Come and Follow Me! – Part 1 – The Priority of Discipleship?

 

Let me set the this morningÕs scene for youÉ

    -disciples had been with Jesus 24/7 for 3 years

    -they watched, learned from, were trained by Jesus, they did everything w/Jesus

    -when eventually Jesus was arrested and murdered they all ran away

    -donÕt know how else to say thisÉ.

         -their world was turned upside down when Jesus rose again from the dead

         -but now, heÕs got their attention, now they really understand who he is

         -and now heÕs got one last thing they need to hear, just before he leaves

         -this is the one thing that must be central to who they are, how they think, what they do

         -this is  it, this is what all the training was for, this is what a disciple is to be about

         -so everyoneÕs listening as closely as possible and Jesus saysÉ

 

"God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

 

And just like they had committed all of themselves to following him in the beginningÉ

    -every single disciple, men and women (not just pastors – no pastors then)

    -committed themselves to making JesusÕ commission the number one thing in their life

    -and the Church spread like a wildfire changing the world one person at a time

 

And since then, wherever a group of disciples has taken JesusÕ words to heart

    -and allowed his last words to become the driving force of their lives

    -their lives and  world around them gets changed

         -not always fast change, most often not easy change

         -but any time people really surrender to doing things GodÕs way they/world changes

 

So what? What does that have to do with us today, here at the beginning of 2008?

 

Simply this, I have a challenge for us as individuals and as a church body in 2008

    -letÕs go deeper!

    -stand on that mountain top with Jesus this AM and hear him say those words to you/us

 

God has commanded me to commission you inidÕs/POG: As you live your lives in 2008, train everyone you meet in GodÕs way of life/Kingdom life.  Mark them as part of the family by baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to learn and obey everything I taught you and you are obeying. And remember this, as you are going along, whatever you face, I am always with you, every single day, right up to the end of time.

 

This is the most important challenge you and I face in 2008, as indÕs/churchÉ.

    -how will we respond to those words

    -how U respond to those words has the potential of affecting who you are/everything U do

    -and everything youÕre going through

 

Maybe youÕre thinking, are you serious Ed, this is the most important challenge I face

    -and I donÕt want to minimize your circumstances but regardless of how difficult they are

    -but yes how U choose to follow Jesus this year, is the most important decision U can make

I ended 2007 talking about discipleship (process of becoming/being disciples/making disc.)

    -I said things like discipleship is the main thing Jesus wants us to focus on

    -IÕve hinted at the fact that it would be our focus this year

    -that your leadership is spending tones of time praying, thinking, discussing, planning

   

But hereÕs an honest question – Why do all that?

    -why not just keep doing what weÕve always done?

    -and let give you my best answer to thatÉ

    -ThereÕs more! God has more for us! God desires more from us!

    -I believe weÕre barely scratching the surface of all that a relationship with Jesus entails

 

The Church in N.A. has settled for a Christianity that is not what Jesus had in mindÉ

    -that is a pretty big statement to make, how do I know itÕs true?

    -because the church is in rapid decline in North America

    -because when it comes down to it, Xians and non-Xians behave pretty much the same

    -because the divorce rate is just as high in the church as it is in the world

    -because even within the church, churches are filled with infighting, gossip (acceptable)

    -and no, weÕre not completely there as a church, but weÕre not where we could be either

    -so, either Jesus lied and this is as good as it gets

    -or Jesus is telling the truth and N.A. is settling for a Christianity that isnÕt Christianity at all

 

And I want and I believe you want Jesus! We want what Paul meant when he saidÉ

The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God's righteousness. I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it. (read Philippians 3:7-11)

History as always proven the same thingÉ.

    -wherever GodÕs people rise up and take Jesus commission to heart and live by it

    -they change and the world around them changes

    -regardless of the negative forces around them

    -it might be slow, itÕs often hard, but when GodÕs in charge, things happen!

 

If youÕre brave enough to take the challenge onÉ

    -then the thing youÕre signing up for is called discipleship

    -it is the process of growing and becoming more Christ-like (character/relationships/action)

    -and this year, we donÕt just want to say itÕs something we should & could do

    -we donÕt just want to encourage you to do it and tell you how you could do it

    -we really want to do it, together!

    -this year we want to get to the end of 2008 and say wow, GodÕs really using us/me!

    -GodÕs impacting Port Colborne because he wants us here!

    -Actually, I want us to be seeing this happening before 2008 is over

    -& itÕs not so important that I think it should happen, itÕs important because God wants itÉ

Over the next few weeks, I want us to look at different characteristics of discipleship,  

    -things that are non-negotiable for us as followers of Jesus Christ

 

HereÕs the first, non-negotiable thing we need to hear as Christ-followers

    -or if youÕre considering following Christ

    -of if you were following but slowly have been taking back the leadership of your life

 

Here it isÉ

Discipleship, daily process of growing up into Christ, must have first & top priority in your life!

    -donÕt miss this, discipleship (GodÕs call) canÕt just be one of the priorities in your life

    -it has to be the priority that guides all your other priorities

    -you have to be clear about what it is that is going to help you grow into Christ each day

    -and then you have to organize your life so that it can really happen

 

So, very first application question is thisÉ.

What do I need to do at this point to start/continue to grow deeper into Christ?

How do my other priorities need to be rearranged for that to happen?

 

Turn with me to Luke 9:57-62

Jesus points us to The Priority of Discipleship through 3 storiesÉ  (read Luke 9:57-62)

 

¯read vs. 57,58 (Man who said heÕd follow Jesus wherever he went)

        -not told whether he did or not –Jesus statement seems to imply he wasnÕt ready

       

HereÕs what Jesus wants us to understand if weÕre considering following himÉ

   -my followers will follow regardless of comfort of the ride (wonÕt be easy/comfortable)

   -think about it, how comfortable can it be if Jesus asks to die to ourselves

 

I started last two years by reminding us of one thing – This year life will be interrupted!

   -not just that, but thereÕs a good chance that something will happen in your life this year

   -that if youÕre not grounded has the potential to shake your faith

  

And then the interruptions comeÉ

   -and all of a sudden, especially when we find ourselves in really tough circumstances

   -all we can see is the circumstances & more we look at circumstances, more overwhelmed

   -and in no time flat, we stop seeing God as the God who is bigger than our circumstances

   -and what happens when we become overwhelmed? (we stop following)

   -maybe we still believe in Jesus, maybe we still do our religious duties

   -but more and more we take charge of our own lives and do things by our wisdom

 

So in light of this discipleship thing, Jesus would sayÉ

   -this ride is going to be worth it

   -thereÕs going to be some mountain tops and final destination will be awesome

   -but donÕt miss this, thereÕs going to be some real valleys along the way

   -so, knowing that, will you still follow me?

   -or if you were following but you became overwhelmed by the valleys and stopped following

         -will you get back to following?

 

Action Point: When things get hard in the future, and they will, what will you do to keep your eyes focused on Jesus Christ?

 

read v.59 man who says yes, but asks to bury his father first

 -it seems cold of Jesus to say, no you canÕt go bury your father

 -reality though, this manÕs father was still alive, if not he would have been at the funeral 24hrs.

 -this man wanted to put off being a disciple until everything in his life was settled

        -Jesus response, ÒNo deal! always be distractions in life !

 

And thatÕs what Jesus says to everyone of usÉ

    -the mountain tops are part of the journey and the valleys are part of the journey

    -the interruptions in your life arenÕt just circumstances that happen to you

    -they are the very things that God wants to use help you and others to grow 

 

Action point: What are you walking through, right now, that God wants to and can use for your eternal gain and for his glory? How do you need to do so God is in control of those circumstances?

 

read vs. 61,62 (Man says heÕll follow, but first wants to says goodbye to family)

-again, Jesus seems hard-hearted / why wouldnÕt he let someone say goodbye to their fami

 -New Test. Days when someone left on a journey they threw a party that lasted for days    

 

But Jesus also mentions a danger that happens when someone starts to follow and stops, even momentarilyÉ

    -God had been laying something on your heart that you needed to do

    -and you started, but then something happened, no doubt some rough interruption

    -and you stopped doing what God had asked, not forever just for a while, to regroup

    -and the problem is a few days, turns into a few weeks, weeks months and so on

    -so Jesus says, if you turn back, good chance youÕre going to stop

    -and hereÕs the priority, if you decide to start – start and move on

    -donÕt look back, and even if you fail, get up and keep going

 

Sum Up  

In discipleship these men/we need to learn, when Jesus calls us to follow himÉ

    -Jesus isnÕt offering guarantees (like youÕll get lots of stuff and comfort in this life)

    -Jesus is saying, ÒIf youÕre going to be my disciple, if youÕre really going to follow meÓ

    -discipleship must have top priority in your lives - above your comfort/agenda/relationships

 

So, Jesus stands before us at the beginning of 2008 and saysÉ.

God has commanded me to commission you inidÕs/POG: As you live your lives in 2008, train everyone you meet in GodÕs way of life/Kingdom life.  Mark them as part of the family by baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to learn and obey everything I taught you and you are obeying. And remember this, as you are going along, whatever you face, I am always with you, every single day, right up to the end of time.

 

How will you respond today?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luke 14:25-33 tells us what  The Cost of Discipleship isÉ

 

¯(25,26) Cost in Relationships ÒJesus says that if youÕre gonna follow him you must hate those close to UÓ

           -Do we really have to hate the people close to us in order to follow Jesus?

           -Real issue is authority - Jesus isnÕt talking about our affections / heÕs talking about our decisions 

           -when everyone says go left /and Jesus says go right – we must go right!

           -Jesus demands priority over the closest human relationship you and I have

 

¯(27) Cost in Suffering  Jesus says, Òas his disciples, we must take up our cross daily and follow himÓ

           -Jesus cross meant a painful and sacrificial death

           -chance is – you and I wonÕt be martyred for what we believe

           -but thereÕs another type of death thatÕs even tougher – daily death to self

               -often the things that you and I want, feed our pride/ego/selfish desires – things God asks us let go of

           -Jesus says, if you follow me you must love me so much, youÕll deny all the things I donÕt want for you

 

Jesus tells story of builder who must see if heÕs got enough capital to finish project before he starts

King going off to fight with a smaller army than his enemy – must decide what he should do before he battles

 

Sum UP – Jesus wants all his followers to count the cost before they sign upÉ

                       -it might cost you friendships / it will definitely cost you in your desires / maybe even your life

                       -Jesus doesnÕt want us to start with him and then turn back/ quit building/ give up the battle

If you and I want to be JesusÕ disciples

   -Discipleship must have top priority in our lives / We must count the cost of following Jesus

   -And we must possess the Mark of DiscipleshipÉ

 

John 13:34-35 tells us the Mark of Discipleship is a ÒNew LoveÓ

 

ÒA new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.Ó

 

¯This love is New

      -new in regard to identity = same love Jesus showed - loves beyond Òfeelings/circumstances/desertÓ

      -new in regard to choice = JesusÕ disciples must love one another / you have to love me – no option

      -new in regard to purpose = greatest witness before the world of a changed life (People will knowÉ)

      -new in regard to degree = ÒGreater love has no one than this, that he laid down his life forÉJohn 15:13Ó

                                                           -in this new love our brothers and sisters become more important  than us

                                                           -there is no limit to this new love

      -new in regard to effect = determines how close you get to God  (Read 1John 2:3-4,9-11)

 

Maybe youÕre saying, Ed, this love is beyond me, IÕd like to love that way, but I just canÕt! YouÕre rightÉ

      -this love is new in regard to power = Love given through the power of the Holy Spirit (from God/not you)

      -the more a disciple chooses to love, the more he/she finds they are able to love

 

Sum Up  -  Unbelievers ought to look at us and ask, ÒHow can you love like that?Ó

   -that means our love is supposed to be public, visible.

   -Jesus says the world should be able to tell we belong to him by the love we have for each other & them

   -Do all the people around you see this New Love in your life? Before you answer blindlyÉ

           -people only see that kind of love in your life, if itÕs making a difference in their lives dir/indir.

 

Discipleship must have top priority in your life – above everyone/everything else

Discipleship has a cost – death to self

As a disciple you must possess the mark of discipleship – New Love

Discipleship has an intended result..

 

JesusÕ disciples must bear fruit!

 

¯In Themselves  

            -JesusÕ disciples must grow up.  (I donÕt want Lucas to remain a baby forever/ Neither does God)

            -If weÕre true disciples, there must be a character change (Old must go / New must come)

            -There must be evidence that you and I are becoming more and more like Jesus Christ

            -The practical evidence – more and more of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your lifeÉ

            -more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control.

 

¯In Others  (probably where weÕve failed the most)

           -Lead others to become new disciples

           -Help them to grow and mature as disciples

 

What must happen in order for that to take placeÉ

   -you must always be growing

   -you must get close / be close to non-Christians (build relationships)

   -you must be able to, begin communicating gospel clearly (How do I become a Christian?)

   -when these things are true of you, youÕll begin to bear fruit

Some of you might be saying, God is the one that savesÉ(And thatÕs trueÉ)

   -But God has chosen you and I to be the vessels he uses to work through / Guess what, NO PLAN B

 

When discipleship is top priority in your life

When you count the cost of following Jesus

When New Love is evident in your life

When you begin to bear fruit in your life

Then you will begin to reap the rewards of discipleship (Matt. 10:40-43)

 

ÒHe who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.  He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophetÕs reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous manÕs reward.  And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward.Ó

 

There is a great reward in being a disciple, there is no reward in just being a church member (except pride)

 

One day Peter watched Jesus turn away a rich man who wanted to follow, but not give up his possessionsÉ

     -then Jesus turned to them and said, how hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdomÉ

 

Peter saidÉ ÒHold it, Jesus! YouÕve asked us to do a lot. YouÕve asked us to leave our mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers.  We gave up our fishing business for you.  What do we get out of this deal? Jesus responded by sayingÉ

 

ÒTruly I say to you, there is no one who has left house of brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for my sake and for the gospelÕs sake, but that he shall receive a hundred times as much in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.Ó

 

What is Jesus saying?

     -if your mother rejects you because you are following God – HeÕll give you new mothers in body of X

     -if your father turns away from you, God will give you new dads in the kingdom

     -whatever you lose, sacrifice, give up because of gospel God will reward you a hundred times as much

     -both in the present age and in the age to come

    

Tony Evans writesÉ

ÒIf you give him all of you, he will give you all of him. One reason many of us seem to have so little of God is that He has so little of us. Maybe two hours on Sunday morning thatÕs it.Ó

 

There is no shortcut to discipleship! ItÕs hard and itÕs costly!

     -but the rewards are incredible both in this life and the next.

 

Tony Evans writes:  ÒDiscipleship is that developmental process of the local church that progressively brings Christians from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity so that they are then able to reproduce the process with someone else.Ó

 

1.It must have top priority in our lives / 2.You and I must count the cost of being a disciple

3. WE must bear the mark of being a disciple (New Love) / 4. We must bear fruit as his disciples

5. If all these things are a part of our lives – we will reap the rewards of being a discipleÉ

 

 

 

I want to close by giving you a standard to measure yourself byÉ

 

IÕm not usually big on AcrosticsÉ

     -but I thought this one was greatÉ

    

     D    A disciple is disciplined in his or her way of life

     I      A disciple enjoys intimate friendships with others

     S     A disciple is committed to sacrificial giving

     C    A disciple is involved in corporate worship

     I      A disciple experiences an intimate family life

     P     A disciple feels true and compelling passion for God

     L     A disciple is involved in some sort of lay ministry

     E     A disciple has an evangelistic interest

 

Put it in your fridge (somewhere you can look at it)

     -each time you look at it, ask yourself, ÒHow do you and I measure up?Ó

 

LetÕs Pray