Discipleship
I was looking at Jesus’ life and how he got started.
1) He was taught all about the Jewish law as he was raised
2) He was called to be baptized by John the Baptist (Matthew
3:11-12, Mark 1:7-8 and Luke 3:15-18)
3) He went into the wilderness for 40 days and nights and
met with temptation, but chooses God’s way. (Matthew
4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13)
4) He went out and found and invited others to join him
in sharing God’s message of salvation (Matthew 4:18-22,
Mark 1:16-20). Jesus called disciples to train and carry
on spreading the message of God.
5) Jesus started teaching (Matthew 4:23-25, Mark 1:39,
Luke 4:44)
So what is Discipleship? Why should you be one or want to be one?
All of these are good questions. So let’s define discipleship then see how to become one.
Let’s start by defining a
couple of terms:
1) Disciple – Webster’s says = one who accepts
and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: as a)
one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ's followers
according to the Gospel accounts b) a convinced adherent
of a school or individual
Encarta says= 1. follower of person or idea: somebody who
believes in and follows the teachings of a leader, a philosophy,
or a religion
2) Discipleship – don’t you like it when the
meaning says see the root word? So see disciple. Think
of it like membership. A person is a member; they have
a membership in a group. You are a disciple and are a member
of a group of disciples – people of like mind that
follow in the same direction as their leader. For our study,
I am hoping you all will become better followers of Jesus
and his teachings and philosophies.
So my premise for this series of studies it to look at Jesus’ teachings; to look at the “red letters” only in our red letter edition Bibles. What did Jesus teach his disciples? What is it that Jesus wanted them to pass on?
John shared in John 21:15-19 – version is the Message:
15 After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon,
son of John, do you love me more than these?"
"Yes, Master, you know I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16 He then asked a second time, "Simon,
son of John, do you love me?"
"Yes, Master, you know I love you."
Jesus said, "Shepherd my sheep."
17-19 Then he said it a third time: "Simon,
son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, "Do
you love me?" so he answered, "Master, you know everything
there is to know. You've got to know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I'm telling you the very truth
now: When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever
you wished, but when you get old you'll have to stretch out
your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where
you don't want to go." He said this to hint at the kind
of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, "Follow
me."
The study’s direction:
You see Jesus wants us to follow him = to follow his teachings-
to be his disciples.
Would you like to learn what it is that Jesus expects of
you as a disciple? Would you like to learn more about Jesus’ teachings
to his own disciples? Stay tune.