Disciple The Saved

INTRO

Last week we discussed “Seek the Lost” which was a charge filled sermon, a challenge for our members to go and seek out those who are in need of Jesus. The fields are white with harvest, so there is no time to waste!

Once the harvest is collected, the job has just begun. The wheat is then taken into the barn to the threshing floor. This is where the farmers would separate the grain from the stems, making them usable.

In the same way, while evangelism is imperative, our world is in desparate need for the Gospel to be shared and people to come to faith in Christ, we cannot stop there. Matthew 28:19-20 “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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” The job continues past salvation. Discipleship must take place in order to be obedient.

Total Submission v.1

The apostle Paul instructs that we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice.

When I think of a sacrifice, living is not what comes to mind. When the Romans first read these words, living probably wasn’t the first thing they thought either.

Sacrifices are typically a substitution of one thing in exchange for another. A sacrifice in the OT law required a spotless animal to die in order to cover the sins of the individual. Jesus was the perfect and final sacrifice for sin. So why would we need to be a sacrifice? And how does a living sacrifice even make sense?

I believe it is best explained by Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

The sacrifice we are making of ourselves is not to cover sins, but to deny ourselves and pursue his righteousness. So in order to be a living sacrifice, we must deny the fleshly desires that may come our way.

The verbiage “sacrifice” also illustrates a willingness to die for the cause of Christ. I’m not saying that you should seek that out by any means. I’m also not saying that you should expect that. But what I am saying is that the mission that Jesus has given to us is greater than anything we can experience in this world, even life itself.

Total Obedience v.1

True discipleship requires total obedience. Paul wrote that we are to be “holy” and “acceptable.” Two words that are expected and required of sacrifices under OT law.

What does it mean to be holy? Every use and definition of the word throughout scripture is always a reference to something or someone being set apart from the rest. I think of having a selection of items, but there’s one that you reserve for special occassions. That one is set apart. Someone that is noticeably different. For instance, all you older dads who wear nothing but the white tennis shoes. There’s always the one pair that is set apart for going out to nicer restaurants. That’s us! We need to be the clean shoes! We need to present ourselves to God as the clean shoes!

We need to be separated from the crowds in that we are different. We must be seen by others as “something different”.

Total Transformation v.2

Becoming something different happens when we are transformed.

“Do not be conformed to this world”

Being conformed is to “behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards.” As I’m sure we are all aware, this world is crazy. There are some wild standards in this world. There are some things that are socially acceptable that we need to run far away from! So what Paul is saying is that we need to be different. We need to not fit in with what this world is doing!

So Jonathan, What should I do instead?

Paul said to be TRANSFORMED. Being transformed is being made completely different. How do we be transformed? Through the renewing of our mind!

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

In order to be transformed, we must transform our thinking. Our thoughts are formative to all of our life. It’s one of the staples within our business coaching curriculum as well. We help train business owners to take hold of their thoughts and move them from negative to positive. On average, most people think around 40,000-60,000 thoughts per day. Statistically speaking, 80% are negaive thoughts and about 95% are the same thoughts as the day before.

So we default to negativity, and we get in a rut and continue day-in and day-out to think negatively. That is why the apostle Paul emphasizes to take control of our mind and focus on the things that are good.

If you are going to be a disciple, especially a disciple who makes disciples, you must focus on the things that are mentioned in Phil. 4:8. And the only way to do that is to be familiar with those things.

The only way to know that which is true, honorable, just, etc is to immerse yourself in scripture every single day. Devote yourself to the apostles’ teaching as the new believers did in Acts 2. When you became a Christian, why did you do so? Was it just for the “get out of hell free card”? Was it for the acceptance of your peers? Or was it in response to the love and grace that Christ displayed on the cross? If you are truly a Christian, seeing that display of love and grace should make you long to do whatever you can to please God. We are forever indebted to him for the great mercy he gave. That’s why Paul often refers to himself as a “doulos,” a bondservant, someone working to satisfy a debt.

In order to be a true disciple, we must be transformed.

Closing

In closing, we are headed out into a field ready for harvest every day. Go out and harvest. And bring them into the barn so we can get them ready for kingdom work.

Next week we will have our anniversary celebration. We’ll have some games set up and we’re going to grill out. Bring somebody who needs to hear the Word! We will be focusing on “Worship the Lord.” It’s gonna be a great one!