Discipleship

Mark 2:18 “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

Mark 2:19 “And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.”

Mark 2:20 “But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”

Mark 2:21 “No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse.”

Mark 2:22 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.””

Jesus transitioned from answering about fasting , to a parable about the the groomsmen and the groom. To a fabric not being the right fit on a broken garment. To old wine in new wineskins

It would be improper for Jesus followers for Jesus followers to fast in sorrow when Jesus was in front of them.

Put the Pharisees promoted voluntary fast on every Monday and Thursday Luke 18:12 as an act of piety ( the quality go being religious or revered.

Imagine being at a wedding and everyones sad and disappointed.

The wedding is suppose to be for celebration and joy.

Jesus was physically in front of them. This is to be a joyous accusation .

Mark 2:20 “But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”

Taken - implies violent removal

This is Jesus speaking about His crucifixion.

At the time of his crucifixion there will be sorrow.

There was one season in my life where I loved smoothies. I would have one everyday. But one day I made a smoothie left the house .Forgot I made the smoothie was busy that whole week didn’t make a smootie that whole week and the sootie bagan to ferment and gas . I recieved a call from my roommate he told me the blender exploded.

This is the word picture Jesus is giving us. you can’t add old wine skins with new wine skins .It won’t work.

you can’t mix Judaism with grace it won’t mix.

After salvation God has a specific machism that He uses to mature us.

unlike preaching and teaching discipleship is a skill not a gift .

So I have five principles to help us in this discipleship.

The With Principle

being with a disciple is a foundational principle that allows you to build up that disciple in the finish work of Christ.

When Christ called his disciples he didn’t immediately try to teach them . He just called them to be with Him. “ Follow ME”

The with principle gives an opportunity for the disciple to hear another voice. 1 Cor 14:10 “There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.”

Because every voice has significance.

- Proverbs 13:20 “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.”

2 Tim 3:10 “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,”

The Love Principle

Its easy to disciple when have an unconditional for them.

Christ had uncondational love for his disciples

John 13:1 “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”

When you don’t have unconditional love for the disciple you will become hyper critical.

You won’t have patience and longsuffering with the disciple,

You will only disciple with the wrong motives.

When you love your disciple you create a capacity in them to serve.

Romans 13:8 “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.”

“Love doesn’t demand a change but produces one. “

The edification principle.

Edification simply means to build.

Paul at the beginning of the book of Corinthians he called them Saints. Paul was a builder.

Jesus told Peter after he answer correctly about Jesus being the Son of God. He told Him flesh and blood has not revealed this unto you but My Father in heaven .

God was encouraging Joshua , He had big shoes to fill.

Edification is something everyone needs but nobody ask for it. We think we look weak for asking for it. Or we think its prideful to feel like you need it.

Living in Zimbawe. I was very insecure about me preaching and teaching. But Pastor Renaldo kept giving me opportunity after opportunity to preach and teach.

The wisdom principle

These principles are chronological

As a discipler one specific part of giving wisdom is teaching and preaching .

So everywhere your preaching and teaching you want to have disciples with you.

theres been times in my discipleship process where a man of God would say something as clean your room .

Because your room not being clean is effecting the way you think.

You don’t like to study in a cluttered room

The Challege Principle

As Christians we don’t like to be provoked or challenged.

And the reason why is because we are afraid we’ll be exposed .