No Christians Allowed Series

Hello COTR- talk about being a Christian.

Today’s message called- No Christians Allowed.

What do I mean by that? Let me ask a question ...

When you hear the word dog- what think about?

What about when you hear the word cat?

What do you think when you hear the word Christian?

Republican, Democrat, Mother Teresa, tele-evangelist?

Video Clip- Interviews on a College Campus

Word- Christian- meant different things over the years

1950- people had positive thoughts about Christians.

Today people have varied thoughts- neg, pos, neutral.

2000 years ago- the very first time the phrase …

Acts 11:25-26

Christianos- follower of Jesus Christ

Acts 26:28 Agrippa replied to Paul, " In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian." NASU

Pagans- making fun of Christ Followers.

Christians versus Disciples

Jesus never invited anybody to be a Christian.

Lk 14:25-27

He cannot be my what? My disciple!

If you want to be a disciple of Jesus- you must love Him more than your own family/your own life.

Christian has become- those w/belief system, regardless of how live it out.

Lk 14:28-33

Jesus warns us to count the cost of being a disciple.

85% of Americans- 247 million- call themselves Christians- yet same 85% are just as likely to …

get divorced, abort babies, as non-Christians,

The term has lost its real meaning of following, pursuing Jesus, the Lord of all.

If you want to be a disciple it is going to cost you.

The bible promises you will be persecuted.

Jn 15:18-20

What is it going to cost you? For some, it may cost …

your job- unwilling to do something unethical

promotion because you are a Christian

relationships- family does not understand

popularity- do not act like everybody else

You are not going to look like, act like, be like the rest of the world because you are not of this world.

You are of another world, the Kingdom of God.

In parts of- world being a disciple- cost you your life

What does it mean to be a disciple?

Disciple- Gk- learner, pupil, follower, student.

He is Lord- we follow, pursue Him, do what He did.

Acts 2- good picture of the early church and disciples.

Plug for our House Churches- we meet in homes just like people did in Acts 2.

I encourage everyone- attend a House Church- learn what it means to be a disciple?”

Three things Jesus did and we will do as disciples

A disciple touches lepers

What does that mean?

When you go to a gym and work out- come home you are smelly- people do not want you to touch them.

Lepers are about as unlovely as they get.

Mk 1:40

According to OT- Lev 13- when a leper would enter a village they would yell out- Unclean! Unclean!

It was a warning so everybody could run.

Leprosy- horrendous disease- it would …

cause oozing sores all over their bodies

make their hands and feet stubs

lose feeling- fall asleep- rat- gnaw off a finger

A disciple touches those who others won’t touch.

Mk 1:41-42

What did Jesus do- He touched the man and immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

Jesus was moved with what?

Compassion- GK- it is a painful word.

it means to have the bowels yearn

from your inside, you ache with compassion

Literally-you hurt so much- you are moved to action.

Movie Hotel Rwanda- based on a true story- racial battle between the Tutsi’s and the Hutu’s. The manager of a hotel was protecting a certain group at the risk of his own life and his family. He was talking to a reporter and he said this.

Paul Rusesabagina: I am glad that you have shot this footage and that the world will see it. It is the only way we have a chance that people might intervene.

Jack: Yeah and if no one intervenes, is it still a good thing to show?

Paul Rusesabagina: How can they not intervene when they witness such atrocities?

Jack: I think if people see this footage they’ll say, "oh my God that’s horrible," and then go on eating their dinners.

We all watch TV- see things- That’s horrible. Click.

A disciple - hurts so deeply that they cannot not help.

They are full of the same love Jesus- moved to action.

Who are the lepers in your world?

people dying of AIDS- how did they get it?

the person in jail that no one visits

the smelly street person

the obnoxious person in your House Church

A disciple touches lepers.

A disciple befriends prostitutes

Mtt 9:10

Who did Jesus hang out with?

woman at the well who had slept w/many men,

woman caught in adultery that the religious folks wanted to stone and kill,

tax collectors that everyone else hated,