The Disciplined Disciple

Guide

Summary: This theme focuses on the call to be a disciplined disciple of Christ, emphasizing the importance of commitment, training, and growth in faith.

Application: This sermon encourages Christians to reflect on their own spiritual discipline and commitment to follow Christ, guiding them in practical steps to live out their faith more effectively amid everyday challenges.

Teaching: It teaches that being a disciple requires intentional effort, self-denial, and perseverance. Discipleship is a lifelong journey of becoming more like Christ through spiritual disciplines such as prayer, study of the Word, worship, and service.

How this passage could point to Christ: From the Old Testament through the New Testament, the concept of discipleship culminates in Christ's call to follow Him. Jesus models discipline and obedience, showing that true discipleship is evidenced through a transformed life reflecting His character and mission.

Big Idea: The disciplined disciple is one who actively pursues a deeper relationship with Christ, embodying the virtues and practices that reflect His love and teachings.

Recommended Study: Consider exploring the concepts of spiritual disciplines in your Logos library, particularly in works that discuss the integration of faith and practice. Investigate how various historical church figures approached disciples

Discipline is one of the key factors in living a Godly life and following what he called us to do. It is dying to ourselves and accepting that we must obey and be trained to become the person God wants us to be. To be his image and likeness, and to spread the Gospel to others through being a mirror of God.

hip and personal growth. This will provide insights into both biblical texts on discipline and contemporary applications of these principles.

The Disciplined Disciple

Prayer - Father, I ask that you open our minds, and that you guide us in your truth, and teach us. We want to follow your words, and live the life that you called us to live, but we understand that our humanity does not allow us to at some times. We want to learn how to be faithful servants, and how to be good disciples. Guide us throughout these teachings so that we can become disciplined disciples.

Proverbs 1:2 (HCSB)

For learning what wisdom and discipline are;for understanding insightful sayings;

Why did I choose Proverbs to reflect on Discipline?

The purpose of the book of Proverbs, amongst other things, is to learn what wisdom and discipline are. It says it right in the second verse. This opens our minds to the fact that we may have a wrong idea of what Wisdom and Discipline are.

What is Discipline?

The word Discipline is the word musar - meaning discipline; chastisement; training; exhortation, and warning. Its is used for instruction and discipline as training.

Instruction - Message - Describes how something is to be done - Used 16 times in the book of proverbs.

Discipline - Training - To improve strength or self-control - Used 11 times in the book of proverbs.

The root includes “instructed” or “supervised” by an instructor.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible - Learning that molds character and enforces correct behavior; from a Latin word meaning ‘instruction’ or ‘training’. Disciples are those who learn by following.

Why Discipline?

Discipline is a key factors in living a Godly life and following what he called us to do. It is dying to ourselves and accepting that we must obey and be trained to become the person God wants us to be. To be his image and likeness, and to spread the Gospel to others through being a mirror of God.

1. Pursue Persistent Practice

1 Timothy 4:7–8 “But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness, for the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

Perhaps you could emphasize Paul's exhortation to train oneself in godliness, highlighting the analogy of physical training with spiritual discipline. This point can stress the importance of prioritizing spiritual exercises which hold eternal promise over temporary bodily benefits. Reflect on how Jesus disciplined Himself in His earthly ministry, committing to prayer and resisting temptation as models for our own spiritual training.

2. Persevere Through Pain

Hebrews 12:1–2 “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.”

You could focus on the imagery of running the race with perseverance, throwing off everything that hinders. Highlight Jesus as the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. Challenge the congregation to remove distractions and seek Jesus' example in their spiritual race, calling them to persevere despite life's challenges.

3. Practice Daily Denial

Luke 9:23–24 “Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it.”

Maybe emphasize the call to take up one's cross daily, a metaphor for self-denial and commitment to Christ. Discuss how Jesus lived a life of ultimate self-denial and sacrifice, demonstrating perfect obedience to the Father. Encourage the congregation to embrace this call to die to self and live for Christ, assuring them of God's grace that empowers them to do so.

4. Produce Spiritual Fruit

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Consider discussing the fruits of the Spirit as evidence of a disciplined life in Christ. Highlight that these virtues are cultivated through consistent spiritual disciplines such as prayer and the study of Scripture. Jesus exemplified these fruits in His life on earth. Encourage believers to allow the Spirit to work in them, producing these fruits that reflect Christ’s character.

5. Put On The Full Armor Of God