Walking the Path of True Discipleship

Summary: Discipleship is an ongoing journey where believers must navigate their faith daily, embracing growth, challenges, and the call to become more like Christ.

Application: This message can inspire Christians to see discipleship as a lifelong journey that shapes their character and priorities, encouraging them to persevere through trials and seek spiritual growth in their everyday lives.

Teaching: The sermon focuses on the dynamic process of discipleship which not only involves following Jesus but also growing in His likeness through trials, teaching us that true discipleship requires commitment and continual transformation.

How this passage could point to Christ: Throughout Scripture, Christ is the ultimate model of discipleship, demonstrating what it means to live in service, love, and sacrifice, setting the standard for how we are to follow Him as His disciples.

Big Idea: True discipleship is not just about following rules but developing a heart for Christ that transforms our lives, enabling us to reflect His character in every aspect of our existence and in our relationships with others.

Recommended Study: As you craft this sermon, consider exploring the role of perseverance in discipleship using theological studies in Logos. Examining historical and contemporary examples of discipleship can provide practical insights. Additionally, reflect on how various biblical figures exemplified the journey of faith to illustrate the transformative effects of true discipleship.

Luke 9:23–25 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. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

1. Christ's Call to Commitment

Matthew 4:18–22 ESV

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

In this passage we see Jesus calling His first disciples

In this we see an incredible example of commitment

we see this call to follow Jesus

Mind you they knew very little at the most about Jesus

But in this instance they recognized a call

a call to follow

a call to answer from the Master

Jesus simply says follow me and I will make you fishers of men

what a call

Jesus uses their language to reach out to them

He uses their language reach them

He calls them off of their boat

Jesus using ordinary people

calling ordinary people

but how do they respond

they drop everything!

What a commitment to God

These guys left their fathers family business

they left everything they knew

they left it all

why?

because the Master had requested their attention

more than that He had requested their commitment

both groups recognized a call from the Master and followed Him

While they did not know much about Jesus yet we do!

And with that understanding of Jesus comes our own call

Jesus has called for us to be fishers of men

he has called for us to follow Him

The first step of discipleship is recognizing the call

leading to salvation

The second is answering with commitment

Jesus calls for a group of commited believers to do the work of the Lord

These guys were sold out for the Kingdom of God since day 1

they did not follow for three years and give up

they eventually were so commited it cost them their lives

Jesus wants determined commited followers

whole heartedly seeking Him above everything else

Which leads us to understanding the cost

2. Cost and Cross of Following

Luke 9:23–25 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. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

Jesus very directly tells us in Luke that there is a cost of Discipleship

not saying there is an entry fee

or a monetary cost

instead it is much more

it is a cost of surrender

to some extent it could be the cost of life itself

Jesus is calling man to pick up his cross every day and follow Him

Jesus carried His cross we carry our cross

He carried His cross for us

we can at least carry our cross for Him

even though we won’t have to use ours

Jesus wants complete surrender

to the point where Jesus calls for those who save their life will lost it

whoever loses His life will keep it

Jesus said this life is much less important than our eternal ones

Here on earth we have two lives we can live for

we can live for the physical life

we can live for the eternal life

the physical life will be overcome with demands and needs that are all temporary

it will be filled with self satisfaction

it will be filled with a selfish mentality

a life lived for the world that does not reflect the glory of Heaven

Thus we get to the eternal life

a life lived for God

a life lived for God’s purpose

a life that is not focused on the temporary

but is focused on the eternal

The chiefs have a chance to make NFL history today

they have a chance to do what has never been done before

win 3 consecutive super bowls

what a great accomplishment

in this life

and I say this knowing I will be watching the game in anticipation

But there is a flaw in these first in history accomplishments

we are talking about temporary history

a history that will not stand the rest of time

a physical history

Yes it is an incredible thing to strive for in the temporary realm

but there is a spiritual realm that is worth so much more

a realm that lasts for all eternity

this is the realm that Jesus calls us to

I am not saying you cannot be a Chiefs fan and watch Chiefs football and hope for the 3peat

What I am saying is this is not what we should live for

this should not be our main focus of any day

this should not be an idol of worship

Our focus should be on the eternal God and His agenda first and foremost

seeking any and every chance to increase His Kingdom

even if it costs us our lives

Jesus calls to complete surrender which means understanding following Him means death to self and possibly death from persecution on earth

3. Connection for Spiritual Conversion

John 15:1–8 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

James 1:22–25 ESV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

to this point we have recognized the Call

we have answered the call with a commited heart

we have understood the cost and cross of Discipleship

now we must understand Faith in action

you see any person who is of God will produce fruit

a vine without fruit is not possible

God’s love is so overflowing it produces fruit that is not assumption that is fact

100% of the time it produces fruit

why?

because it is life changing

This is far from works based Salvation

This is recognizing that once we accept the Lord

we have a desire to serve the Lord

the balance here is recognizing the higher calling God has placed on us as servants of His word

we are called to produce fruit for Him