The Beginning Of Discipleship Series

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). A strategy (vs 13-14)

(2). A calling (vs 14-15)

(3). A listing (vs 16-19)

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• Someone came up with these humorous observations or insights about life.

• (1). A balanced diet is a chocolate biscuit in each hand.

• (2). Misers aren't much fun to live with, but they sure make great ancestors.

• (3). Middle age is when broadness of the mind & narrowness of the waist change places.

• (4). Some-one who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.

• (5). Hospitality is making your guests feel at home, even if you wish they were.

• (6). Money isn't everything....there's credit cards, money orders, and travellers checks.

• (7). You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

• (8). Junk is something you’ve kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.

• (9). Nostalgia isn't what it used to be!

• (10). When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.

• (11). The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

• (12). If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.

• TRANSITION:

• Twelve men were about to get three years of real insights;

• They were about to embark on a journey that would not only change their lives;

• But would change the world.

Ill:

• Christianity is ranked the largest religion in the world today.

• According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life,

• In 2010 there were 2.18 billion Christians around the world,

• Nearly a third of the global population claim to follow Jesus Christ.

This new series of Bible studies on discipleship:

• Is a good reminder that Jesus wants more than people to own his name;

• And call themselves Christians.

• He wants to own their lives and call them disciples!

• In fact the term "disciples" occurs 269 times in the New Testament,

• While the term "Christian" only occurs three times.

• We are told that in the Bible book called Acts (chapter 11 verse 26):

• That "The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch”,

• The word “Christian” means “one in whom Christ dwells.”

• Here believers stopped calling themselves “Jews,” “Greeks” and “Gentiles.”

• They took the name of Christ. They were Christ-indwelt ones.

• And we have kind of made these terms ‘Christian’ & ‘Disciple’ interchangeable.

• And we forget that Salvation (becoming a Christian) occurs in a moment,

• But discipleship takes a lifetime.

• Note: every disciple is a Christian, but not every Christian is necessarily a disciple!

• A disciple is someone who is committed to,

• And who tries to follow, put into practice the teachings and lifestyle of their master.

Quote: Jonathan Dodson”

“A disciple is rational (learner), relational (family), and missional (missionary)”

(1). A strategy (vs 13-14):

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles”

• As you read the gospels you soon notice that there is a strategy in what happens;

• Jesus did not just wonder from place to place;

• He had targets, goals, aims – we would say a strategy!

• Jesus had a plan for his ministry:

• i.e. He worked to a timescale; we often read those words:

• “My time has not yet come” (John chapter 7 verse 6)

• i.e. Another example of that plan in action is seen in verse 13;

• Where Jesus would choose for himself twelve disciples.

• You realise that Jesus had far more than 12 disciples;

• (Examples of that are Luke 8:1-3 & Mark 15:40-42);

• But here Jesus specifically chose 12 disciples to be his core followers.

• In these verses a new phase of Jesus’ ministry is under way:

• It will begin with the calling of the 12 disciples,

• And it ends with them being sent out on their mission (Mark chapter 6 verse 13)

Notice: in verse 13: Jesus makes a strategic withdrawal:

• Verse 13: “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray,”

• Jesus got alone with God the Father to implement this next important stage of their plan.

Ill:

• Doug Whitt and his bride, Sylvia, were escorted to their hotel’s bridal suite;

• They arrived in the early hours of the morning.

• In the suite they saw a sofa, chairs, and table, but where was the bed?

• Then they discovered the sofa was also a bed,