Are you a Christian or Disciple

Introduction: When you strip everything else away, what’s the core of who we are and what we do and where we’re going as a church?

Word association game: What’s the first image that pops into your mind when I say Christian?

Vegan

Nascar Fan

Georgia Bulldog Fan

Banjo Player

Christian

If I asked 10 people on the street or in the Church I’d probably get several different responses.

Some may say “I became a Christian … “ or “I was baptized … “ or “I started going to church … “

Some interesting facts … The very first followers of Jesus did not call themselves “Christians” … first see it in (it was a derogatory term) something along the lines of “a little Christ (Messiah)” or another way to put it “you are all just little Jesus’” … “you just want to be little Jesus’ walking around”

They called themselves “Disciples” (Christian 3X in the Bible, Disciple 281X)

Can I suggest to you that in changing the primary word that we use to describe ourselves, we lost the clarity of the word disciple conveyed about what a follower of Jesus actually is.

A lot of people who call themselves Christians are not Disciples.

I called myself a Christian … but I was certainly not a Disciple.

The Call of Jesus

“As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Does this seem a little odd to you? This guy comes out of nowhere … and they follow Him”

Boys at 5 years of age … School of Torah … 5 years memorizing the Torah

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

At age 10 upper 20% would continue on until age 17 (rest of OT)

Another cut … if you wanted to continue you had to find a Rabbi who would accept you as his Talmidim (Hebrew word for Disciple)

Very picky in selection (smartest and brightest) … not only learn what they knew, but to be just like them. To imitate them in every way.

To respond just like them in every situation.

The greatest compliment you could give to a Talmidim was that “the dust of your Rabbi is all over you.”

In Jesus day .. Smicha = authority, Special Rabbi, incredible insight into Scripture

Recognize names like Hillel, Gamaliel

They regarded Jesus as one of these … Smicha

At the age of 12 … “you have heard it said, but I say to you” … “they were amazed, cause he taught them as one with authority (Smicha)” … “where did you get authority”

And so here Jesus comes to Peter and James … “follow me” and they leave everything to follow Him.

The fact that they were fisherman … what does that tell you?

They didn’t make the cut, Not the A team … they were the B team

5 Things We Note in Jesus Calling of His Disciples

1. He Doesn’t Choose the Best!

He doesn’t choose the best … He chooses the willing

John MacArthur: In choosing His disciples, Jesus skipped all the why’s of the day. The great scholars were in Egypt. The great library was in Alexander. The great philosophers were in Athens. The powerful were in Rome. He passed over Herodotus, the historian. And Socrates, the great thinker. And Julius Caesar, the great ruler. He chose men to be His disciples so ordinary it was comical. Not a single rabbi. No teachers, no religious experts, not even a synagogue ruler. Half of them were fishermen. One was essentially an IRS agent and one of them was a former terrorist.

He chose the B team … His work would not come by the most talented, smartest, most trendy, most eloquent, most educated, most glamorous … His work would come through those most WILLING

“Here I am Lord, send me!”

The Greg and Beverly Wooton … Africa (Booker Banda)

He taught that His power in the weakest vessel was infinitely greater than the greatest talent apart from Him.

The question isn’t “how able are you” it’s “how available are you”

We can be guilty in the church of “keeping the willing from serving”

2. God Chose Us, Not We Him

The disciples weren’t looking for him, he sought them out

You weren’t looking for Him … He was looking for you

This should give you and me confidence when Jesus says:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

Peter walking on the water … he lost confidence not in Jesus ability to walk on the water. He lost confidence in Jesus’ ability to make him walk on the water.

When God directs you … “why, I could never” “oh, I don’t think I could” “yeah, I just don’t have the personality for that”

It’s “Him” not “I” … the wrong pronoun!

Or, you’re just not willing … “Go and make disciples ...”

He has called you so that you will “Go and bear fruit that will last”

3. Our Primary Call is to be With Him

Notice He said to “follow me”

He didn’t tell them where they were going, what assignment he had for them, how long they would be with Him. Just “follow me”

His primary call was for them to be with Him.

If they were to be like Him … they had to be with Him and they had to know Him.

Think like He thought, walk like He walked, talk like He talked

And if you and I are to be followers of Him, we have to do the same!

Soak in His Word. - You cannot know Jesus any more than you know His Word!

Walk in the Spirit.

Listen to Him.

Trust Him.

Obey Him.

Wednesday Night Classes - D Group - Small Group - BSF - Sunday Morning

Parents

4. We See You Had to Leave it

Vocation

trust and dependency

testing/proving ground

priority of the mission

Family

most important relationship

most important alligence

College - summer and serve overseas on mission

High School Student - you’re gonna be the only one

Business - face ethical and decisions of conscience

Elderly - may have to leave your home

#5 He Commands to Reproduce Spiritually

“fishers of men’ If it’s not a part of what you do, according to Jesus, then you’re not a disciple.

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

You see … God’s plan to fulfill the mission is not … it’s you!

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Conclusion:

Get Connected - Small Group (class next Sunday)

Make a Disciple

Select you One and begin praying for them daily beginning today

Be here consistently over the next 4 weeks.

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