Discipleship — The road less travelled May 28
Eph 4:11-16 NLT Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. —-12 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.—-13 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. —-14
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. —-15 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.—-16 Note— We all start out in the babyhood stage... This means we “all need” others “more mature” to help us grow. But this stage... should only take a year or two.
By this time we should—- a) Reading our bibles regularly
b) Praying c) Church Attendance Serving Tithing
d) Sharing the Gospel with others
Note— Being a disciple of Jesus is all about—-Growing up
Maturing in Christlike Character Really living the christian Life
First we develop in the disciplines of being a disciple—- than we start “making disciples”
Matt 28:18-20 NKJ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Note—- All Christians are called... by Jesus to Follow Him = become an Imitator ( disciple ) of Jesus Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 1 Cor 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. Go...and Make Disciples. However... “It takes one, to make one!” Question:
a) Are you being discipled b) Are you helping someone else grow in their faith
It’s Important that we Know what Discipleship means— Note—- Being a disciple does not automatically happen when we become a Christian This is an Intentional process.
What does it mean to be a Disciple? Simple definition is....
It is living the Christian Life as it was meant to Life. As Jesus taught it & set the example As the early Church demonstrated it = real Christianity.
The Title of this series—— Discipleship—-The Road Less Traveled Why this title?
Because not everyone who asks Jesus to come into their heart... want to follow Jesus Many choose... the Path of least resistance.
Matt 7:13-14 msg Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do.
The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.——14 Matt 7:13-14 NKJ Version “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.—- 13 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.