Introduction

Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to dive into a piece of Scripture that speaks to the core of our Christian faith.

As A.W. Tozer once said, "The cross is the lightning rod of grace that short-circuits God's wrath to Christ so that only the light of His love remains for believers."

Our key passage today comes from John 3:13-19:

"No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil."

Let's open in prayer as we ask God to help us understand and apply these truths to our lives.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this opportunity to gather together in Your presence and to explore Your Word. We ask that You would open our hearts and minds to receive the truth You have for us today. Help us to understand the depth of Your love and the significance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Empower us, Lord, as we seek to follow You and carry out the mission You have entrusted to us as Your disciples. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Now, let's dive into this powerful message.

God's Call to Discipleship

God's call to discipleship is an invitation to follow Jesus and to participate in His mission to bring salvation and transformation to the world.

This call is not limited to a select few but is extended to all who are willing to respond in faith and obedience.

It is a call to a life of purpose, meaning, and eternal significance.

First, let us consider the nature of God's call to discipleship.

In the Gospels, we see Jesus calling His disciples with a simple yet profound invitation: "Follow me."

This call is both personal and relational, as Jesus invites us not merely to adhere to a set of doctrines or religious practices, but to enter into a life-changing relationship with Him.

As we follow Jesus, we learn from Him, grow in our understanding of His teachings, and are transformed by His grace and power.

The call to discipleship is also a call to join Jesus in His mission to seek and save the lost, to bring healing and hope to a broken world, and to proclaim the good news of God's kingdom.

As disciples of Jesus, we are called to be His witnesses, to share His love and truth with others, and to participate in His redemptive work in the world.

Pastor, here would be a good place to share a personal story about how God called you to discipleship and how that has shaped your life and ministry.

Second, let us consider the cost of discipleship.

Jesus made it clear that following Him would require sacrifice and commitment.

In Luke 9:23, He said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

This means that discipleship involves a willingness to put Jesus first in our lives, to prioritize His kingdom and His purposes above our own desires and ambitions.

It also means that we must be willing to endure hardship, persecution, and even suffering for the sake of Christ and His gospel.

Jesus warned His disciples that they would face opposition and hostility from the world, but He also promised that He would be with them and that they would ultimately share in His victory and glory.

The cost of discipleship is also seen in the radical transformation that Jesus calls us to undergo as we follow Him.

In order to become His disciples, we must be willing to repent of our sins, to turn away from our old way of life, and to embrace a new way of living that is characterized by love, humility, and obedience to God's will.

This process of transformation can be challenging and even painful at times, as it involves the crucifixion of our old self and the birth of a new self that is created in the image of Christ.

However, as we submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we discover that the cost of discipleship is far outweighed by the joy and freedom that come from living in a close relationship with Jesus and experiencing His transforming power.

Third, let us consider the rewards of discipleship.

While the call to follow Jesus involves sacrifice and commitment, it also comes with the promise of abundant blessings and eternal rewards.

Jesus said in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

As we follow Jesus, we experience the abundant life that He offers, a life that is characterized by peace, joy, and a deep sense of purpose and meaning.

We also discover the joy of participating in God's redemptive work in the world, as we see lives transformed, relationships healed, and communities renewed by the power of the gospel.

In addition to the blessings we experience in this life, Jesus also promises eternal rewards for those who follow Him faithfully.

In Matthew 19:29, He said, "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life."

This promise reminds us that the sacrifices we make for the sake of Christ and His kingdom are not in vain, but will be rewarded with eternal blessings and an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade.

As we reflect on God's call to discipleship, let us be encouraged by the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:7-11:

"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."

May we respond to God's call to discipleship with faith, obedience, and a willingness to embrace the cost and the rewards of following Jesus.

And may we experience the joy and transformation that come from walking in His footsteps and participating in His mission to bring salvation and hope to a lost and broken world.

The Mission of the Disciples

The mission of the disciples, often referred to as the Great Commission, is a divine mandate given by Jesus to his followers to spread the good news of salvation to all people, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or social status ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO