What It Means To Be A Disciple 1

Introduction • 1. Disciple • A student, learner or pupil • In the N. T. the word is used most often to refer to the followers of Jesus • One who accepts the teaching of Jesus 2

Introduction • 2. Men are made disciples by preaching the gospel to them – they must obey the gospel in order to be saved • Mt. 28: 19 -20 3

Mt. 28: 19 -20 • Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. 4

Mt. 28: 19 -20 • Go Teach = to make men disciples (Christians) • Teach them after becoming a disciple = so they may constantly learn to follow the teachings of Jesus 5

Mt. 28: 19 -20 • It takes teaching to make one a disciple (Christian) and continued teaching is required if one is to remain a faithful disciple (Christian) 6

I. We Must Put Christ First • 1. Being a disciple requires total love and total commitment • Lk. 14: 26 -33 7

Lk. 14: 26 -33 • 26] If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. [27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 8

Lk. 14: 26 -33 • [28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? [29] Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, [30] Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 9

Lk. 14: 26 -33 • [31] Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 10

Lk. 14: 26 -33 • [32] Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. [33] So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 11

I. We Must Put Christ First • 2. We must love God before all others • Mt. 22: 37 -38 12

Mt. 22: 37 -38 • 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. [38] This is the first and great commandment. 13

I. We Must Put Christ First • 3. The kingdom/church must be put first • Mt. 6: 33 • “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ” 14

II. We Must Imitate Christ • 1. Mt. 10: 24 -25 • The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. [25] It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 15

II. We Must Imitate Christ • 1. Mt. 10: 24 -25 NKJV • The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. [25] It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 16

II. We Must Imitate Christ • 2. Follow the steps of Christ • 1 Pet. 2: 21 • For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 17

II. We Must Imitate Christ • 3. Deny self • Mt. 16: 24 • Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 18

III. We Must Continue In His Word • 1. We must “sit at his feet” = study his word • Jn. 8: 31 • “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” 19

III. We Must Continue In His Word • 2. We must continue in his word • Acts 17: 11 • “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. ” 20

III. We Must Continue In His Word • “Search” = to examine; to investigate (Vine’s Dictionary) • 1 Cor. 9: 3 • “Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, ” 21

III. We Must Continue In His Word • 3. Be skillful in the word • Heb. 5: 12 -14 • “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 22

III. We Must Continue In His Word • 3. Be skillful in the word • Heb. 5: 12 -14 • [13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and 23 evil. ”

IV. We Must Bear Fruit • 1. What makes a fruit tree? = FRUIT • Jn. 15: 5 • I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 24

Conclusion • Mt. 28: 19 -20 • “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. ” 25