Not a fan, a disciple

1. Disciples- focus on relationship first, performance second.

Mark 3:13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

You can do Christian things without BEING one You can do Christian things without BEING one. You can’t BE one without doing Christian things.

Mark 3:16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Romans 4:13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. Romans 5:18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.

John 6:28-29 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Three dangers of doing religion without Christ 1. Burn-out 2. Fade-out 3. Puff-up

Three thoughts on baptism: 1. Its an external confirmation of an internal relationship. 2. It’s not the culmination of a journey, but a the start. 3. Making baptism sort of like receiving a degree or diploma risks the perception of making people achievement oriented right of the bat.

2. Disciples recognize they are not perfect.

Mark 3:16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Lack of faith- Matthew 8:25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

Up and down- Matthew 17:16 So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”

Out of line- Matthew 19:13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

But he came to Jesus, just as he was. Demon possessed man: Family Issues, Spiritual Issues, Health Issues, Relational Issues, Financial Issues.   But he came to Jesus, just as he was.

3. Disciples are willing to make the decision to follow.

Matthew 9:9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.

Not the most confortable Noah’s Ark Not the most popular Not the cleanest Not the most confortable The safest.

Juan Hernandez