An Old Testament Picture of Discipleship

Deuteronomy 6:1–11 KJV 1900

Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker

A man that lived in the country, One night he heard a noise and looked out and saw some burglars stealing things from his barn. He called 911, but the dispatcher said, I am sorry sir but there are no patrol cars available, you just need to lock your doors and someone will be there as soon as possible. He was so frustrated. About 30 seconds later he called back and said, “Ma am don’t worry about it, you don’t need to send anybody, I shot all the burglars.” 90 seconds later, 3 patrol cars, 1 Sheriff and 2 ambulances showed up and they caught the burglars red handed. The Sheriff went over afterwards and said, “I thought you said you shot the burglar?” The man said, “I thought the dispatcher said, no one was available.”

Introduction

Throughout 2022 we have examined a variety of themes: Prayer, Evangelism, Worship, Ministry, Fellowship and Discipleship.

Exactly what is discipleship? To be a disciple is to be a learner. A disciple is a pupil or adherent to the doctrine of another. Discipleship is the practice of teaching learners. This concept is not novel to the New Testament. We can go back and find examples of it in the Old Testament. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:11

1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV 1900

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

We see that the Old Testament provides patterns, shadows, pictures of the truths that would become real to us in the New Testament. Paul writes again in Col 2:17

Colossians 2:17 KJV 1900

Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

We find just such an instance in Deuteronomy 6. Here we find God’s challenge and promise regarding the Children of Israel. This truth was written to them in their day, but serves as a prequel of what would occur through Jesus teachings to his disciples.

Let’s look at this Old Testament Picture of Discipleship this morning.

Body

I. Discipleship’s Premise

What is the premise or the basis of our discipleship.

· Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Achadh

· The Shema is among the best-known prayers in all of Jewish liturgy. It is recited at the climatic moment in the final prayer of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, and traditionally as the last words before death.

· What does it mean?

· Scripture - Exodus 20:2-3

Exodus 20:2–3 KJV 1900

I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

· We must have a personal relationship with God.

· Scripture – 2 Chronicles 7:14

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV 1900

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

A Disciple must know God.

II. Discipleship’sPassion

· The Great Commandment – Matthew 22:35-40

Matthew 22:35–40 KJV 1900

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

· Scripture – Psalm 31:23

Psalm 31:23 KJV 1900

O love the Lord, all ye his saints: For the Lord preserveth the faithful, And plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

A Disciple must love God.

III. Discipleship’s Proclamation

· Teach…

· …when sitting

· …when walking

· …when laying down

· …when getting up

· …binding them

· …writing them on the posts

· …writing them on the gates

Matthew 28:20 KJV 1900

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This is exactly what I have been endeavoring to do here at Colonial Hills Baptist Church. In 2019 we read through the New Testament and I preached from a portion of the Scripture we read. In 2020 we read through the Old Testament and I preached through a portion of the Scripture we read. In 2021 We memorized a passage of Scripture each week and I preached on that verse. And now in 2022 we are studying principles on specific Scriptural themes to help you grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

A Disciple must proclaim or teach about God.

IV. Discipleship’s Promise

Deuteronomy 6:10–11 KJV 1900

And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

Ephesians 3:20 KJV 1900

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Philippians 4:19 KJV 1900

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Conclusion

We have seen Discipleship’s

Premise

Passion

Proclamation

Promise

And we are left with it’s

Deuteronomy 6:12 KJV 1900

Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

We should remember, lest we lose everything we have through neglect.