What is a Disciple?

Today we will be in Luke 9:23-24

Last week we talked about “What makes a Christian?” And the Bible scripture we looked at to answer that came from Acts 11:19–26.

From the first Christians, we answered the question, “What is a Christian?”

1. Someone who has heard the Good News, the Gospel, of Jesus Christ.

2. Someone who believes the Good News, the Gospel, of Jesus Christ.

3. Someone who turns from the way they’re going and turns to Jesus.

4. Someone who experiences the grace of God.

5. Someone who becomes a Disciple, a follower, of Jesus.

It’s that last point that I want us to talk about this morning.

If being a Christian is becoming a disciple, then what makes a Disciple?

Are you a Disciple?

How do you know if you’re a Disciple?

Can you be a Disciple?

Last week we talked about all the answers you might get if you asked the man on the street, “What is a Christian?”

1. We talked about quite a few answers that really weren’t right.

2. There seems to be a lot of misconceptions about what is a Christian.

3. It’s the same thing with Disciples and Discipleship.

4. There are quite a few misconceptions about Discipleship.

Some Misconceptions about Discipleship:

Misconception #1: Discipleship is all about increasing our Biblical knowledge.

We become better disciples when we learn more about the Bible.

When we can say sanctification, propitiation, justification, and glorification without stuttering, we’ve got it.

When we know some Greek and Hebrew words, we’re acing Discipleship.

When we can chart the Rapture and the Tribulation, and give verse references, we’re better disciples.

When I’ve done all the Beth Moore and Andy Stanley studies, I’m there.

When I know more than you do, I’ve become a disciple.

Misconception #2: Discipleship happens only on certain nights in a certified church building.

It has to be at night, preferably a Sunday or Wednesday night.

That is the sacred time when only real Discipleship can take place.

There are 2 time options: Standard Time and Daylight Savings Time.

It must involve books, preferably from LifeWay Christian Resources.

Those are the times designated by God as Discipleship Training.

It must take place in a church, usually too hot or too cold, and it must bore us to tears.

Misconception #3: Discipleship is optional for a Christian.

If it ain’t happening at 11 AM Sunday Morning, I think I’ll pass.

Out of 168 hours in a week I get all I need to know about Jesus and living for Him in 1 hour.

Some want to know more, some want to do more, some want to serve more.

They’re no more saved than I am so what’s the problem?

I’ve got better things to do. They ought to be happy I even show up at all.

Misconception #4: Discipleship’s goal is to show me the rules to be a better Christian.

You can do this.

You can’t do that.

It’s all about do’s and don’ts, can’s and can’ts.

It all about sapping the life out of living.

When you hear the words “Disciple” and “Discipleship” are these some of the things that cross your mind?

What if Discipleship and being a Disciple was something more?

What if Discipleship and being a Disciple really made a real difference in your life?

What if Discipleship helped you be a true disciple of Jesus Christ?

Let’s define DISCIPLESHIP.

A. And let’s let Jesus define it for us.

1. We’ll go to Luke 9:23–24 for that.

Luke 9:23–24 NKJV

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

So according to this passage how does Jesus define “Disciple”.

1. Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me …”

2. He’s saying, “If anybody wants to follow Me, if anyone wants to associate with Me.”

3. “If anyone wants to walk with me and be with me.”

4. “If anyone wants to follow me.”

5. That is the Biblical definition for “Disciple”: A Follower of Jesus Christ.

Jesus tells us what being a Disciple requires:

1. Being a Disciple requires self-denial (let him deny himself …).

a. When we think of self-denial, it’s usually in a negative way.

b. I have to give up this, I can’t do that.

c. We’ve got to be mean and cruel to ourselves.

d. We have to live boring lives and we can’t do anything exciting.

e. But self-denial is all about changing priorities.

f. Whatever has priority in our lives will dictate what happens in our lives.

g. Jesus wants us to make Him our #1 priority, not ourselves.

2. Being a Disciple requires total commitment (… take up his cross daily …).

a. When Jesus took up His own cross, it took His total commitment.

b. He was totally committed to what He came to do: die on the cross as our substitute.

c. Jesus wants our total commitment.

d. He wants us to be totally committed to Him and His purpose for our lives here and now.

3. Being a Disciple requires complete obedience (… follow Me.).

a. To follow Jesus means more than walking behind Him.

b. It means to follow all He has said.

c. It means to follow His Words as we live our lives.

d. Jesus wants people who do what He calls us to do.

Jesus was quite explicit about the cost of following Him. Discipleship requires a totally committed life: “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple” Luke 14:33

Luke 14:33 NKJV

33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Sacrifice is expected to be a follower and/or a disciple of Christ.

Not all of Jesus’ followers were able to make such a commitment. There were many who left Jesus after a while. “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him” John 6:66

John 6:66 NKJV

66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

Read Ephesians 4:11–13

Ephesians 4:11–13 NKJV

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

I am usually not a big fan of the Message version of the Bible however I do like how the Message puts it:

Ephesians 4:11–13 The Message

11 filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher 12 to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, 13 until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

God has put people within the church to help other people become disciples of Jesus Christ.

1. They are to prepare God’s people for works of service.

2. They are to unify God’s people in faith and knowledge.

3. They are to help God’s people become mature Christians, to become like Christ.

4. Discipleship is Christians helping other Christians become like Jesus Christ.

So let’s see if we can clear up some of our previously mentioned misconceptions about discipleship.

Our 1st Misconception: Discipleship is all about increasing our Biblical knowledge.

1. Truth: Discipleship is all about increasing our knowledge of God.

2. Discipleship includes learning more about the Bible and The Father and the Son and Holy Spirit.

3. But that is not the end of discipleship.

4. It’s more than learning about; it’s a relationship.

5. God wants to do more than save us, He wants us to know Him, to experience Him, to have a close and intimate relationship with Him.

6. Discipleship helps us to know God more deeply and fully.

7. Discipleship takes us past the words printed on a page to a living God who seeks us personally.

Our 2nd Misconception: Discipleship happens only on certain nights in a certified church building.

1. Truth: Discipleship can take place anywhere at anytime.

2. Jesus gave the 12 Apostles on-the-job training.

3. Jesus will give us on-the-job training if we will be sensitive to His Spirit.

4. God is always seeking to use us, where we work, where we play, wherever we are.

5. We need more Christians discipling other Christians; not in a classroom setting but in a real world setting.

Our 3rd Misconception: Discipleship is optional for a Christian.

1. Truth: Discipleship is not optional for a Christian.

2. All Christians are called to follow Jesus.

3. All Christians are called to find what Jesus has specifically for them to do.

4. God desires that all Christians walk with Him, enjoy Him, and grow deeper in their relationship.

Our 4th Misconception: Discipleship’s goal is to show me the rules to be a better Christian.

1. Truth: Discipleship’s goal is to teach you how to be like Jesus.

2. God doesn’t want you to memorize rules and regulations.

3. Romans 8:29

Romans 8:29 NKJV

29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

4. He wants you to be like His Son, Jesus Christ.

5. He wants the world to see His Son through you.

6. God’s goal for discipleship is for you to be a reflection of Jesus Christ.

Biblically speaking, a Christian is a disciple of Christ. A Christian is someone who has placed his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:12). A Christian has been born again by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3). A Christian “belongs to Christ” and is daily being transformed into the likeness of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). A true Christian (and not one in name only) will have to be a disciple of Christ as well. That is, he has counted the cost and has totally committed his life to following Jesus. He accepts the call to sacrifice and follows wherever the Lord leads. The Christian disciple completely adheres to the teaching of Jesus, makes Christ his number-one priority, and lives accordingly.