The Beginning of Discipleship

ESS: Believers must experience the crucified life.

OSS: Believers will surrender wholly to the will of Christ.

PQ: What does it mean to be “Crucified with Christ?”

Galatians 2:20 NLT

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

UW: Principles

TITLE: The Beginning of Discipleship

INTRODUCTION:

· Illustration:

o “Belief vs. Discipleship” (KMB 113)

“To believe costs nothing; to follow Christ is expensive.

I believe in Christ’s work for me, but discipleship is the result of His work in me.

“To believe costs nothing; to follow Christ is expensive.

Believers consider themselves first; disciples consider Christ first.

I believe in Christ’s work for me, but discipleship is the result of His work

Believers (only) produce no perfect fruit, but disciples are known by their fruit.

Believers consider themselves first; disciples consider Christ first.

Belief saves my soul, but discipleship glorifies Christ.

Believers (only) are not necessarily known as Christians, but disciples are known as Christians.

Believers (only) produce no perfect fruit, but disciples are known by their fruit.

Believers go to heaven; disciples are richly rewarded there.”

Belief saves my soul, but discipleship glorifies Christ.

—Calvary Church News

Believers (only) are not necessarily known as Christians, but disciples are known as Christians.

· Jesus’ death should have a practical impact on your life and mine. In this passage, we see the needed impact. We are to lead a “crucified life”.

Believers go to heaven; disciples are richly rewarded there.”

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

—Calvary Church News

· Jesus’ death should have a practical impact on your life and mine. In this passage, we see the needed impact. We are to lead a “crucified life”.

"My old self has been crucified with Christ".

1. The will must be sacrificed daily. ()

I. CHRIST LIVING THROUGH YOU ( A).

1 Corinthians 15:31 NLT

31 For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you.

Galatians 2:20 NLT

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

31 For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you.

A. This begins with a crucified will.

a) You must die to self -will, that Christ might live through you.

1. The will must be sacrificed daily. ()

b) You must seek his will continually.

1 Corinthians 15:31 NLT

31 For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you.

(1) Through the clear teachings of Scripture.

a) You must die to self -will, that Christ might live through you.

(a) Examples:

b) You must seek his will continually.

(i) Witnessing ()

(1) Through the clear teachings of Scripture.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

(ii) Praying ()

(a) Examples:

17 Never stop praying.

(i) Witnessing ()

(iii) Stewardship ()

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

(ii) Praying ()

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT

17 Never stop praying.

(iv) Worship ()

(iii) Studying ()”

25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

(iv) Stewardship ()

(vi) Love ()

Malachi 3:10 NLT

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

(v) Worship ()

12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

Hebrews 10:25 NLT

25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

(2) Through the conviction and leadership of the Holy Spirit.

(vi) Love () "

John 15:12 NLT

12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

(a) Convicting of sin in your life. ()

(2) Through common principles taught in Scripture.

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

()

(b) Calling you to service () ()

2 Corinthians 5:14–18 NLT

14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.

(c) God is to be our pilot, not our co-pilot!

(a) Examples:

* If God is the copilot, you are in the wrong position.

(i) Associations

2. The will must be sacrificed completely. ()

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

(ii) Entertainment

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

a) Die to the world.

(iii) Hobbies

1) This means that you must choose to make your relationship with and service to Christ more important than anything else in the world.

(3) Through the conviction and leadership of the Holy Spirit.

*Like Paul did. () "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.* For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith."

Philippians 3:8–9 NLT

8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

(a) Convicting of sin in your life. ()

* Story about young man who chose to obey Christ's call over the desires of his family.

John 16:8 NLT

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

b) Die to your own will.

(b) Calling you to service () ()

(1) Even in regard to good things. ()

c) God is to be our pilot, not our co-pilot!

6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. 9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

2. The will must be sacrificed completely. () “

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

"It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me."

a) Die to the world.

1. Letting Christ live through you is key.

b) Die to your own will.

a) Christ lives in you.

(1) Even in regard to good things. ()

(1) He entered at the point you trusted in Him.

Acts 16:6–10 NLT

6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. 9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

B. This continues as we walk in Christ’s will.

()16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

John 14:16–17 NLT

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

()13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

1. Letting Christ live through you is key.

Ephesians 1:13–14 NLT

13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

(2) At this moment He is still there.

a) Christ lives in you.

() “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”[1]

Hebrews 13:5 NLT

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

(1) He entered at the point you trusted in Him. () ()

b) Christ lives through you as you allow Him to.

John 14:16–17 NLT

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

Ephesians 1:13–14 NLT

13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

() 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

(2) At this moment He is still there. ()

(1) Hymn: “Let Others See Jesus In You”

b) Christ lives through you as you allow Him to. ()

(2) The Primary objective is to allow Him to fill you and live fully through you.

John 12:32 NLT

32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

(1) Hymn: “Let Others See Jesus In You”

(a) Illustration: What God Claims” (KMB 113)

“What God claims, I yield;

(2) The Primary objective is to allow Him to fill you and live fully through you.

What I yield, He accepts;

(a) Illustration: What God Claims” (KMB 113)

What He accepts, He fills;

“What God claims, I yield;

What He fills, He uses;

What He uses, He blesses.”

What I yield, He accepts;

—Moody Monthly

What He accepts, He fills;

Galatians 2:20 NLT

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

What He fills, He uses;

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

What He uses, He blesses.”

1. This life begins by faith.

—Moody Monthly

()8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

Ephesians 2:8 NLT

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

II. CHRIST’S LOVE OPERATING IN YOU ( B).

a) Not by works

Galatians 2:20 NLT

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

() For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.[2]

A. The faith relationship enables us to live for Christ.

Romans 3:20 NLT

20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

(1) Acrostic:

1. This life begins by faith. ()

(a) F orsaking

Ephesians 2:8 NLT

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

a) Not by works ()

(b) A ll

(c) I

(1) Acrostic:

(d) T rust

(a) F orsaking

(e) H im

(b) A ll

(2) It is a belief that commits the utmost to one who is unseen.

(a) Past Sins

(c) I

(b) Present circumstances

(d) T rust

(c) Future plans

(e) H im

2. This life continues by faith.

()17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

(2) It is a belief that commits the utmost to one who is unseen.

Romans 1:17 NLT

17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

a) This means relinquishing control to Him!

(a) Past Sins

(b) Present circumstances

()

1 John 4:10 NLT

10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

(c) Future plans

1. We respond to His love.

2. This life continues by faith. ()

2. This response to His love bears fruit.

Romans 1:17 NLT

17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

a) This means relinquishing control to Him!

CONCLUSION:

A- Summary

B. This faith relationship empowered by love gives motivation for service. ()

1 John 4:10 NLT

10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

B- Illustration:

1. We respond to His love.

· “Burning Bridges” (KMB 108)

2. This response to His love bears fruit.

A young woman who was converted several years ago wrote me a letter. She had made a profession of salvation, but had never gone on. Her experience is just what keeps many from walking in close fellowship with Christ. In her letter she said: “I had so many idols, I wasn’t willing to face the ridicule of my office associates, yes, and of my own relations; also I belonged to several worldly clubs. I loved the friendship of worldly people whom I was sure would scorn me if I was a true Christian. I loved too well the good things of the world, like clothes, beyond what I could afford, but as this year draws near its close, by God’s help, I am going to ‘burn my bridges’ and tear every idol from my heart, and from henceforth be a true Christian.”

—Sunday School Times

CONCLUSION:

o

A- Summary

B- Illustration:

* 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of Christ.

· “Burning Bridges” (KMB 108)

[1] Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), .

A young woman who was converted several years ago wrote me a letter. She had made a profession of salvation, but had never gone on. Her experience is just what keeps many from walking in close fellowship with Christ. In her letter she said: “I had so many idols, I wasn’t willing to face the ridicule of my office associates, yes, and of my own relations; also I belonged to several worldly clubs. I loved the friendship of worldly people whom I was sure would scorn me if I was a true Christian. I loved too well the good things of the world, like clothes, beyond what I could afford, but as this year draws near its close, by God’s help, I am going to ‘burn my bridges’ and tear every idol from my heart, and from henceforth be a true Christian.”

—Sunday School Times

[2] Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), .

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