If we’re going to be disciples of Jesus, we need to hear his words and then put them into practice. We need to build our lives on the rock.
Key Points & Scriptures
Matt 7: 24 – 28
What does it mean to be a sold out follower of the King of kings?
- If you’re someone’s disciple, then you’re influenced by that person’s teaching and you try to follow their example.
- By that definition, We’re all disciples of someone or something.
- With so many voices speaking into our lives, It’s vital that we figure out who to listen to..
- So, with that said, what does it all mean for us as Christians?
- Simply put, we’re called to be disciples of Jesus.
- His teachings and example, brought to life through the power of the Holy Spirit provide us with the answer to that question “What is Truth?”.
- Were called to be different disciples. Disciples not influenced by or trying to imitate the world around us.
- Being a disciple of Jesus goes beyond just knowing where we’re going when we die. It’s about believing and putting the teachings and commands of Jesus into practice.
- Let’s rewind a bit and look at the account of the calling of the original disciples.
Mark 3: 13-19 - There are 3 aspects of the discipleship process that I want to touch on today.
- RELATIONAL
- FORMATIONAL
- FUNCTIONAL.
- I’m going to treat these as 3 separate areas but the reality is that they don’t always occur in this sequence and often happen all at once.
RELATIONAL – We’re called to be with Jesus
- Relationship is at the heart of God’s plan.
- How can it not be when he’s a God of love?
- Jesus even has something to say about those who think that performing miracles and acting in his name will be enough in themselves to secure their eternity
Matthew 7: 22-23 - Matthew Henry wrote this: Grace will bring a man to heaven without working miracles but working miracles will never bring a man to heaven without grace
- Once we position our hearts to be with Jesus, nobody can take that away.
- How can it not be when he’s a God of love?
- Jesus said you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free.
FORMATIONAL – We’re called to become like Jesus
2 Corinthians 3: 17-18
- Discipleship will form AND transform our lives:
- Form those things in us that are missing
- Transform those things in us that need changing
- Form those things in us that are missing
- Discipleship will form and transform our character
- Discipleship will form & transform our influence, we become salt & light
- Discipleship will form and transform our ambitions.
- We become Kingdom focused and not empire orientated
- Paul said to the Galatian church (Chpt 4) that he was in the “pains of childbirth” until Christ was formed in them.
FUNCTIONAL – We’re called to obey Jesus
- We’re called to live it out day by day.
- If I’m truly being formed and transformed into his image, then my actions will begin to align more and more with the values of the Kingdom of God.
- When my values change – when I undergo the process of formation – how I operate begins to change.
- When my values change – when I undergo the process of formation – how I operate begins to change.
- Jesus actually raised the bar when it came to obedience
- Jesus took the OT external rules that governed actions and applied them to the attitudes of our hearts.
Matt 5 17 – 48 - When we change on the inside, we change on the outside
- Jesus took the OT external rules that governed actions and applied them to the attitudes of our hearts.
- Jesus said, if you love me, keep my commands
- Increasing obedience is the result of a life that is being
transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit - As we grow, we desire to obey Jesus.
- Increasing obedience is the result of a life that is being
- Having an academic understanding of the words of Jesus, or just hearing them, won’t help us at all.
- When we obey Jesus’ commands and teachings we’re operating according to the maker’s instructions.
- When we obey Jesus’ commands and teachings we’re operating according to the maker’s instructions.
Things that hold us back from becoming disciples
- Comfort
- Fear
- A lack of passion
- Complacency
- “I’ve done my bit”
- “My way is better”
How can we overcome these roadblocks?
- Take a risk – Get up and do something!
- Understand that perfect love casts out all fear
- Understand that perfect love casts out all fear
- Chose to believe what the word says about you – Gideon was a mighty man of valor
- When God turns up he over rules your natural limitations.
- It’s ok to fail!
- When God turns up he over rules your natural limitations.
- Get a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Eph 5: 18
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
- The greek for filled doesn’t mean a single one off event, it means to be constantly and continuously filled.
- The greek for filled doesn’t mean a single one off event, it means to be constantly and continuously filled.
- Listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying.
- If you don’t think he’s saying anything. What was the last thing that he said?
- If you don’t think he’s saying anything. What was the last thing that he said?
- Expect the unexpected.
- Watch out because God turns up at the most unexpected times
- Watch out because God turns up at the most unexpected times
- Simply get out of the way (My way isn’t better).
- Surrender our plans and our methods.
Conclusion
The rock that we build our house on is Jesus. Not just hearing his teaching but putting it into practice. The thing about foundations is that they are hidden. A lot of our discipleship process is hidden and not on view to the public but it’s crucial to living a full and productive life.
Remember, discipleship is RELATIONAL, FORMATIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL.
Life application questions
- Are all 3 areas of discipleship active in my life?
- What things are my roadblocks to growing as a disciple of Jesus?
- What 1 thing can I do today to start removing the roadblock(s)?
Paul’s Bible Notes 