for His own. He provides for our need, not for our greed. And He expects us to manage His provision righteously.
A famous Bible smuggler named "Brother Andrew" had an experience very similar to that of the Twelve Disciples when Jesus sent them out without any extra cash. Brother Andrew received his early training in a Bible school that sent its students out on month-long evangelistic trips with only $30 (at today's currency value), which they were suppose to pay back when they returned. Also, they were not allowed to ask for money, take a collection, or mention their financial needs to others. How did things work out?
Brother Andrew wrote:
[Whether we received] money or produce [food], we stuck fast to two rules: we never mentioned a need aloud, and we gave away a tithe [10%] of whatever came to us as soon as we got it -- within twenty-four hours if possible. Another team that set out from school that same time we did, was not so strict about tithing. They set aside their ten percent all right, but they didn't give it away immediately, 'in case we run into an emergency.' Of course they had emergencies! So did we, every day. But they ended their month owing money to hotels, lecture halls, and markets all over Scotland, while we came back to school almost ten pounds ahead [approximately $300 at today's currency value]. Fast as we could give money away, God was always swifter, and we ended with money to send to [mission] work overseas. (God's Smuggler, chapter 6)
When we do God's business in God's way, He is faithful.
Part 6
What is the difference between a Christian and an unbeliever?
Let's make that question challenging and personal: What is the difference between you and someone who does not know Jesus? And how would someone who is not a Christian describe the difference?
Your answer may focus on two points: What a Christian believes, and what a Christian does.
It is interesting that unbelievers in the world hold Christians to a higher moral standard than they hold themselves. And they are right!
Remember the story about King David's adultery. He thought he could get out of a very sticky situation by arranging the death of his mistress' husband. But then David's friend, Nathan, confronted him about what he did. David shamefully admitted his guilt and God forgave him. However, for the rest of David's life, he lived with the tragic consequences of his sin.
David thought he had committed his sin in secret and that nobody knew about it. Wrong! God knew, and so did everyone else. You can be sure that gossip spread. Nathan said to David, "What you did caused the Lord’s enemies to lose all respect for Him." David was supposedly "a man after God's own heart," so what he did brought shame to God's name. Now those who hated God watched to see what Holy God would do about His very unholy subject, David. So even though God forgave David, God still punished him so the world would understand that He is a righteous God (2 Samuel 12).
If you are a true disciple of Jesus, you do not live as people of the world live. This must be as true for your private life as it is for public face. The true measure of our character is not in what people see, but in what we do when no one is looking.
The Bible says:
What is the difference between a Christian and an unbeliever?
Let's make that question challenging and personal: What is the difference between you and someone who does not know Jesus? And how would someone who is not a Christian describe the difference?
Your answer may focus on two points: What a Christian believes, and what a Christian does.
It is interesting that unbelievers in the world hold Christians to a higher moral standard than they hold themselves. And they are right!
Remember the story about King David's adultery. He thought he could get out of a very sticky situation by arranging the death of his mistress' husband. But then David's friend, Nathan, confronted him about what he did. David shamefully admitted his guilt and God forgave him. However, for the rest of David's life, he lived with the tragic consequences of his sin.
David thought he had committed his sin in secret and that nobody knew about it. Wrong! God knew, and so did everyone else. You can be sure that gossip spread. Nathan said to David, "What you did caused the Lord’s enemies to lose all respect for Him." David was supposedly "a man after God's own heart," so what he did brought shame to God's name. Now those who hated God watched to see what Holy God would do about His very unholy subject, David. So even though God forgave David, God still punished him so the world would understand that He is a righteous God (2 Samuel 12).
If you are a true disciple of Jesus, you do not live as people of the world live. This must be as true for your private life as it is for public face. The true measure of our character is not in what people see, but in what we do when no one is looking.
The Bible says:
You are God’s children whom He loves, so try to be like Him. Live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God. But there must be no sexual sin among you, or any kind of evil or greed. Those things are not right for God’s holy people. Also, there must be no evil talk among you, and you must not speak foolishly or tell evil jokes. These things are not right for you. Instead, you should be giving thanks to God. You can be sure of this: No one will have a place in the kingdom of Christ and of God who sins sexually, or does evil things, or is greedy... In the past you were full of darkness, but now you are full of light in the Lord. So live like children who belong to the light. (Ephesians 5:1-8 NCV)
Every day each of us struggle with urges to do and say things that bring shame to the name of Christ. A few years ago our campus ministry series looked at some practical ways that we can respond to those temptations. Here are the main points:
- Avoid places, people, and things that tempt you.
- When you are tempted, remember what the Bible says about that sin.
- Flee temptation.
- Recognized that temptation is a hook baited with a lie.
- Remember that sin always has consequences.
- Recognize the danger of the "second look."
- When temptation hits, pray, "Lord, show me Your way of escape!"
- Picture in your mind Christ suffering on the cross for that specific sin which tempts you.
- Find an accountability partner with whom you can confess your sin and receive forgiveness.
Part 7
Since the days I left my small hometown to go to college and then to work, I have always lived in or near big cities -- Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, Dallas, and now Washington, DC. My training and my work have taken me into hospitals that serve those communities. I have noticed that many of those hospitals have names that reflect the religious faith of the people who established them. Some hospitals have the names of their church denominations (Presbyterian; Lutheran). Some hospitals are named after people in the Bible (St. Luke, St. Joseph, St. Jude, Good Samaritan), or places in the Bible (Mt. Sinai, Bethesda). Here in the DC area we have Catholic hospitals (Holy Cross and Georgetown University) and a couple Seventh-day Adventist hospitals. Why?
Many of these religiously-based hospitals began over a century ago as hospices or nursing homes, where soldiers with debilitating war injuries or people that had terminal illnesses could receive compassionate care. Caregivers were Catholic nuns and Protestant deaconesses who were motivated by God's call to serve the community. Eventually, as medical science improved, doctors played a more active role in the care team, and these convalescent homes transformed into high-tech places for healing.
This is no accident. As God transforms our hearts, He gives us a love for people that responds to their needs -- physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Jesus taught this to His Twelve Disciples in practical ways.
One of the texts we are studying in this series on discipleship is Mark 6. Read it again:
Since the days I left my small hometown to go to college and then to work, I have always lived in or near big cities -- Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, Dallas, and now Washington, DC. My training and my work have taken me into hospitals that serve those communities. I have noticed that many of those hospitals have names that reflect the religious faith of the people who established them. Some hospitals have the names of their church denominations (Presbyterian; Lutheran). Some hospitals are named after people in the Bible (St. Luke, St. Joseph, St. Jude, Good Samaritan), or places in the Bible (Mt. Sinai, Bethesda). Here in the DC area we have Catholic hospitals (Holy Cross and Georgetown University) and a couple Seventh-day Adventist hospitals. Why?
Many of these religiously-based hospitals began over a century ago as hospices or nursing homes, where soldiers with debilitating war injuries or people that had terminal illnesses could receive compassionate care. Caregivers were Catholic nuns and Protestant deaconesses who were motivated by God's call to serve the community. Eventually, as medical science improved, doctors played a more active role in the care team, and these convalescent homes transformed into high-tech places for healing.
This is no accident. As God transforms our hearts, He gives us a love for people that responds to their needs -- physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Jesus taught this to His Twelve Disciples in practical ways.
One of the texts we are studying in this series on discipleship is Mark 6. Read it again:
He called His twelve followers together and got ready to send them out two by two... So the followers went out and preached that people should change their hearts and lives. They forced many demons out and put olive oil on many sick people and healed them. (Mark 7:7,12,13 NCV)
Notice that Jesus sent His Disciples out not merely to preach and teach, but to help and to heal. Then later in that same chapter we read how Jesus tried to get away to be alone for a while, but a huge crowd of people followed Him.
He felt sorry for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach.
Late in the afternoon, His Disciples became concerned. They asked Jesus,
Send the people away so they can go to the countryside and towns around here to buy themselves something to eat."
But Jesus answered, "You give them something to eat." (Mark 6:30-37)
In part 6 of this series we saw that disciples of Jesus are noted by both what we believe and what we do. Our actions cannot make us holy, but God in us moves us to holy action. The Bible says:
You have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it. God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NCV)
Disciples of Jesus love and serve other people in need.
But, sadly, even we Christians often give into selfishness. Our Lord's brother, James, scolded fellow believers when he wrote:
But, sadly, even we Christians often give into selfishness. Our Lord's brother, James, scolded fellow believers when he wrote:
My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people claim they have faith but don’t act like it? Can that kind of faith save them? Suppose a brother or sister has no clothes or food. Suppose one of you says to them, "Go. I hope everything turns out fine for you. Keep warm. Eat well." And you do nothing about what they really need. Then what good have you done? It is the same with faith. If it doesn’t cause us to do something, it’s dead. (James 2:14-17 NCV)
When we see a friend or family member in need, we don't think twice about helping. (We may help too much -- enabling dependency rather than challenging personal growth.) What is difficult is knowing how to respond to needs of strangers that catch us by surprise. Two things help here. First, pray for God's discernment and wisdom. Second, prepare a plan that can help you discern true needs from scams, and a plan to genuinely help those with genuine needs. It is best to work with others as a team, so you can share experience, wisdom, and resources.
Part 8
We normally sign the words disciple and apostle with similar signs which mean "follower." That is unfortunate, because both disciple and apostle mean much more than just "follower." A disciple is a devoted student of someone. An apostle is a person who is sent to do something specific for the sender. Jesus Christ sends us, His followers, His disciples, to do something specific for Him. What? If you survey Christians with that question, you may get answers like these:
Disciples of Jesus seek His leading in their daily lives.
That means we must constantly be
Many Christians incorrectly assume that being filled with the Holy Spirit is just a one-time emotional experience. The Bible teaches that God's purpose in filling us with His Holy Spirit is not to supercharge our emotions, but transform our character, our attitudes, and our actions. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom, insight, faith, and maturity. And the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit's filling is not a one-time "Zap!" but a continual, daily refilling, as we spend time in God's Word and apply insights from His Word to our prayers and our daily decisions.
The Bible says:
We normally sign the words disciple and apostle with similar signs which mean "follower." That is unfortunate, because both disciple and apostle mean much more than just "follower." A disciple is a devoted student of someone. An apostle is a person who is sent to do something specific for the sender. Jesus Christ sends us, His followers, His disciples, to do something specific for Him. What? If you survey Christians with that question, you may get answers like these:
- Believe
- Pray
- Go to church
- Be nice to other people
- Being totally committed to Him
- Seeking people who are lost, introducing them to Jesus, and helping them to become His disciples
- Serving others
Disciples of Jesus seek His leading in their daily lives.
That means we must constantly be
- in His Word -- When we are not studying the Bible, we should be meditating what on God has said and applying it to every situation we find ourselves.
- in prayer -- discussing with Him every circumstance, every social interaction, every need, and every decision.
- in fellowship with like-minded Christians -- encouraging each other and serving Him together.
Many Christians incorrectly assume that being filled with the Holy Spirit is just a one-time emotional experience. The Bible teaches that God's purpose in filling us with His Holy Spirit is not to supercharge our emotions, but transform our character, our attitudes, and our actions. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom, insight, faith, and maturity. And the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit's filling is not a one-time "Zap!" but a continual, daily refilling, as we spend time in God's Word and apply insights from His Word to our prayers and our daily decisions.
The Bible says:
If any of you need wisdom, ask God for it. He will give it to you. (James 1:5)
Be very careful how you live... Live like people who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity. The days are evil. So don’t be foolish. Instead, understand what the Lord wants. Don’t fill yourself up with wine. Getting drunk will lead to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:15-18 NIRV)
Don’t live any longer the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what He wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NIRV)
Even though you are evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! (Luke 11:13 NIRV)
Part 9
When Jesus sent 72 of His followers to go 2-by-2 to cities, town, and villages where He planned to visit, He gave them this very strange command: "Do not take a purse or bag or sandals. And don’t greet anyone on the road." (Luke 10:4) We already studied the first part of that command, and we understand that to mean that Believers in this world "travel light;" we should not be weighed down by owning a lot of things. If we take care of God's business, we can trust Him with our basic needs. (See the January 2014 Mustard Seed.)
Now we tackle the last part of that command: "...don't greet anyone on the road." Why not? This looks like rude, unfriendly behavior. And if the disciples obeyed this command, they may have missed opportunities to tell people about Jesus, right?
Jesus sent those 72 people to do a specific job. He did not want them to become distracted and go off track from their goal. Jesus knew from His own experience how the devil tried many times to derail His mission to die on the cross in order to save us. Even while He was on the cross, twice He was challenged, "Save yourself! Come down from the cross! Then we will believe in you."
Now, as Jesus sends us out to do His work, the devil also sends out his followers to do his dirty work. All through the Bible, starting with Adam and Eve, we see God's people mess up badly because they took their eyes off God and His Word, and they believed an attractive lie, or they simply became distracted.
The lesson for us here is simply this:
Disciples of Jesus stay focused on the task He gives us to do.
When Jesus sent 72 of His followers to go 2-by-2 to cities, town, and villages where He planned to visit, He gave them this very strange command: "Do not take a purse or bag or sandals. And don’t greet anyone on the road." (Luke 10:4) We already studied the first part of that command, and we understand that to mean that Believers in this world "travel light;" we should not be weighed down by owning a lot of things. If we take care of God's business, we can trust Him with our basic needs. (See the January 2014 Mustard Seed.)
Now we tackle the last part of that command: "...don't greet anyone on the road." Why not? This looks like rude, unfriendly behavior. And if the disciples obeyed this command, they may have missed opportunities to tell people about Jesus, right?
Jesus sent those 72 people to do a specific job. He did not want them to become distracted and go off track from their goal. Jesus knew from His own experience how the devil tried many times to derail His mission to die on the cross in order to save us. Even while He was on the cross, twice He was challenged, "Save yourself! Come down from the cross! Then we will believe in you."
Now, as Jesus sends us out to do His work, the devil also sends out his followers to do his dirty work. All through the Bible, starting with Adam and Eve, we see God's people mess up badly because they took their eyes off God and His Word, and they believed an attractive lie, or they simply became distracted.
The lesson for us here is simply this:
Disciples of Jesus stay focused on the task He gives us to do.
Part 10
This story in Luke 10 ends with the 72 disciples returning to Jesus and giving a joyful report:
This story in Luke 10 ends with the 72 disciples returning to Jesus and giving a joyful report:
"Lord, even the demons obey us when we speak in your name."
Jesus' answer:
"I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to walk all over snakes and scorpions [i.e. demonic spirits]. You will be able to destroy all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. But do not be glad when the evil spirits obey you. Instead, be glad that your names are written in heaven."
(Luke 10:17-20 NIRV)
In our service for Christ, we must never forget who and what we are -- forgiven sinners. People who experience success in ministry often forget this. When God blesses their work, they turn it into an institution that honors themselves, and their goal becomes, "What can we do to make our church or organization bigger?" They push God aside and take control. Old Testament kings of Israel often did that, as do many popular preachers and ministry leaders in our day.
Disciples of Jesus give all credit to Him.
We glory in His grace, not in our success. The work we do is all about HIM, not about us. He is responsible for any success that we see in our work.
Disciples of Jesus give all credit to Him.
We glory in His grace, not in our success. The work we do is all about HIM, not about us. He is responsible for any success that we see in our work.
Reviewing the main points in this study
Disciples of Jesus...
- are totally committed to Him.
- are attentive to Jesus and His Word.
- seek people who are lost, introduce them to Jesus, and help them become His disciples.
- accept suffering for Him.
- "travel light" and trust Him for their daily needs.
- aim for moral purity in their personal lives.
- love and serve other people in need.
- seek His leading in their daily lives and pray daily to be filled with His Holy Spirit.
- stay focused on the task.
- give all credit to Him.