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The marks of discipleship.

Wikipedia

Christian.

This word is used three times in the New Testament: Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and 1 Peter 4:16. The original usage in all three New Testament verses reflects a derisive element in the term Christian to refer to followers of Christ who did not acknowledge the emperor of Rome.

Disciple. (which means "learner")

This term is common in the Gospels and Acts, and is the characteristic name for those who gathered around Jesus during his ministry.

Brother. The term occurs in verses like Acts 18:27. The King James Version renders the plural form used here as "brethren", while modern English versions have "brothers" (ESV) or "brothers and sisters" (NIV). The term comes from the theological concept of adoption, which says that believers are made part of God's family, and become his children.

The marks of discipleship.

Saint. The Epistle to the Ephesians is written to the "saints at Ephesus" Ephesians 1:1. In the New Testament the word is used to refer to Christians generally, but Robert Rayburn notes that "the name survived as a general title for Christians only through the second century."

Rayburn suggests that the "juxtaposition of sainthood and martyrdom" in Revelation 17:6 may have resulted in the word becoming an honorific title for confessors, martyrs and ascetics.“

In Orthodox and Catholic teachings, all Christians in heaven are considered to be saints, but some are considered to be worthy of higher honour, emulation, or veneration, with official church recognition given to some saints through canonization or glorification.

Believer. Belief in Jesus is a central aspect of Christianity. Rayburn notes that verses such as 2 Corinthians 6:15 "substantiate its technical use as a title for Christians".

The marks of discipleship.

Follower of the Way. In the Book of Acts, Christianity is referred to as "The Way". The NIV renders Paul's words in Acts 24:14 as "I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect." Rayburn suggests that this was a Christian self-designation, although it did not survive as a title.

Friend Rayburn notes that the phrase "the friends" (hoi philo) occurs in Acts 27:3 and 3 John 15, but that it is uncertain whether this means "Christians in general or merely actual acquaintances". Rayburn goes on to note that the designation was used by the Friends of God and the Religious Society of Friends.

Nazarene The title "Nazarene" is used once in the New Testament to refer to Christians, in Acts 24:5, where Tertullus calls Paul "a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes". In rabbinical and contemporary Israeli Hebrew, "Notzrim" is the general official term for "Christians.

In later Christianity"Christ follower" (rather than "Christian") has become the preferred self-designation for many people associated with the emerging church.

The marks of discipleship.

Jesus gave a clear description of how his disciples must conduct themselves and how they would be identified.

The term Christian is used so widely and has such a broad application that it would be good to go back to it’s origin to see what it originally meant ie: Christ follower.

Urban Dictionary:

A Christ follower can be a Christian or a person that follows the teachings of teaches Christ. Most Christ followers are Christians, and they do not like to use the world Christian, because it has been abused by phoney people claiming to be Christian when they are not. Christ follower is also used in New Age theology, to where you support the teachings of Christ, and you are living to gain the Christ consciousness.

The marks of discipleship.

Blog article: I just finished reading some articles about the myth that a Christian doesn't have to be a disciple. Of course, it's obvious that a Christian is a disciple and a disciple is a Christian if you read the Bible verses that use the term Christian. For instance, Acts 11:26 reads, "…And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." This poses a real problem for the carnal Christian who professes Jesus. It also clearly shows that just because someone says they are a Christian doesn't make it true. So, what do you think?

Are you a true disciple of Jesus?

Have you given up everything?

Have you denied yourself, picked up your cross and followed Jesus?

How many of you Christians are true disciples of Jesus?

Discipline.

We don’t need better methods to win the lost, we need better men.

Disciple and Discipline have the same root word. God is more interested in our character than in our ministry, for this reason the greatest percentage of Jesus ministry was on our character and not our work or ministry.

The suffering and hardship that the Lord allows in our live is not to hinder our ministry, but to shape our character, which in itself is all too often the biggest hindrance to our ministry.

In the past the mistake has often been made of focussing on the redemption of the lost rather than discipleship, but the commission given to us by Christ himself is not to make converts, but disciples..

Discipline.

Disciple (the Greek word) is used 269 times in the Gospels and the book of Acts.

A disciple is a learner.

A disciple is a follower.

Unless there is a love for the Lord that surpasses everything we cannot be His disciple.

The disciple in Christianity is a follower of Jesus Christ, desiring to learn his ways and apply them to his life. (many learn but do not apply)

1 John 2:6.

Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Luke 6:40.

The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

The marks of discipleship.

8589934592 disciples starting with just 1 discipler who disciples 1 person a year and makes them a disciple.

In only 33 years and starting with only 1 person we can theoretically disciple the whole population on earth. (and the person who starts at the end of 33 years has only had to disciple 33 people spending a full year with each one)

Unfortunately many Christians remain spiritual babies who can’t look after themselves let alone disciple and look after others.

The marks of discipleship.

There are 3 groups of people

Those who watch things happen.

Those who make things happen. Those who wonder what happened?

The great commission can only be fulfilled if we look at Ephesians 4:11 and realise the Church is a training ground to prepare people for ministry and not a nursery or entertainment centre.

The marks of discipleship.

Ephesians 4:11-15.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

The Disciple of Christ loves Jesus more than anyone else.

Luke 14v 25-27.

Large crowds were travelling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters yes, even their own life such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 10:37-39.

Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Let us look at this verse in context.

The Disciple of Christ loves Jesus more than anyone else.

Matthew 10:16-42.

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.

On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.The student (Disciple) is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.

The Disciple of Christ loves Jesus more than anyone else.

Matthew 10:16-42 (continued) 25-34.

It is enough for students (disciples) to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

The Disciple of Christ loves Jesus more than anyone else.

Matthew 10:16-42 (continued) 35-42.

For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.

You love Jesus more than yourself (Self-denial)

Satan when tempting Job implied that love for oneself is a greater love than love for others.

Job 2:3-5. Then the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason. Skin for skin! Satan replied. A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.

Luke 9:23-24.

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

Luke 14:27.

And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

You love Jesus more than yourself (Self-denial)

Philippians 3:7-18.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,

becoming like him in his death,

and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

You love Jesus more than yourself (Self-denial)

Philippians 3:7-18 (continued) 12-18

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

You love Jesus more than yourself (Self-denial)

Galatians 2:20.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

A true disciple will walk in obedience to the Word of God.

John 8:31-32.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 8:31. (ESV)

If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.

John 15:7. (KJV)

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

God’s Word does not abide in us by memorization but by obedience.

Mark 4:23-25.

He who has ears to hear let him hear. Consider carefully what you hear, with the measure you use it will be given to you and even more. He who hears will be given more, he who does not hear even that which he has will be taken away.

The true disciple will embrace the Father’s will.

Luke 9:23.

Then he said to them all: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

When praying in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said to the Father

Matthew 26:39… My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.

42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.

44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Matthew 7:21.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

The true disciple will embrace the Father’s will.

Man says Show me your will Lord and I will decide whether or not to do it, but God’s says choose to do my will and I will reveal it to you.

John 7:17.

Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.

Romans 12:1-2.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The true disciple will obey Jesus no matter the cost.

Luke 9:23-26.

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

The phrase ἀκολουθείτω μοι may be a general instruction to walk the path Jesus walks. But in the 1st century the term’s field of meaning included the notion of obedience to the one being followed as a slave following a master or a student following a Rabbi.

The true disciple will obey Jesus no matter the cost.

Luke 14:25-33.

Large crowds were travelling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:

If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life— such a person cannot be my disciple.

And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?

The true disciple will obey Jesus no matter the cost.

Luke 14:25-33 (continued)

For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying,

This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish. Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

The true disciple will obey Jesus no matter the cost.

The true disciple will love fellow disciples as Jesus does.

John 13:34-36.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Loving our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ requires our participation and effort, it does not just get dropped into our laps as a gift you can’t refuse.

The true disciple will love fellow disciples as Jesus does.

2 Peter 1:3-11. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The true disciple will join in Jesus mission.

John 15:8,16.

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples…. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

What do you think Jesus meant by bearing much fruit?

This should explain it…

Genesis 1:27,28.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.”

The Lord wants us to make Disciples.

The true disciple will join in Jesus mission.

Matthew 28:16-20.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

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