4 Marks of Discipleship

Announcments

January 26,27,28 winter retreat----start talking to parents

ladies - cookie decorating on Thursday 14th 6:30

Friday December 22nd -----Home alone or new cartoon grinch ---Christmas p.j? christmas games

bonfire- coco- popcorn —bring blanket or chair

Intro

title- 4 marks of discipleship

You dont applaud a fish for swimming

you dont applaud a man for walking

you dont applaud a christian for serving God

its whats expected

watched a swim meet

if you want to swim

you need certain qualaties

endurance

strength

determination—challenges

injuries

Thats expected if your going to compete

so if you were going to start swimming

Im not going to tell you something false

I will prepare you with expectations

open bible to luke 17 vs 1

recap—single day ---Jesus teaching pharisees and disciples

he eats with tax collectors and sinners

string of parables---recent rich man and lazarus

Jesus turns to His disciples

and prepares them for the normal Christian life.

gives 4 qualaties that mark a disciple of Christ.

1st mark - Enduring temptation

Luke 17:1–2 NKJV

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Teach

guarantee - offenses/ stumbling blocks

mcdonalds drive through—guarantee its coming

SIN/FALSE DOCTRINE

Leading cause is intelectualism

outsmarting the room

Apply

People will try to keep you from following God

A. Watch out for them

B. Dont become one yourself.

Teach

woe- who they come by

millstone-----punishment

better dead than causing liittle one to stumble ( christian)

Story

egyptian stories -

no sources --- not true

Elora story- \ works based religion

APPLY

Be ready for those temptations

(apostasy/ backsliding )

Satan is after you

1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

the escape from temptation is Jesus.

lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

2nd Mark --Forgiveness

Luke 17:3–4 NKJV

Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

teach-

take heed ---get ready

Brother--sin deserves rebuke

pointing out another’s behavior

with intent of correction.

example - catch a friend talking behind your back .

If he repents — a disciple forgives

forgiveness= freeing person from guilt

If he doesnt repent --- church discipline

you may not move on as friends but you still need to have the heart of forgivness.

7x in a day

raises standard from 3

Matthew 6:15 NKJV

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

God can forgive you over a million sins

and you cant forgive your brother once

you missing the heart of God.

3rd Mark --- Faith

Luke 17:5–6 NKJV

And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

JOKE- Funny that after Jesus teaches about forgiving your brother 7 times in a day

they ask for an increase in faith.

Teach -

Increase our faith

Jesus says — small faith can do great things

in light of forgiveness---faith to forgive

move the mulberry tree of anger from my heart

rebuke word of faith

not amount but presance

What is the object of your faith?

Result VS person of Christ.

Faith in God and his will

Jesus prayed for the cup to pass—nevertheless your will not mine

1 John 5:14 NKJV

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

James 4:3 NKJV

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Not Genie

but promises even small faith God will work in mighty ways

Apply

Same way apostles asked Jesus , you should pray for faith

in Him-- to believe his word

4th mark—obedience

Luke 17:7–10 NKJV

And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

owner has servant---

servant is in the field---comes in

expectation ---is to continue his work

prepare meal , serve , after you eat

Q. Does master thank him for doing his duty?

its like having a job mowing lawns

finish -----expect your boss to come and congratulate you.

Story- mike told me do you want a medal

A. This is the normal Christian life

expecting/ enduring temptation

forgivness,

rebuking sin in peoples life

having faith

B. duty to be obedient, because it is Gods will

C. How do we know what Gods will is.

Micah 6:8 NKJV

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

obedience to Gods justice

forgivness and mercy

humility

This is the expectation

Outro

As disciples heard these marks ---- they realized

they were falling short

Asked for faith

You may realize your falling short too.

you may be giving into temptation

fear of rebuke a friend in sin

struggling to forgive

faith may be wavering

disobedient.

Ask for God to increase your faith

Faith—not believing in God,

but believing God and all of the truth and promises in His word.

Normal christian life is a life lived by faith

ask and believe

God will work in you

this is just my duty

obedience is by grace and faith

And you must not boast

because it is God who works in you to live the christian life.

pray

God---