The Purpose of Discipleship

Scriptural Text: Isa 50:4-6

The Purpose of Discipleship

Example, Teaching by

The story is told of a T.V. repairman who didn’t like to think about his job when he came home. As a result, he never bothered to properly install the T.V. antenna on the top of his house or fix it when one arm broke in a windstorm. One day a new family moved in next door, and the owner went up on his roof to install an antenna. Knowing that his neighbor was a T.V. repairman, he put his up exactly the same way and turned his antenna to face in the same direction as his neighbor’s. Then, after studying his neighbor’s antenna for a while, he reached up and broke one arm off his new antenna!

As disciples, we teach by example, whether we intend to or not!433

The word “discipleship” comes from the challenge that Jesus himself made, for us all to become disciples... in its most basic sense, “a learner.” However, ...Jesus clearly meant more than just getting smarter intellectually. It calls for action in Matt. 28.

Giving total allegiance to Jesus. In the call of Matthew 28

Being willing to pay any cost. (John 5:8, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:57-62)

At times, Jesus seemed completely uninterested in followers who merely “believe” in him (John 5:8).

Bearing the message of Jesus and his good news to all peoples.(Matthew 28; Acts 1)

Discipleship is rooted in the willingness to bear witness to Jesus’ life, ministry, death, resurrection, and coming kingdom.

Everyday Definition

Jesus’ parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31–46) reminds us that all true followers of Jesus are engaged in the life of discipleship, faithfully carrying out the calling of the Father on our lives where he places us, just as Jesus modeled for us.

Discipleship is a lifelong process, one without a graduation that sets you up as master to be followed. Christian discipleship is always discipleship of Jesus and his kingdom.

With that being said, purpose of discipleship process, first and foremost is to make us teachable

“Teachableness: A quality in those who desire to learn, present in the disciples of Jesus Christ and seen in Christ’s relationship to his Father...”

Unwillingness to receive the truth leads to spiritual darkness.”

The importance of teachableness: For spiritual growth (Heb 12:5–12; Heb 5:11-14)

The requirements for teachableness: Eagerness to learn (Pr 18:15; Is 50:4–5; See also 2 Ch 26:3–5; Ps 27:11; Ps 43:3; Ps 86:11; Ps 119:9–11; Ps 139:23–24; Ps 143:8–10)

Proverbs 18:15 (ESV) — 15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Isaiah 50:4–5 (ESV) — 4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.

Mission of Jesus Christ

The work that Jesus Christ was sent to do, including both his healing and preaching ministry, but particularly his work of salvation. Jesus Christ sends Christians to continue his work by proclaiming his message of salvation.

Jesus Christ was called to his mission from the beginning of time (Is 49:1; See also Mic 5:2; 1 Pe 1:20)

Isaiah 49:1 (ESV) — 1 Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.

Micah 5:2 (ESV) — 2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

1 Peter 1:20 (ESV) — 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

Jesus’ mission as Messiah was foretold

His mission to suffer and die (Is 53:3–10;See also Is 50:6; Is 52:14; Da 9:26; Mk 8:31; Lk 24:26–27; Ac 8:32–35)

Isaiah 50:6 (ESV) — 6 I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.

In a hymn of hope, the Servant himself defines His special relationship with the “Lord God” and His special role as a disciple (“the learned”)Four times in the short song, the Servant refers to the “Lord God” (vv. 4a, 5a, 7a and 9a).

the Servant identifies Him as the one to whom God has given, “The tongue of the learned” (v. 4a). At one and the same time, the Servant is the teacher and the one who is taught (v. 4b). The term Disciple an accurate translation for this unique teaching-learning relationship,

The Teaching-Learning Goal: the Servant says, “That I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary” (v. 4a).

God has a singular purpose in giving His Servant the “tongue of the learned.” By His Own testimony, the Servant says, “That I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary” (v. 4a).

The teaching-learning Servant is our model. He possessed knowledge of the truth and learned how to speak with eloquence so that He could bring the timely Word to those who were weary. Learning of the Word is never an end in itself; we learn the Word to teach those in need.

The Teaching-Learning Process: (1)He learned by listening; (2)He learned by obedience; (3)He learned through suffering