TEXT: Luke 9: 18-27

AIM: That we may understand biblical discipleship and know that it is central to our growth as individual Christians and as a church.

INTRODUCTION: One of the greatest needs of Christianity is discipleship, to be taught how to live the Christian life. Today, not all Christians are true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every Christian really needs to be a disciple before they can be a real Christian (Acts 11:26). Christianity means different things to different people. For some a Christian is someone who has agreed to a set of beliefs about Jesus, or has become a member of the church. What is omitted is the necessity of actually following Jesus (apprenticing ourselves to Him). The result is that churches are full of members who have affirmed the tenets of faith in order to get to heaven, but are not prepared to obey Jesus on earth. Ironically, these "Christians" are prepared to die, but they are not equipped to live. Could this be what Jesus meant in Matthew 7: 23? The heart of true discipleship is a settled intent to become like Jesus. A disciple is like the man who in his joy went and sold all he had in order to buy the field with the great treasure (Matthew 13: 44). Disciples gladly rearrange everything in their lives around Jesus because of a firm persuasion that He is everything they want.

WHAT IS DISCIPLESHIP?

• A disciple is someone who studies, learns and professes to receive instruction and adheres to the doctrine of his or her master.

• Biblical discipleship is a life long process through which a Christian or Disciple is taught, instructed or trained to adhere to the teachings and doctrines of Jesus Christ while following Him. It is an attitude, a way of thinking and a way of life. A disciple is one who is absolutely committed to the Master, Jesus Christ (Luke 9:23).

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Why is discipleship so important?

• There is more to the Christian life than being saved.

• The Christian life begins at the cross of salvation, but the Christian life is "lived out" through discipleship.

• Discipleship is what enables the Christian and the church to grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13).

• Discipleship is a crucial component to a Christian's successful walk with God (John 15: 5).

FOUNDATION AND EXAMPLES OF BIBLICAL DISCIPLESHIP

• Jesus commended it (Matthew 28: 18-20).

• It is a prerequisite for ministry involvement (Luke 9: 57-62).

• Moses and Joshua, the son of Nun (Exodus 24: 13).

• Elijah and Elisha (1Kings 19: 19-21).

STAGES OF BIBLICAL DISCIPLESHIP

• stage 1: a person is spiritually dead (Romans 3:23).

• stage 2: Every Christian starts out as a spiritual infant (ICorinthians 3: 1; Hebrews 5: 11-13).

• stage 3: Spiritual infant grows into spiritual child (IJ0hn 2:12).

• stage 4: Spiritual child grows into adulthood (Hebrews 5:14).

• stage 5: An adult grows into parenthood (Hebrews 13: 7-10;

• Stage6: Parenthood to a life-long training under the mastership of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3: 13, 14).

EXAMPLE OF PAUL AND TIMOTHY

Examine the way Paul talks to those he is responsible for. He famously tells the corinthians, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). Earlier in this letter he urges the church to imitate him, and in fact, he has a plan to help them do so: "For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church" (1 Corinthians 4:17, NIV). Paul had taught Timothy how to live as a disciple of Jesus, and now Timothy was to demonstrate this life so that the Corinthians could copy him. Paul says the same to the Philippians: "Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do" (Philippians 3:17, NiV). And again: "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me put it into practice" (Philippians 4:9 NIV).

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

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• "Forget Self" (Luke 14: 26, 27).
  A man without Christ always puts what he wants first. He is selfish. Forgetting self means to stop putting yourself first and to let Jesus be first. This is the result of a new way of looking at yourself.

• "Take up your cross every day."
  This means that a disciple must turn with Christ to see the world in need. Bearing the cross requires more forgetting of self. It means that a disciple gives his or her total self to be used of Christ in ministry. This is a very serious commitment. An important part of taking up your cross daily is to be prepared to suffer shame and reproach daily in the course of following Jesus as your Master.

• "Follow Him" (John 14:15; 15:11)

COMMITMENTS OF DISCIPLESHIP

• A disciple accepts the lordship of Christ over his or her life in humility
  (Philippians 2:5-8).

• A disciple yields to a Christ like life (Galatians 2: 20-21).

• A disciple must be committed to bearing fruit and this must be evident in the following ways:

Life-long personal character transformation (Galatians 5: 18-25)•

Witnessing to and disciplining others (John 5:8).

CONCLUSION:
So, am I a disciple of Jesus? Do I do what He says and copy what He does? Is He the Master at life that I am imitating? Do I follow Him by following fruit bearing believers that I can trust? If I really want to know for sure, I have to look at how I behave when life gets tough. It's easy to follow someone when they are asking You to do something you don't mind doing. It's also easy to claim to follow someone when that claim isn't being tested. But true submission is being obedient when it isn't convenient, when you don't agree, and when it costs. If you are serious about becoming a disciple, then start looking for someone you can follow. Is there Someone further ahead of you who has the kind of life you dream of living one day? Is the fruit of their life the outcome of their choices, their relationships, Character something you want to replicate? can you trust them?

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