Why Disciple?

Jesus tells us very clearly what His church should do: Matthew 28: 16-20 The Great Commission 16 The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus tells us very clearly what His church should do:

Define it at your table Now define it only using scripture What is discipleship? Define it at your table Now define it only using scripture

Jesus invitation is the definition Mathew 4:18-20 As He was walking along the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brother, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. “Follow me,” He told them, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately the left their nets and followed Him.

Jesus invitation is the definition “follow me” A disciple knows and follows Christ “and I will make you” A disciple is being changed by Christ “fishers of men” A disciple is committed to the mission of Christ

“follow me” - A disciple knows and follows Christ “follow me” – this is the Gospel If we are going to follow Jesus we need to know what the Gospel is I’m a sinner going to hell if I don’t repent and trust in only Jesus to save my soul because of His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. That word repent is so often softened in our church culture today but it means there is and will be a change in you. You WILL NOT be the same. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you…and cause you to walk in My statutes…” –Ezekiel 36:26-27 “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Mark 1:17 and Matthew 4:19

“follow me” - A disciple knows and follows Christ We Know and follow Christ both as a Disciple Maker, and as a disciple: We come under his authority and direction. The invitation to follow: John12:26 “26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” To follow means to acknowledge Jesus in His entirety as Savior and as Lord. Meaning you are meant to obey Him. John 14:23-24 What are some characteristics that you desire in someone that is going to lead you? Are these characteristics of Jesus?

“follow me” - A disciple knows and follows Christ Following Christ is a HEAD level change. A disciple knows who Christ is and makes a decision to follow Him. Have you made the decision that Jesus is both your Savior and your Lord? Luke 9:23-24 23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it.  What is Jesus telling you to leave? What is Jesus telling you to pick up?

“and I will make you” - A disciple is being changed by Christ We are being changed by Christ. It is by His power that we are transformed (Rom. 8:29) Following Christ brings a HEART level change. In Matthew 7:17-20 Jesus said we would know a tree by its fruit. Not that we produce perfect fruit but that we have growing fruit. As we spend time with Jesus, He transforms our heart and changes who we are. In what ways is God wanting to change you?

“and I will make you” - A disciple is being changed by Christ Acts 4:13 13 When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus. What brought about the change in Peter and John? Discipleship is a relationship. What are some ways can you spend time connecting with Jesus? What are some ways you can spend time with someone you are discipling?

“fishers of men” - A disciple is committed to the mission of Christ What is the mission of Christ? Luke 19:10 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost. Discipleship involves a HANDS level change. We are the hands of Jesus to do the work of Jesus. His mission to save people from their sins is now our mission.

“fishers of men” - A disciple is committed to the mission of Christ How did Jesus disciple? Luke 5:1-11 As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, He was standing by Lake Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then He sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.” 6 When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” 9 For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they took, 10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people!” 11 Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed Him.

What keeps you from being a disciple or discipling someone? I don’t think I can or I don’t know how 1 Cor 6:19 – You have the Holy Spirit 19 Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own 1 Peter 2:5 – You are part of the holy priesthood 5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood… 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 – One body with many parts I don’t have the time to invest in someone or myself

Count the cost of being a disciple or discipling someone? Luke 14:25-35 25 Now great crowds were traveling with Him. So He turned and said to them: 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to make fun of him, 30 saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 31 “Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with 10,000 to oppose the one who comes against him with 20,000? 32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to all his possessions cannot be My disciple. 34 “Now, salt is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty? 35 It isn’t fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!”

So many of us to give so little to the One who gave so much…

What does it mean to be a disciple? Application: What does it mean to be a disciple? Do you believe and trust Christ as your Savior and Lord? What is Jesus telling you to leave? What is Jesus telling you to pick up? In what ways is God wanting to change you? What are some ways can you spend time connecting with Jesus? What are some ways you can spend time with someone you are discipling? What keeps you from being a disciple or from discipling someone? “follow me” A disciple knows and follows Christ “and I will make you” A disciple is being changed by Christ “fishers of men” A disciple is committed to the mission of Christ

16 The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” In light of what we have discussed about being and making disciples, does the Great Commission have a different meaning or impact on you?