The Heart of a Disciple

Romans 14:6–8 ESV

The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

Romans 14:6–8 ESV

The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

Matthew 16:24–25 ESV

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Self-Directed Life

Christ-directed Life

2 Corinthians 5:12–15 ESV

We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

1 Peter 4:1–2 ESV

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

Philippians 3:7–8 ESV

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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

Luke 9:23–24 ESV

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

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (ESV)

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Happy Fathers Day! We honor our fathers today.

I’ve preached a number of Father’s day sermons over the years including “Forgiving Our Fathers” and “A Father’s Blessing”

This is not one of those messages, but it’s still relevant.

We are in a series “Living Like Jesus’ Disciples”

We have covered many good aspects of discipleship, but there is a core message that hasn’t been presented. At least, not directly.

If you take a discipleship training course at YWAM or attend any number of Bible Schools that teach discipleship you will learn something that will revolutionize the way you understand Christianity.

When you became a Christian, you probably invited Jesus into your life.

Maybe you thought Jesus would change your life and make it better.

Maybe you wanted to go to heaven when you die.

Maybe something that someone said just made sense and you wanted to respond somehow.

respond somehow.

Did you know that when you gave your life to Christ it ceased to be yours?

Fatherhood illustration: When I became a husband, and then a father, I could no longer live for myself. My life was now directed toward my responsibility to my wife and children.

When you became a follower of Jesus Christ (that’s what “disciple” means) your life took on a new purpose, a new priority and a new direction.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ESV

Matthew 16:24–25 ESV

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Jesus said this before he died on the cross!

Crucifixions were common. Perhaps they were watching one when he said this.

Without Jesus’ crucifixion as a backdrop, the obvious meaning was that the disciples were following Jesus at the risk of their lives.

Followers of Jesus need to consider the cost of becoming a disciple.

Following Jesus is a choice, but after that all your choices are determined by that one choice.

Military Illustration: A co-worker who had signed up for service received his orders and reported that as of a certain date he no longer had a choice as to what he would be doing.

As a disciple, your choices are determined by your purpose.

The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. ESV

Romans 14:6–8 ESV

The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

We can make different choices and even different opinions, but we have one purpose- to honor God.

In fact, God will call different people to different kinds of service. He honors who He made us to be.

God also gives us meaningful choices, many of which may be right or good.

But we need to know and understand what we are here for- that is our purpose.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Did you know that your salvation was a legal transaction?

When you accepted Christ as your Savior it was an exchange- your life for His.

We know that Jesus died for our sins, but did you know that your life now belongs to Him?

1. Q. What is your only comfort in life and death?

A. That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

Illustration: A professor of mine had been using the Heidelberg Catechism in their family devotion time. In Sunday School the teacher asked his four-year-old son if he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart. He replied, “I already belong to Jesus!”

Inviting Jesus into your heart is not enough.

Evangelicals are known for using the terminology of inviting Jesus into our hearts. It’s not wrong, but it doesn’t go far enough.

o A popular tract advertises salvation as a “free gift”. Yes, it is a free gift, but it will cost you everything!

A popular tract advertises salvation as a “free gift”. Yes, it is a free gift, but it will cost you everything!

During the Church growth movement preachers were encouraged to preach “need based” messages. Find a felt need and tell people how Jesus can meet that need.

The problem is that many people never understood that the gospel is not about them being happy, feeling better or having a better life- it about God restoring order to the world by undoing the selfishness of sin through the sacrifice Himself.

1 Peter 4:1–2 ESV

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

Campus Crusade for Christ made the “throne diagram” popular in response to this problem. Jesus needs to be on the throne of your life.

The self-directed life

The Christ-directed life

If you want victory over sin or deliverance from the enemy, you need to first establish ownership. To whom do you belong?

The only way to be free from a strong master is to belong to a stronger Master.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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 ESV

Philippians 3:7–8 ESV

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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

Paul found that everything that he took pride in, humanly speaking, was hindering him spiritually.

Belonging to Christ is freeing! You are giving yourself to the One who gave Himself for you!

Luke 9:23–24 ESV

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

Discipleship is a daily decision.

In Luke’s account we have the addition of the word “daily” to the text.

Luke is writing primarily to a Gentile audience. “Free-thinkers” who perhaps struggle with the idea of belonging.

The world pulls us in so many directions, we need to know where we are headed in life.

Life has meaning and purpose. It is to continue the work that Jesus began.

Following is a continuous activity.

A disciple is a follower.

In Jesus’ time students “followed” their teachers.

Not like on Facebook. They actually went with them everywhere. Listened to what they had to say and did what they were told to do.

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (ESV)

Philippians 4:9 ESV

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

When you became a Believer, a follower of Christ, that was just the beginning.

Jesus is still working through His disciples

Paul describes the passion that motivates him in ministry.

We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. ESV

2 Corinthians 5:12–15 ESV

We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Is the “love of Christ” a spiritual force?

Is it the example of Jesus in Paul’s mind?

Is it Paul’s new identity, the exchanged life?

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (ESV)

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Questions for Reflection:

What motivated you to follow Christ? Does your faith revolve around what God can do for you? Or does your life revolve around who you are in Christ?

Is Jesus on the throne in your life? Can you point to a time in your life when your life became God’s and was no longer yours alone. When temptation or discouragement come to mind, try responding with “I belong to Jesus!”

How does your decision to follow Christ continue to shape the way that you live? What life choices have you made because of your choice to follow Christ. What areas of your life still need to be exchanged for His life?

What motivates you?

It’s not wrong to want a good life, just backward. (Seek Him first)

Is your desire to serve God because of guilt or gratitude?

Is Jesus a part of your life or does your life revolve around Him?

The Heart of a Disciple

The heart of a disciple is surrendered to God

The heart of a disciple belongs to Jesus.

Jesus lives in (and through) the heart of a disciple.

A New Purpose: The heart of a disciple is surrendered to God.

A New Priority: The heart of a disciple belongs to Jesus.

A New Direction: Jesus lives in and through the heart of a disciple.