Discipleship 2,

The meaning of Take up Your Cross. Luke 9:23

Cross as the symbolic of a burden to carry and carry up to Golgotha represent public shamefulness. Condemn publicly, summit to their authority and totally surrender. it is a call to absolute surrender. Christ’s example.

Taking up your cross and the cost of discipleship. How does it apply to us today? Are we willing to follow Jesus if it means:Giving up some of our time? Giving our finances to Him? serving Him and other? Losing some of our closest friends? Separation from our family? Losing our job? suffering for Him? being persecuted for Him and losing our life? People don’t give up much time for Christ, not read the Bible.

Taking up Your Cross means Commitment. We cannot have the full blessings of God without the willingness to pay the price for them. Times, money, and lives. God Blessing have a Cost, two basic principles, Blessings comes from God and most blessings require a sacrifice to obtain them. Blessing are; what God gives us based upon our love for Him and the sacrifice we make to follow Him. Why we say sacrifice? because they are not what our natural desires would choose. Flesh love and spiritual love, Gal. 6:7-9

Taking up Your Cross Values Eternal Riches. The focus on eternity. Matt. 6:26-27. Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose” For example, Abraham father of Faith. Gen.22:1-2. Mount Moriah, Solomon built the temple. Gen.22:11-12, Abraham displayed his faith and obedience to God by his willingness to sacrifice his “ALL” on the altar. Blessings were given to him as a result of the cost he paid to follow God.

The Meaning of Save Your Life and Lose Your Life. Jesus repeatedly describes Matt. 10: 39, 16:25, Mark 8:34-35, Luke 9:24, 17:33 and John 12:25. Save means to rescue from danger or destruction, refer to keeping control of your life. Lose means to destroy, to perish. Willingness to give up. Matt. 10:34-39, Family Division. Matt 16:24-28, Gaining the World and losing your soul, Luke 17:32-33, Example of Lot’s life and John 12:23-25, A Grain of Seed that dies.

Church Attendance and Saving Your Life. 20.5% of Americans frequently attended church in 1995. 19% in 1999 and 18% in 2002, in 2024, 14%. Richard Krejcir Church leadership Development (FASICLD).

The Meaning of Hate Your Family, Father, Mother and Wife or Husband. Luke 14:26. Loving Christ more than anyone else is the ultimate test. Abraham sacrifices Issac. Many Christians today fear their friends, family, and culture more than God.

The Essential Components of Discipleship. What are the essential components? Discipleship functions as a vehicles which combine the grace of God and human effort for attaining spiritual maturity because spiritual maturity is impossible without the development of our relationship with God. Then, what is spiritual maturity? It is not perfection but making a process. Matt. 28:20, Spiritual maturity according to CHRIST is summed up by complete obedience to all of Scripture.

2Peter1: 5-7, Peter focuses on knowledge, attitudes, and character as essential to spiritual maturity. Paul defines spiritual maturity as, 1. a person who can understand and receive the wisdom of God from the scripture. 1Cor. 2:6-9. 2. Their thinking maturity 1 Cor. 14:20, 3. Until we reach Christ. Ephesians 4:13. 4. Using God’s Word as a solid food, Heb. 5:11-14, 5. A person with a transformed mind, Rom. 12:1-2. It is God’s purpose for us. God was grieved with Israel, Jer 17:23.

The Knowledge of God and Discipleship. Donald Whitney states, No spiritual disciple is more important than the intake of God’s Word. Nothing can substitute for it. Why is God’s Word so Vital to Discipleship? it is the foundation upon which other essential components rest. LifeWay Publishing research said, only 19% of Christian read Bible regularly that indicates 81% Christians are biblically illiterate. John 1:1, 14, Christ is the living Word. To say that the knowledge of Scripture is not important is to say that Christ is not important.

The Bible is Unique and unlike any other writing known to Mankind. 1. The inspiration 2Tim 3:16-17, 2Peter 1:20-21. 2. The Bible claims to be living, Heb.4:12. 3. Christ affirmed Luke 24:25-27. 4, Christ claims to be the very Word of God. John 1:1,14. 5, Apostles affirmed, Act 2;14-42, quoting Joel 2:28-32, Ps 16:8-11,110:1. and NT writers affirmed 855 quoting from OT. 5, The Bible claims to be eternal, Isaiah 40:8, 1Peter 1:25 and Matt.24:35.

We follow Christ by following His Word. “Follow Me”is imperative mood which means command. Jesus gives discipleship training 3 and half years to apostles. Today Believers? 19% read their Bible regularly, daily, 26% read their Bible a few times a week, 14% read their Bible once a week, 22% read their Bible once in a month and 18% rarely or never read their Bibles. Heb 5:11-14.

Why God’s Word is important in Discipleship? 1. It’s food for our souls. Matt.4:2-4. 81% of believers are starving their souls, and by doing so, they never reach spiritual maturity. 2. It causes us to grow in Christ, 1Pet.2:2. 3. It renews our minds and changes our thinking Rom.12:1-2. 4. It strengthens our faith, Rom 10:17. 5. It gives us life, John 6:63, Ps 19:8.6. It instructs us all matters, 2Tim.3:16-17. 7. It protects us from sin and destruction, Ps 119:11, and it brings success in life, Josh 1:8.

Self Discipline and Discipleship. Godliness comes through discipleship. Donald Whitney boldly states, “I can say that I’ve never known a man or woman who came to spiritual maturity except through discipline.” Discipleship requires self discipline. Proverbs 5:11-14. Self discipline is one of the fruits of Holy Spirit. Gal.5:23. It means train yourself. 1Cor. 9:24-27, 1Tim.4:6-8. 2Tim. 2:3-4. Edman said “Discipleship means discipline” and an undisciplined person is unable to be a disciple.

Obedience and Discipleship. 81% don’t read the Bible regularly, 61% have not shared their faith in the last six months. 75% didn't attend Bible study or small group and average Christian only prays somewhere between 1-7 minutes a day. John 14:15, 21, 15:10,14, 1John 2:3-4, Matt. 5:19. 1John3:24, God expresses His love to us through His command, we express our love to Him by obeying them.

Prayer and Discipleship. The average Christian prays between 1-7 minutes a day. Daniel Henderson did research that the average person lives 77 years = 28,000 days= 670,000 hours or 40 million minutes during their life time. The average person spends 24 minutes a day getting dressed= 13 hours a month, 7 days a year, 1 year in a life time. Using phone 40 minutes a day= 20 hours a month= 10 day a year and 2 years in a lifetime. Using bathroom 1 hours a day= 30 hours a month, 15 days a year and 3 years in a lifetime. Watching a TV, 90 hours a month, 45 days a years, and 9 years in a lifetime. Spending less than 10 minutes a day in a prayer= 6 hours a month, 3 days a year and 7 months in a lifetime.

What is the problem? The only reasonable explanation is that it’s not very important and therefore, not priority. Can you imagine How God feels about that? On Baptist Board website, average Christian pray a minute a day and average pastor prays five minutes a day. Martin Luther said I am so busy and only have 6 hrs to pray in a day. What is prayer? Mary FairChild suggests prayer is simply communicating with God- listening and talking to Him. Andrew Murray said prayer is not monologue, but dialogue, God voice is its most essential part. Listening to God voice is the secret of the assurance that he will listen to mine.

Through prayer, we can be honest, open, express our frustrations, problems, joys and sorrows. Prayer connects us to the ultimate power of the universe because it connects us with the Sovereign, Almighty God, Ruler, Owner, and King of it. No time spent in prayer is wasted. There is nothing more important we could do than prayer.

In the Bible 316 times mention about prayers. Jesus and Prayer, He prayed regularly and many times occasion got away by himself to spend time with the Father. Matt. 14:23, Mark 1:35, Before making big decision Luke 6:12-13, Luke 18:1, Matt. 26:41 and the priestly prayer John 17. Apostles and Prayer, Acts 1:14, 2:42, 3:1, 4:31, 6:4, 13:3. Christians Today and Prayer. Samuel Chadwick states, The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayer-less studies, work, and religion.

Why Should we pray? 1. By prayer, we have a relationship with God. without prayer, we cannot have a relationship with God.2. By prayer, God gives us the power to overcome temptations. Luke 22:39-46. 3. By prayer, God leads and directs our Paths. Proverbs 11:14, James 1:5. By prayer, God grants us peace, 1Peter 5:7, Phil. 4:4-7. E.M Bound says, “Prayer should not be regarded as a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed, a rare, unusual delight that is always revealing some new beauty.

Mentoring and Discipleship, Jesus discipleship was relationship and mentoring, it means models godly. Mentoring includes Sunday school classes, Bible studies, youth group even our family. Example, Moses mentored Joshua, Naomi mentored Ruth, Elijah- Elisha, Paul- Timothy 2Tim 2;1. Titus describes Godly mature men and women in the church teaches the younger men and women, Pastors, elders provides the best example and lead the church and Godly homes are the best places for discipleship. 1 Cor. 11:1, 1Thessalonians. 1:6.

Church Involvement develops Spiritual Maturity and Discipleship. Eph. 4:11-14. Church involvement provides a unique visitation of the Lord’s presence. God’s glory filled in the temple or Church where people are gathered together Ex 40:34, 1Kings 8:11, The Church was born on Pentecost as believers were gathered together Act 2. When persecution faced, the church prayer, the place shook with God ‘s presence Act 4, send out from the church Paul and Bar 13, Doctrinal decision 15, Many Spiritual gifts are intended to be exercises 1Cor. 12-14, Prayer for healing encouraged by the elders of the Church James 5.

Evangelism and Discipleship. It is the great commission mandate. Matt. 28:19, Mark 16;15, Christ central focuses on evangelism. Luke 19:10. Unfortunately, the majority of Christian don’t share their faith or invite their friends to church. For this reason Christ says Matt.9;37-38. Christ called His disciples to be fishers of Men Matt 4:19, But most Christians are not fishers of men. 80% christian believed sharing Gospel is their responsibility but 61% didn't even share in the last six months and 40% didn't care. Christ calls every believer to be witness Acts 1;8, Paul instructs Timothy 2Tim. 4:5 and 2 Cor. 5:18-19.

The Inner Life and Discipleship. Matt. 15;5-9, Our inner life is the true mark of our Spirituality. Matt. 23:27-28. The Importance of the Inner life. Klaus Issler said the inner life is how we live at home. God requirements for leader of Church. 1Tim 3:4-5.

Spiritual Gifts and Discipleship. Spiritual Gifts are special abilities God gives to each believer for their own personal benefit and for the benefit of others. It have been given to All believers. Eph 4:8-15. A spiritual mature person is one who knows their spiritual gifts, and has honed and sharpened them for maximum usage in God’s Kingdom. What are the Spiritual Gifts. Rom. 12:6-8, prophecy, service, teaches, exhorts, contributes, leads, acts of mercy, 7 gifts. 1Cor 12:7-10, wisdom, Knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguish between spirits, various kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues.

1 Cor. 12:28, apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healing, helping, administrating, various kinds of tongues, 8 gifts. Eph. 4:11-12, Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers, 5 gifts. There are 29 gifts and 21 different spiritual gifts in four different passages. Five gifts are mentioned indirectly in the Scripture, (1) 1 Cor 7;7, Celibacy. (2)Hospitality Heb 13:2. (3) Mission, Paul’s journeys (4) Casting out demons Matt 17:18, Mark 16:17. Act 16:16, Acts 19:11-16. Are those gifts for Today? But the words continuation and cease will define.

What are the purpose of Spiritual Gifts. To bring us to Spiritual maturity. Eph 4:8-15. built up each others. To manifest God’s presence. To build unity in the Church, Eph 4:12-13, To reveal our interdependence upon each other. 1Cor 12:21-26. To bring glory to God. The body of Christ which is the church grows God is glorified. 1Cor.3:10-11.

Serving and Discipleship, God created us to serve Him, Eph 2:10. to do good works. 1Pet 4:10-11, Christ came to serve. Matt 20:25-28. Christ gives example, John 13:12-17. Joh 12:26. Phil. 2:5-8, We must serve the Lord Rom 12:11.

Character and Discipleship. Character is foundational. Bible times, Knowledge was built upon the foundation of Scripture and godly character. Proverbs 1:2-4. Character is more important than skills, giftedness, knowledge, social skills and others important traits. God is greatly concerned with the quality of character we are building. The future He has planned for us will be built on the strength of character we build by His grace.

Abraham Lincoln said “ reputation, (good name) is the shadow. Character is the tree. Our character is much more than what we try to display for others to see; it is who we are even when no one is watching”. Babington Macauley claims, “ the measure of a man’s character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.” Amos 4:2. 1Thess. 1;4-5.

Why Character is so important? 2Peter 1:5-8, three essential components 1, Virtue (character) 2, Knowledge, 3. Attitudes. It takes time to develop character. Rom. 5:3-4, James 1:2-4. 1Pet. 1:7. How to develop it? Greg S Baker said, Building good character is all about addition not subtraction. 2Peter 1:5-9. Develop godly character in our lives. Moreover, ceasing wrong activities in order to build a good character. Eph. 4:22-24.

Stewardship and Discipleship, How we use our time, how we use our money and possessions and how we care for and use our bodies? Ps 24:1. A Stewardship is someone who manages what belongs to another. They are not the owners; they are managers who are responsible to the owner. Our time, what is your life? James 4 : 14. Ps 39: 4-6. Moses understood this reality, Ps 90:12. Moses rejects Egypt’s pleasure Heb 11:24-25. Making the best use of time. Eph 5:15-16.

Our material possession. if we use our money and possessions primarily for our own purpose then that indicates we are still spiritually immature. Luke 12;16. Matt. 25:14. Giving to the Lord Financially. OT requires 10% minimum but they have addition, free will offering, temple offering, and offering for the poor, estimated Israelite give 25%. But in NT, we don’t see requirements but a principle of encouraging 2 Cor. 9:6-8. Mal 3:8-12, God warns them to be bless.

Stewardship of Our Body. 1Cor 3:16-17. it is not your own, 1 Cor. 6:19-20. Do you want to use for good or evil. Rom. 6:12-13, God wants you to use our body for living sacrifice Rom. 12:1, God forbids Destroying the body Lev 19:28. Proverbs 23:20-21. Deuteronomy 21:20, Philippians 3:19, Self discipline is the foundation of Christian’s life.