LESSON 14

DISCIPLESHIP

lNTRODUCTION: Bottom Line:

Bible:

Matthew 8: 18-22,

18 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.
19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."
20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
21 Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."
22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."


Matthew 5:3-10
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
S Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.




Ask: When you hear the word disciple...what do you think about? (Get responses)People who followed Jesus?
12 people way back in Jesus' time? Devoted followers?
Anyone here a disciple?
Whether you know it or not, we are all disciples...we all follow something. Question is...what are we following?
 



TEACH

 

WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?

A disciple is a follower, a student of a mentor, teacher, or other figure. Why would you want to be a follower or a student?
Because we all need to learn!
When you think you know it all -you are one of two things: dead or a fool!
So, we are all being taught by someone...a mentor, teacher, friend. We are all following something.

WHAT DOES DISCIPLESHIP LOOK LIKE?

Well, if you are a disciple of baseball, then it looks like practicing, working out, focusing on techniques, and repetition.

You eat, sleep, drink, and live baseball.


You talk about baseball, watch baseball, read baseball articles...you think baseball!

If you are a disciple of music, then it looks like learning the theory of music, notes, rhythm, reading sheet music, and chords.

You are patiently practicing your instrument. Sometimes so much your fingers bleed.
Your hands hurt; your voice can't utter another sound.
You live in music stores and always have earphones in your ears. Music soothes your soul. If you are a disciple of literature or poetry, then you're learning allegory, foreshadowing...
You are reading all kinds of literature, like Treasure Island, Les Misérables, and The Man in the Iron Mask.

You go to book clubs, attend public readings, and even begin to write on your own.

WHAT DOES A DISCIPLE OF JESUS LOOK LIKE?

Read Matthew 8: 18-22 (MSG)

When Jesus saw that a curious crowd was growing by the minute, he told his disciples to get him out of there to the other side of the lake. As they left, a religion scholar asked if he could go along. "I'll go with you, wherever," he said. Jesus was curt: "Are you ready to rough it? We're not staying in the best inns, you know."
Another follower said, "Master, excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have my father's funeral to take care of." Jesus refused. "First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life."

Jesus puts it another way...

 

Read Matthew 5: 3-10 (MSG)
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to yo


"You're blessed when you are content with just who you are-no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. “You’re blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat. “You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full, ‘you find yourselves cared for. "You're blessed when you get your inside world-your mind and heart-put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family."

"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom."


WHY IS DISCIPLESHIP IMPORTANT?

With baseball, it's about the thrill of the game.

With literature/poetry it is important to be able to express yourself through the art of writing.
With Jesus, it's important to show the world what the people of God looks like.
It's important to show the world that despite all the evil and wrong in the world...there is hope!

It's important to display the glory of God and invite everyone around you into that story. Baseball is great... Literature is awesome...
But being a disciple of Jesus...it gives us life. It sustains your life. There’s a reason why baseball is America's “pastime”.
It's a fun competitive game with a long history. There’s a reason poetry exist.
Those emotions, the pain, the triumph, all trying to grasp the thing that sustains life. Being a follower of Jesus means that you are following him and his ways.
You are practicing loving God with all you heart, soul, and mind.
You are loving your neighbor as yourself, and you are inviting other people to join this story with you.

Close in Prayer.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Which is harder for you, accepting others or accepting yourself? Why?

2. How can you start making allowances for other people's faults starting today?

3. What does it mean to forgive like Jesus?

4. What does it mean to be "fearfully and wonderfully made"?

5. What are some ways that you feel God has shown you that He loves you just the way you are today?