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Favorite Game? What is your favorite game to play with your friends and family? What is your favorite game to play with your friends and family? What makes it your favorite game? Why? What makes it your favorite game? Why? Why do people like to play games in general? Why do people like to play games in general? What is your favorite game to play with your friends and family? What is your favorite game to play with your friends and family? What makes it your favorite game? Why? What makes it your favorite game? Why? Why do people like to play games in general? Why do people like to play games in general? 2 Is the Christian life a game?

Doubtlessliving.com What Is Discipleship? Many people today profess to be Christians and claim to be disciples of Christ, but are they truly? What exactly is a disciple and what does true discipleship look like? – By definition, a disciple is one who accepts the doctrine or teaching of another. Therefore, discipleship is the practice of spreading the doctrines of another. But, do these words accurately describe Christian discipleship? Is discipleship simply telling someone else’s stories? Is it simply a game of pass-it-on? Many people today profess to be Christians and claim to be disciples of Christ, but are they truly? What exactly is a disciple and what does true discipleship look like? – By definition, a disciple is one who accepts the doctrine or teaching of another. Therefore, discipleship is the practice of spreading the doctrines of another. But, do these words accurately describe Christian discipleship? Is discipleship simply telling someone else’s stories? Is it simply a game of pass-it-on? 3

Doubtlessliving.com Disciple ≠ Christian 4

Doubtlessliving.com Christian Discipleship So then, how are disciples of Christ different from the disciples of these madmen? What makes Christian disciples different? What characterizes and distinguishes true Christian discipleship from the practices of other followers? So then, how are disciples of Christ different from the disciples of these madmen? What makes Christian disciples different? What characterizes and distinguishes true Christian discipleship from the practices of other followers? 5

Doubtlessliving.com True Discipleship 34 Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it. 36 For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? 37 What can a man give in exchange for his life? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” 6

Doubtlessliving.com True Discipleship Is Voluntary Jesus began by saying “If anyone wants” which highlights the first principle of discipleship: true discipleship is voluntary. – Disciples of Christ exercise free will in choosing to follow Jesus, unlike the disciples of other leaders throughout history who were forced or coerced into service. – Jesus desires that we follow Him willingly and freely by the voluntary exercise of our own will, consciously submitting our will to His will. – Also note that true discipleship is open to anyone and everyone who has the will to follow Jesus. Jesus said “If anyone” which indicates he was talking to the entire crowd not just the Twelve disciples. Jesus began by saying “If anyone wants” which highlights the first principle of discipleship: true discipleship is voluntary. – Disciples of Christ exercise free will in choosing to follow Jesus, unlike the disciples of other leaders throughout history who were forced or coerced into service. – Jesus desires that we follow Him willingly and freely by the voluntary exercise of our own will, consciously submitting our will to His will. – Also note that true discipleship is open to anyone and everyone who has the will to follow Jesus. Jesus said “If anyone” which indicates he was talking to the entire crowd not just the Twelve disciples. “If anyone wants to be My follower… 7

Doubtlessliving.com True Discipleship Involves Personal Sacrifice For those who choose to follow, Jesus stated two requirements which are bound together and cannot be separated. True followers of Jesus must do both of them, they are not mutually exclusive. One is stated negatively and one is stated positively but both are imperative commands. True disciples of Christ will be both: 1.Self-denying, and 2.Self-sacrificing. For those who choose to follow, Jesus stated two requirements which are bound together and cannot be separated. True followers of Jesus must do both of them, they are not mutually exclusive. One is stated negatively and one is stated positively but both are imperative commands. True disciples of Christ will be both: 1.Self-denying, and 2.Self-sacrificing. “…he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” 8 The Disciple’s Cross

Doubtlessliving.com Requirements of Disciples Self-Denial Self-denial does not mean: – Dying as a martyr, – Deny “things” (i.e. asceticism), or – Denying our own personality. Self-denial involves: – Turning away from self- centeredness and self-interest. – Consistently saying no to selfish desires, personal interests and earthly securities. – Adopting an “others 1 st ” attitude Self-denial does not mean: – Dying as a martyr, – Deny “things” (i.e. asceticism), or – Denying our own personality. Self-denial involves: – Turning away from self- centeredness and self-interest. – Consistently saying no to selfish desires, personal interests and earthly securities. – Adopting an “others 1 st ” attitude Self-Sacrifice Self-sacrifice does not mean: – Suffering as Jesus did, – Being crucified as He was, or – Stoically bearing life’s troubles. Self-sacrifice involves: – Decisively saying yes to God’s will & way and no to our will & way – Complete submission & obedience to God’s will as revealed in His Word, – Willingly and freely accepting whatever comes to us in God’s will as a follower of Christ. Self-sacrifice does not mean: – Suffering as Jesus did, – Being crucified as He was, or – Stoically bearing life’s troubles. Self-sacrifice involves: – Decisively saying yes to God’s will & way and no to our will & way – Complete submission & obedience to God’s will as revealed in His Word, – Willingly and freely accepting whatever comes to us in God’s will as a follower of Christ. 99

Doubtlessliving.com Disruptive Discipleship True discipleship is disruptive, if we are to truly follow Jesus and Savior and Lord we cannot maintain the status quo of life. Our lives must be focused on Christ and not ourselves and in so doing we will become “others focused” just as He was. This type of discipleship requires absolute commitment. True discipleship is disruptive, if we are to truly follow Jesus and Savior and Lord we cannot maintain the status quo of life. Our lives must be focused on Christ and not ourselves and in so doing we will become “others focused” just as He was. This type of discipleship requires absolute commitment. 10

Doubtlessliving.com True Discipleship Demands Absolute Commitment Jesus teaches that to save our life we must be willing to lose it. True discipleship comes when one leaves behind old allegiances to this life and self-interest and pledges allegiance to Jesus and a new life as His disciple. – The one who chooses a self- centered life in this world over the selfless life required of Jesus’ disciples will ultimately lose his life to eternal ruin. – A person who “loses” his life in allegiance to Jesus by accepting His requirements will preserve it eternally. Jesus teaches that to save our life we must be willing to lose it. True discipleship comes when one leaves behind old allegiances to this life and self-interest and pledges allegiance to Jesus and a new life as His disciple. – The one who chooses a self- centered life in this world over the selfless life required of Jesus’ disciples will ultimately lose his life to eternal ruin. – A person who “loses” his life in allegiance to Jesus by accepting His requirements will preserve it eternally. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it. 36 For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? 37 What can a man give in exchange for his life? 11

Doubtlessliving.com A Matter of Life or Death Jesus is very clear in this passage; this is a matter of paramount, eternal importance. Choosing to follow Jesus and submitting to His requirements demonstrates to the world that we are truly His. If we are unwilling to identify with Him then He will be unwilling to identify with us. Jesus is very clear in this passage; this is a matter of paramount, eternal importance. Choosing to follow Jesus and submitting to His requirements demonstrates to the world that we are truly His. If we are unwilling to identify with Him then He will be unwilling to identify with us. 12

Doubtlessliving.com True Discipleship Requires Total Loyalty Can we be a true follower of Jesus if we stay in the shadows and hope no one notices? Following Jesus requires us to choose sides and declare our allegiance, publicly. If we’re “ashamed” to let people know that we’re a follower of Jesus then can we be a true disciple? True discipleship requires total loyalty to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Can we be a true follower of Jesus if we stay in the shadows and hope no one notices? Following Jesus requires us to choose sides and declare our allegiance, publicly. If we’re “ashamed” to let people know that we’re a follower of Jesus then can we be a true disciple? True discipleship requires total loyalty to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. “38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” 13

Doubtlessliving.com The Meaning of Discipleship Discipleship is not a game, it is a serious life and death matter of eternal significant. As we have seen today, true discipleship is: – Voluntary and open to everyone – Marked by personal sacrifice – Disruptive to the status quo – Dependent upon absolute commitment to Jesus – Characterized by bold loyalty to Christ Discipleship is not a game, it is a serious life and death matter of eternal significant. As we have seen today, true discipleship is: – Voluntary and open to everyone – Marked by personal sacrifice – Disruptive to the status quo – Dependent upon absolute commitment to Jesus – Characterized by bold loyalty to Christ 14

Doubtlessliving.com True Discipleship Starts Now! If you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, then boldly follow Him and tell others about Him. If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus then it would be my great privilege to introduce you to Him today. As long as you have breath in your body, it is never too late to follow Jesus. If you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, then boldly follow Him and tell others about Him. If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus then it would be my great privilege to introduce you to Him today. As long as you have breath in your body, it is never too late to follow Jesus. 15 To learn more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ visit: doubtlessliving.com/how-to-experience-saving-faith/ doubtlessliving.com/how-to-experience-saving-faith/ To learn more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ visit: doubtlessliving.com/how-to-experience-saving-faith/ doubtlessliving.com/how-to-experience-saving-faith/

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