Am I a Disciple?

Intro:

Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He prepared His followers for what He expected from them. He commanded them to go into all nations and make disciples.

Jesus did not say, go and make church members or Christians. Instead, His plan is that we would go and make disciples.

As we compare the modern day church with the New Testament church, we must remember that there is not two sets of rules or instructions.

It is not that Jesus expected His early followers to make disciples, but expect us to do nothing. Instead, we are to fulfill His command through the power of the Holy Spirit and make disciples.

What then is a disciple?

A disciple is the student of a teacher.

We are the students and Jesus is the teacher.

When God drew us to Jesus by the Holy Spirit, He did not save us to leave us alone. Instead, in His genius He plans to make us new and help us fulfill His plan for our lives.

Jesus disciples had three things in common that apply for all disciples.

Disciples respond to the gospel.

Disciples require a discipler.

Disciples realize necessary changes.

When we come to Jesus and accept Him as our Savior, His plan is that we become a disciple. Many churches boast in the number of people who prayed the sinner’s prayer.

While repenting of sin is important, Jesus’ plan for us is discipleship. He wants us to follow His lead and learn from His life and leadership.

Let’s watch a brief clip to explain this truth.

—> Play movie

I thought of this song as I wrote this lesson. Discipleship is simply that, following the leader. I want to ask three questions that will help us determine if we are a disciple.

1. Have I Left Everything?

Luke 9:57–62 NKJV

57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” 61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Following Jesus was popular for a while. By this point in Jesus’ life, He performed many incredible miracles. People knew His teachings.

They heard of how He raised people from the dead, opened blind eyes, healed the sick, and fed the crowds of hungry people. Becoming a disciple of Jesus seemed lucrative.

Following Jesus always cost something.

Becoming a disciple of Christ means leaving everything.

The first man promised to follow Jesus everywhere. Jesus explained he would have to leave his home for Jesus was homeless. That seemed too much.

Another man informed Jesus he would follow him, but he first needed to bury his father. Jesus’ answer seems insensitive. However, what the man meant was, my father is advanced in age and when he finally passes, then I will find you.

The final man wanted to follow Jesus, but wanted to have a big goodbye party with his family. Clearly, he was not prepared to leave everything.

Why does Jesus want us to leave everything?

Jesus knew what He was going to give. He was willing to lay down His life for humanity. Therefore, since He gave full devotion to God’s plan, He expects His disciples to do the same.

In each instance, their excuses showed they didn’t want to do what was necessary to truly be a disciple.

Luke 14:25–27 NKJV

25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Jesus uses a hyperbole or exaggeration to make His point. Because God is love, His use of the word hate really means, our love for God must outweigh everything else.

He was clear in what was expected of a disciple.

Following Jesus has to more important than anything else in life.

Do determine if I am a disciple, I have to ask, have I left everything?

2. Is Jesus my Priority?

Luke 18:18–23 NKJV

18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” 22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

As I mentioned, for a short time, following Jesus was the popular thing to do. One day, a man came to Jesus that appeared to be the perfect candidate to become a disciple.

However, there are few flaws in his questions, First, he asked what I must do to inherit eternal life. We see that he believes eternal life is earned and not received.

Therefore, he prioritizes his ability to receive what God has for him, which does not work if he wanted to become a disciple.

Being a disciple is not about us, it is all about Jesus.

He assumed he would be a shoo in for eternal life and discipleship. Jesus tested him by asking if he had kept the commandments. Arrogantly he informed him that he did.

Finally, Jesus lovingly but sternly cut to his heart, take everything you have a give it to the poor. He walked away because his prioritized his wealth over a relationship with Jesus.

Jesus does not have a problem with wealth, however, he does not accept self-sufficiency.

His decision to turn away because of his great wealth shows us about our priorities. What we turn to reveals to us what is important.

—> Pastor Davis resignation, good mood food.

However, our schedule, bank account, and friendships tell us what we prioritize.

Why does Jesus want us to put Him first?

What do our priorities tell us about our devotion to God?

To be a disciple, we have to put Jesus first in every area of our lives.

Am I a disciple? Have I left everything to follow Him and is He my priority?

3. Have I Refused all other Options?

John 6:66–71 NKJV

66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

John 6:66–69 NKJV

66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

John 6:60–71 NKJV

60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

Jesus was not coy or secretive about what He expected from His disciples. He did not paint a false picture of the necessary obedience.

Many people came to Him with great excitement, Jesus we want to become your disciples. Remember, to be a disciple of a rabbi was to be a special person.

The position seemed lucrative from the outside. However, the cost of discipleship was too much for some to pay.

I want us to notice the difference between Luke and John’s writings. Luke was a gentile physician who came to Christ under the ministry of the Apostle Paul.

Therefore, everything he heard about Jesus was through investigative research. He wrote about the people who wanted to follow Christ, but he was not there when it happened.

John on the other hand was one of the first ones to follow Christ. Therefore, he was present when everyone came and left, yet he stayed faithful to the end.

He watched many people walk away from Jesus because they wanted to check out the other options.

How do you think Jesus felt when the people left Him?

Jesus is not interested in being one of many. He wants to be our only option.

Therefore He asked the disciples, will you turn away too? Peter spoke for the crowd, where else could we go. Only you have the words of eternal life.

Discipleship realizes following Jesus is the only way to live.

Some of the disciples could have returned to fishing, Matthew could have returned to his job as a tax collector, and others could have returned to their occupations.

But they left all of that behind simply to follow Christ. They understood He knew the future and He was in control. Therefore, they had no other option by tot follow Jesus.

Close:

Am I a disciple? I am if I have left everything to follow Jesus.

I am if Jesus is my priority.

I am if I have exhausted all other options.

Going back to the song, “Following the Leader.” I remember hearing that song when I was in kindergarten and second grade. Being a line leader was a coveted position.

In our childlike minds, leading the line meant we were in control and had great power. But looking back I noticed something.

The line leaders led the line, but they had to go where the teacher told them. I would have lost my title of line leader if my teacher had said Daniel, lead the class to the cafeteria and I went to the playground. Or Daniel, take the class to the library, but I went to the gym.

Though I got to be line leader a couple of times, I really didn’t lead, I followed.

Disciples of Jesus do not lead, they follow.

Our nation does not have a leadership crisis. Leadership books fills offices, libraries, and bookstores. Instead, we have people who refuse to follow Jesus.

Jesus wants to lead us into spiritual maturity.

He cannot lead us if we are not willing to follow Him.

Jesus will not take us kicking and screaming. He lays out a bath before us, either we are His disciples or not. His command is to go in the world and make disciples.

The Bible leaves no room for choosing not to be a disciple. If we are a follower of Christ, He expects us to become His disciple.

If we lead our own lives, are we really disciples?