CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

THE PROSPECTS AND PERILS OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

Luke 9:57-58; John 15:1-17; 18-25

Christ has redeemed us from sin, slavery and destruction, and has committed into our hands the ministry of Reconciliation (2Cor.5:17-21), the ministry which reconciles the whole world to God. He has given us the great responsibility of calling the world back to God.  In (John 15: 1-17) Jesus laid out the special relationship that exists between Him and all His disciples. (i) We are connected to Him as branches are connected to the vine. (ii) We are chosen to bear abundant and abiding fruit. (iii) He promised us swift answers to our prayers, whatever we ask.

But Jesus Christ makes us aware that there are inherent dangers for those who would be His true and faithful disciples. Discipleship can be costly. Our Saviour is aware of that. He asks us never to shrink from the dangers, from the perils and from the cost of discipleship.

1.  The Principle Of Christian Discipleship

 

A.  THE CALL

Mat.4:19; 8:21-22; 9:9; 11:28-30; 19:21; John 1:43; 15:16

Jesus calls His disciples. They come from all walks of life. Jesus was accused and derided by the Jews for bringing together outcasts, the working class, the lowest of the society and making them His disciples! Hated tax collectors, fishermen, prostitutes, former zealots were welcome to join Him. But He never left them as they were. He saved them. He cleansed them. He trained them. He educated them. He equipped them to become great representatives through all the world.

B.   THE EDUCATION

(i)                  Learning From God (John 6:35; Isaiah 54:13; Eph.5:1-2; 1Pet.1:15-16)

A disciple is a learner, a student. As disciples we have a Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ. He taught us of God.

(ii)                 Learning From Christ (Mat.11:29; John 13:15; Phil.2:5; 1Pet.2:21; 1John 2:6

Every true disciple is absorbed in learning and practicing what his master teaches and does. There is an inexhaustible wealth of the teachings of Christ available for every disciple.

(iii)                Learning From The Holy Spirit (John 14:26; Luke 12:12; John 16:13)

The Holy Spirit is the Teacher whom God has left for us to teach and guide us into all truth.

(iv)               Learning From Other People (1Cor 4: 6, 16; 11:1; Phil.3:17; 2Thes.3:7)

To be a true disciple of Christ, continued learning is necessary (John 8:30-32). We learn from God. We learn from Christ. We learn from the Holy Spirit. We learn from other disciples.

 

 

 

2.  The Purpose Of Christian Discipleship

Eph.4:22-24; Mat.5:48; Rom.8:28-30; John 14:12-16

The purpose of discipleship is for believers to become Christ-like. True disciples follow Christ, do what He did, love those He loved, hate what He hated and do the works that He did (John 14:12-16). The works Jesus talked about is the working of winning souls back to God. He went everywhere for that purpose. Disciples should follow in His steps. Disciples seek to have the mind of Christ (Phil.2:5-11)

 

3.  The Practice Of Christian Discipleship

Practice is of utmost importance in the life of any true disciple. Without practicing what we learn from Christ, our discipleship will be unreal. How do we practice discipleship?

(i)                  By Following Jesus Christ (Mat.16:24; Luke 14:27; John 10:27)

(ii)                 By Serving Jesus Christ (Mat.20:25-28; Rom.12:11)

(iii)                By Obeying Jesus Christ (John 8:31;14:21-24; 15:10, 14)

(iv)               By Responding immediately to Jesus Christ’s commands (Mat.4:18-22)

(v)                By Living for Jesus Christ and not for ourselves (2Cor.5:15; Rom.14:7-8; 1Pet.4:2)

(vi)               By Loving Others for the sake of Jesus Christ (John 13:12-17; 15:12-14; 1John 4:7-21)

The world is in need of Christ the Saviour but they don’t know it. The world is hurting and only the love of Christ can heal the hurt. The world has no peace though they so much desire it. But they cannot have the peace without Christ. When we practice what we learn from Christ, we will truly become the light of the world and the salt of the earth

4.  The Perils Of Christian Discipleship

Being a disciple can be fraught with many perils

(i)                  The Peril of the Uncounted Cost (Luke 14:28-32)

                                         i.    Total Surrender required (Luke 14:33; Phil.3:7-8)

                                        ii.    Security of this world to be resisted (Mat.8:19-20)

                                       iii.    Christ must have first priority (Mat.19:16-21; 10:37; Luke 14:26)

(ii)                 The Peril of the Unburied Father (Luke 9:59-60)

(iii)                The Peril of the Unforsaken Circle (Luke 9:59-60)

(iv)               The Peril of the Unprovoked Hatred (John 15:18-25)

(v)                The Peril of Attachment to Wealth (Mark 10:17-22)

(vi)               The peril of Un-renounced Self-Interest (Luke 14:27; Mat.16:24; 10:38).

There is no evidence that these perils will be lifted any time soon. In full recognition of all the possible dangers, the Lord still gives us the command, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature… (Mark 16:15); “Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Being such a wonderful Lord, our Saviour does present us with many incentives that go along with being His faithful disciples.

5.  The Prospects Of Christian Discipleship

 

Some prospects:

(i)                  The blessing of Rest from the Lord (Mat.11:27-29) – a blessing to be a disciple. Christ is the Shepherd who leads His disciples;

(ii)                 The blessing of a Considerate Master. He never asks us to do anything he does not enable us to do. He impart the Holy Spirit for that purpose,

(iii)                The blessing of Confidentiality. The secrets of the Lord are revealed to disciples (Mark 4:34);

(iv)               The blessing of Obedience. Rewards based on obedience not on magnitude of achievement (1Cor.1:26-31);

(v)                The blessing of Owning Christ Himself. Our Reward is Christ himself;

(vi)               The blessing of Sufficiency. The Lord denies nothing which is necessary and takes nothing which He does not give back to the disciple (Psalm 84:11; 34:10; Mark 10:29-30).

(vii)             The Blessing of eternal Life with the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit in Eternity (1Pet.1:1-9)

We serve a Risen Saviour. We serve the Living God. We serve the God of all flesh. Our God is the God of Love. He is the God of Power. Our Saviour loves us. He cares for us. He died for us. He rose again for our justification and reconciliation to God. He demands loyalty from us. And we will be loyal to Him till the end. Amen!

 

 JESUS ONLY IS OUR MESSAGE

Jesus only is our message,
Jesus all our theme shall be;
We will lift up Jesus ever,
Jesus only will we see.

Jesus only, Jesus ever,
Jesus all in all we sing,
Savior, Sanctifier, and Healer,
Baptizer and coming King.

Jesus only is our Savior,
All our guilt He bore away,
All our righteousness He gives us,
All our strength from day to day.

Jesus is our Sanctifier,
Cleansing us from self and sin,
And with all His Spirit’s fullness,
Filling all our hearts within.


Jesus only is our Healer,
All our sicknesses He bare,
And His risen life and fullness,
All His members still may share.

Jesus only is our Power,
He the Gift of Pentecost,
Jesus, breathe Thy power upon us,
Fill us with the Holy Ghost.

And for Jesus we are waiting,
Listening for the advent call;
But ‘twill still be Jesus only,
Jesus ever, all in all

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