Disciplehsip

Matthew 28:18-20 States for us the passage we like to title “the great commission” it reads...

Matthew 28:18–20 NASB95

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

As we look at our passages in Luke today we are dealing with Discipleship and what that looks like. Jesus gives some very practical and straight forward instructions on what that should look like. Luke in chapter 10 and the first section of Ch 11 will take us through some familiar portions of scripture...

The sending out of the larger group of disciples

We will look at the greatest commandment

Christ will illustrate with the passage about the Good Samaritan

We will see the contrast between Mary and Martha

And close with Christ teaching His disciples to pray (which is paramount for all disciples)

First however, I would like to illustrate something to our church body… our local fellowship.

Look at the following slides and don't allow these images to be seen without personal conviction concerning our passages today...

This is our church family in this Valley...

This is our church family in Rifle...

This is our church family in Parachute...

NOTICE: where the church is NOT!

Notice where the X is 755 Spencer Parkway… notice… NO CHURCH!

We merely gather here from time to time

With this image think about what Christ is challenging and commanding of His disciples Luke 10:1-3

Luke 10:1–3 NASB95

Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. “Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

Ernest Shackleton a famous explorer supposedly ran an article in the newspaper to try to recruit men for his Endurance expedition:

“Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.”

Legend has it that 5000 men responded to the ad… There is no proof this ad ever ran. Never the less I never cease to be amazed at the way this ad can get the hearts of men and women pumping… yet when Jesus, the very Son of God, puts forth a charge we hesitate, our spines grow weak, we find excuses to avoid the call to be and to make disciples.

As Disciples There Is A Mission

Did you notice verse 3??? “lambs in the midst of wolves”!!!

This will be dangerous! Lambs only strategy for defense… stay close to the shepherd! stay close together!

There is a huge task… laborers are needed!

This is not just the 12 this time… no doubt they where a part but there is more

This ministry is not just theirs alone… let’s hope not, God has the world in view for the harvest!

MAP… Discipleship is not just for the pastors and elders!

The task is monumental! Help is needed!

Notice help is NOT pushed or coerced… God supply's the workers, He is Lord of the Harvest!

Beseech = fancy way of saying pray with passion, urgency, fervor, to plead with heart!

WHY? It is He who works in hearts

It is He who is doing the work

It is He who will supply! PRAY

No well worded ads, fancy and attractive programs, but rather fervent prayer!

There was an urgency expressed to the disciples...

Don’t pack, carry only what’s on your back, no money I will supply… Luke 22:35 Jesus reminds them God did provide

Luke 22:35 NASB95

And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.”

Our ministry and service to God is ALWAYS dependent on Him!

The message was urgent… “the Kingdom of God has come near to you” verse 9.

They were going ahead of Jesus on His way to Jerusalem they were to share the message… not convincing people. Luke 10:16

Luke 10:16 NASB95

“The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

Part of this urgency expressed is the outcome of the listener… there is blessing to those who believe, yet divine judgement for those who do not!

As Disciples We Are Blessed

We are blessed to be a part of His work!

It is exciting to see God work…Luke 10:17 but guard your hearts...

Caution with power remember it is about your relationship with Him (keep the right focus)

This understanding of our relationship will keep our hearts in check

We are blessed to be chosen… Luke 10:21-22 it was not because we were stellar choices

Jesus Himself praises God!!!

Luke 10:21–22 NASB95

At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

We are blessed to see and hear the things of Jesus… to hear and see Jesus is to hear and see God, they are One in the same!

As Disciples We Are Called to a Higher Standard

A lawyer ask a question (respectfully “teacher”... “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus in His answer and parable answers “what a disciple must be to inherit eternal life”

While the lawyer looked at the actions/deeds Jesus looks straight at the heart who you are.

Doing looks at “loving acts”

Being looks at who you are… why you do what you do

Don’t identify your neighbors… BE the good neighbor, BE the loving neighbor, BE the neighbor to share the love and mercy of God

But pastor you don't know my neighbor...

The contrast of the story is vivid for this man of the law...

Levite and a priest… those who are religious masters at doing

Yet they show no compassion or mercy for this fellow Jew

May we not be focused on looking religious on a Sunday and walk by those around us who are in need!

Samaritan, despised, hated by Jews of all walks. Jesus shows as the hero! There was no Jew who would give the title “Good” to any Samaritan.

Cares for this Jew, gives his wine, his oil, his money, his, donkey… Gives of himself for this Jew who hated him.

Who proved to BE a good neighbor? The lawyer can’t bring himself to even say “The Samaritan”

the issue is not our actions necessarily but a matter of our hearts. Do you and I truly love God fully and completely? It starts there… we cannot BE or DO without the starting point of this relationship!

A Disciple’s Intimate Relationship with God

God wants more than a surface relationship Luke 10:38-42

Luke 10:38–42 NASB95

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Martha was distracted… doing service can take away from intimate time with Jesus

Worry accompanies this mindset

Many things begin to bother us when we allow this to get off-balanced

Martha was not concerned she needed to be at His feet listening, rather that Mary was not working too!

Martha needed to learn to give the Lord and his word priority even over loving service.

Nothing is more intimate than hearing from God (His Word) and talking to God (prayer)

Jesus’ life and ministry were encased in times of prayer… and His disciples saw this. (Teach Us) Luke 11:2-4

Luke 11:2–4 NASB95

And He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. ‘Give us each day our daily bread. ‘And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ”

Father, (an intimate relational address, Abba) hallowed (Holy, reverence before God) be Your name.

Your kingdom come. (Keeping an eternal mindset in front of us)

‘Give us each day our daily bread. (daily needs, God cares)

‘And forgive us our sins, (Jesus does this at Calvary once for all, yet this is about fellowship relationship)

For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. (we can only forgive with God’s help, we recognize our own need for forgiveness first… log / splinter Simon/woman)

And lead us not into temptation.’ ”(God is the One who strengthens us in times of trials from falling into temptation. Stay close to Him)

Jesus gives three illustrations on us approaching the Father in Prayer:

In a negative example, a human friend responds because of persistence, God will respond even greater to our needs and desires us to come to Him and is not annoyed

If a son ask for fish given a snake?

If a son ask for an egg, and is given a scorpion?

Jesus shows these examples of human relationships to show the greater more intimate one we have with our Heavenly Father who desires and wants what is good for His children. Luke 11:13

Luke 11:13 NASB95

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

God supplies for both our physical and spiritual needs.

Church… God has a harvest He is ready to reap. He desires you and me to be disciples (learners) of Him and in turn as we go to make disciples (learners) of Him. My prayer is that He will work in your hearts to be used to work in the hearts of others we pass by and interact with.