The Journey of Transformation: Becoming His Disciple

Introduction:

Volleyball illustration:

Why do we invest in activities and sports for our children?

We want them to become rich sports stars and fund our retirement.

We want them to learn discipline and other valuable life skills.

We want our children to grow up and become healthy, strong adults.

What if there was a place where they could continue to grow disciplined and healthy throughout a lifetime?

What if there was a community committed to building healthy individuals with the strength and peace to weather any storm?

Part 3: BECOME a disciple of Jesus our Savior

Week 3 of our mission series.

Define discipleship in the Christian context – not just learning information,

but undergoing personal transformation to become more like Christ.

It’s not about what you learn as much as who you become.

Pose a thought-provoking question to the congregation:

What does it really mean to become a disciple of Jesus in our everyday lives?

Luke 9:23–24 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

What is worth denying yourself and sacrificing?

taking care of kids

achieving an important goal

doing something that truley matters

saving a life

saving your life

Discipleship is a process that will cost your life and save it at the same time.

"Key Scripture: Luke 9:23-24 (Jesus' teaching on discipleship)

Additional Scripture References: Matthew 28:18-20 (The Great Commission)

John 15:8 (Bearing fruit as disciples)

Galatians 5:22-23 (The fruits of the Spirit)

2 Timothy 2:2 (Passing on what we have learned)

1 John 2:6 (Living as Jesus did)Exposition:

1. The Cost of Discipleship:

Luke 14:27-33 - Counting the cost and carrying one's cross to follow Jesus.

Luke 14:27–33 ESV

27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

We need to caution against sugar coating the gospel or preaching the proverbs.

Philippians 3:7-10 - Paul's example of considering everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ.

Philippians 3:7–10 ESV

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Jesus changed Paul’s life and used Paul to change the world.

What could you change in your family, in your community through the power of God.

2. The Mark of a Disciple: Love and Obedience:

John 13:34-35 - The new commandment to love one another as Jesus loved us.

John 13:34–35 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

We should first be marked by love

Jesus loved sinners and tax collectors and his disciples

Jesus rebuked religious people.

1 John 2:4-6 - The importance of walking in obedience as evidence of our discipleship.

3. The Growth of a Disciple:

1 John 2:4–6 ESV

4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Hebrews 5:12–14 ESV

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Close with a scripture blessing or prayer that commissions the congregation to go forth and live as disciples, such as Numbers 6:24-26 or Ephesians 3:16-19.

** – The process of maturing in spiritual understanding and discernment.

4. Multiplication of Disciples

2 Timothy 2:2 – Paul’s instruction to Timothy to entrust the teachings to faithful individuals who will be able to teach others also, emphasizing the generational nature of discipleship.

2 Timothy 2:2 ESV

2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Application:

Personal Reflection: Encourage members to reflect on their current stage in the discipleship journey and identify areas for growth.

Community Involvement: Highlight the importance of being involved in the life of the church for mutual edification and growth.

Mentorship: Challenge seasoned believers to mentor newer Christians, sharing their knowledge and experience in the faith.

Service: Motivate the congregation to find ways to serve within their church and community as an expression of living out their discipleship.

Illustration: Use the metaphor of a tree – it starts as a seed but grows over time to bear fruit and provide shelter, illustrating the growth and impact of a disciple’s life.

Share a real-life story of someone whose life dramatically changed after committing to discipleship, and how that transformation impacted their community.

Conclusion:

Reiterate that discipleship is a lifelong journey that requires commitment, sacrifice, and a willingness to grow and change. Emphasize that the ultimate goal of becoming a disciple is to glorify God by living a life that reflects Jesus’ love and teachings. Offer an invitation to those who have not started the journey of discipleship to take the first step today.

Benediction:

Ephesians 3:16–18 ESV

16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,