Modeling And Teaching Discipleship Series

EASTER SERIES 2013

MODELING AND TEACHING DISCIPLESHIP

JOHN 12:20-27

John 12:19-27 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!" 20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ’Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

INTRODUCTION: EUGENE PETERSON HAS SAID, “DISCIPLESHIP IS ANYTHING THAT CAUSES WHAT IS BELIEVED IN THE HEART TO HAVE DEMONSTRABLE CONSEQUENCES IN OUR DAILY LIVES.

IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS TO EVEN THE CASUAL READER OF THIS PASSAGE THAT JESUS IS ACTING UPON THOSE THINGS THAT ARE ON HIS HEART. HE HAS REACHED THE TIME TO MOVE FORWARD WITH REGARD TO HIS CRUCIFIXION AND SUBSEQUENT GLORIFICATION.

JESUS ALSO USES THE ARRIVAL OF THESE GREEKS TO INSTRUCT HIS DISCIPLES (AND US) CONCERNING THE ISSUES OF DISCIPLESHIP AND HIS APPOINTMENT OF ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE.

I. JESUS MODELS AND TEACHES DISCIPLESHIP

a. DISCIPLESHIP IS TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS THOSE WHO WILL RECEIVE IT.

i. THE JEWS – WHO JESUS WAS SENT TO – WERE REJECTING HIM!

ii. THE GENTILES – WHO HE WAS NOT SENT TWO – WERE SEEKING HIM

iii. JESUS KNEW THAT THE CROSS WOULD DRAW ALL MEN TO HIM

iv. THE GREEKS WANTED TO SEE JESUS FOR A MOMENT; THE ACTIONS OF CHRIST WOULD ALLOW THEM TO SEE JESUS FOR ETERNITY!

Isaiah 53:10-12 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

v. JESUS TALKS ABOUT BEING GLORIFIED.

1. WE THINK THIS REFERS TO HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS.

2. IT WOULD ALSO REFER TO THE FACT THAT JESUS IS GLORIFIED WHEN PEOPLE SEEK HIM.

b. DISCIPLESHIP MULTIPLIES THROUGH SACRIFICE

i. “UNLESS A KERNEL OF WHEAT FALLS TO THE GROUND AND DIES, IT REMAINS ONLY A SINGLE SEED. BUT IF IT DIES, IT PRODUCES MANY SEEDS.”

ii. JESUS IS COMMUNICATING A SPIRITUAL TRUTH TO US!

1. WE DO NOT NEED TO SEARCH FOR THIS TRUTH

2. WE DO NOT NEED TO DISCOVER THIS TRUTH

3. WE DO NOT NEED TO DISCUSS THIS TRUTH

4. WE NEED TO DO THIS TRUTH

a. NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN WE AVOID TRUTH

b. NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN WE IGNORE TRUTH

c. NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN WE CIRCUMVENT TRUTH

d. THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE EMBRACE TRUTH!

a. DISCIPLESHIP IS ABOUT REPRODUCTION AND GROWTH.

i. ONE BECOMES MANY

ii. THE MANY GROW!

iii. IT TAKES SOMEONE TO BE THE ONE – IN REALITY IT IS EVERYBODY’S JOB!

b. THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF DISCIPLESHIP – LIVING AND DYING/LOVING AND HATING

i. THIS THING CALLED LOVE

1. JESUS ASSUMES OUR LOVE FOR HIM

2. TOO OFTEN WE ASSUME OUR LOVE FOR JESUS WITHOUT REALLY CONSIDERING WHAT THAT LOVE ENTAILS.

ii. THE LORD WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND THE COST OF FOLLOWING HIM

1. COST #1 – OUR LOVES

a. DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES THE POSITIVE DIRECTION OF OUR LIVE FOR HIM!

i. LOVING JESUS MEANS LISTENING TO JESUS

ii. LOVING JESUS MEANS SERVING JESUS

b. WHEN WE CHOOSE TO LOVE ANYTHING ELSE THAN GOD AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST WE ARE CREATING AN IDOL!

IDOLS ARE ROOTED IN OUR HEARTS

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

IDOLS ARE OF OUR OWN CHOOSING

James 1:14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.