Lesson 3
Discipleship

Study Compiled by Kevin L. Ziegler, Evangelist
at
South Side Church of Christ, Danville, IL 61832
southside.restorationplea.com

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Introduction
  • Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
  • Some Scriptures using the word "disciple"
  • Matthew 10:24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.
  • Matthew 13:52 And Jesus said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old."
  • Matthew 27:57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.
  • Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
  • Luke 14:27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
  • Luke 14:33 "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
  • John 9:28 They reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
  • John 21:24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
  • Acts 9:10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."
  • Acts 9:26 When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
  • Acts 9:36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.
  • Acts 16:1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek,
  • Acts 21:16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge.

Discipleship from Luke 9:23
  • A disciple must deny himself.
  • The word deny, as it is used here means:
  • to disregard his own interests or to prove false to himself
  • act entirely unlike himself
  • A disciple must take up his cross daily.
  • A disciple must follow Me (Jesus).

Discipleship means complete commitment and surrender

Twelve Required Commitments (source unknown) - Being a disciple to one another
  • To be a worthy example - II Timothy 3:10-11 - Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!
  • To be a friend - not just a teacher - Proverbs 17:17 - A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
  • To be available when problems arise - Philippians 2:4 - Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
  • To spend time with him at appointed times - Mark 3:14 - And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach.
  • To develop a ministry of listening - James 1:19 - But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.
  • To demonstrate appropriate self-sacrifice - I John 3:16 - We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
  • To pray for him and his family - Colossians 1:9 - For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
  • To help him minister to his family - Malachi 4:6 - He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers.
  • To maintain the confidences he shares - Psalm 141:3 - Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
  • To help him be accountable to reach spiritual goals - Hebrews 3:13 - But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
  • To encourage him to teach other men - II Timothy 2:2 - The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
  • To let him know that your personal care is for him as a person and and not just part of a program - I Thessalonians 2:8 - Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

How is Your Commitment by Jeff Blankenbicker, 1994, First Church of Christ, Bolivar, PA.

Calling FAST People by C. Richard Chambers