BASIC EQUIPMENT FOR DISCIPLES (2)

BASIC EQUIPMENT FOR DISCIPLES

ILLUSTRATION:

Asian Access (or A2), a Christian missions agency in South Asia, listed a series of questions that some church planters have been asking new believers who are considering baptism. The country is predominantly Hindu, but over the past few decades Christianity has grown in popularity—especially among poor and tribal peoples. The following seven questions serve as a reality check for what new followers of Jesus might experience if they decide to “go public” with their decision to follow Christ:

1. Are you willing to leave home and lose the blessing of your father?

2. Are you willing to lose your job?

3. Are you willing to go to the village and those who persecute you, forgive them, and share the love of Christ with them?

4. Are you willing to give an offering to the Lord?

5. Are you willing to be beaten rather than deny your faith?

6. Are you willing to go to prison?

7. Are you willing to die for Jesus?

The seven questions serve as a sobering reminder for all Christians from every continent of what it might cost us to follow Jesus. These questions also help Western Christians identify with the threats faced by our brothers and sisters from other countries as they seek to follow Christ.

1. OUR MASTER

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.—John 13:14

2. OUR BOOK

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.—2 Timothy 3:16

3. OUR CLOTHING

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.—1 Peter 5:5

4. OUR BADGE

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.—John 13:35

5. OUR CROSS

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.—Luke 14:27

6. OUR COMPANIONS

I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.—Psalm 119:63

7. OUR FRUIT

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.—John 15:8