DARE 2 B DIFFERENT: In Your Discipleship
Luke 9:23-24
Disciple – “apprentice” – learns by living and working with his teacher in a daily ‘hands-on’ experience.
I. Embody His Name – Reflect His Character in Your Discipleship
A. “Deny Himself”
1. God’s character is a selfless character as reflected in Christ
2. “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8 (HCSB)
B. BE a Disciple
1. To make disciples we must BE a disciple, an apprentice
2. We have to KNOW Jesus before we can GROW in Jesus
3. One sure mark of a growing disciple of Jesus is the reflection of His character.
4. “And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.” Romans 6:13 (HCSB)
a. Attitudes – “As alive from the dead”
b. Actions – “Members as weapons for righteousness.”
II. Embrace His Mission – Make Disciples in Your Discipleship
A. “Take Up His (OUR) Cross Daily”
1. The cross is identity with Christ and His mission
2. He came to die so others could live
3. We die to self and take upon ourselves His holy cause – to spread the gospel and make disciples.
B. Examine the Cross – Discover the “Take up your cross” lifestyle. Let’s look at the example of the Apostle Paul.
1. Surrender – You last, Him first
“But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:7-8 (HCSB)
2. Suffering – Not everyone will be thrilled about becoming a disciple
“Five times I received from the Jews 40 lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the depths of the sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers; labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and lacking clothing.” 2 Corinthians 11:24-27 (HCSB)
3. Sacrifice – Building disciples takes your life
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. In the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (HCSB)
III. Emulate His Word – Radical Personal Obedience in Your Discipleship
A. “Follow Me”
1. Obedience
a. “For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands.” 1 John 5:3 (HCSB)
b. “Do whatever He tells you.” John 2:5 (HCSB) – Jesus’ mother to the servants at Cana of Galilee
2. Faith
a. Big faith in a big God
b. “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 (HCSB)
PowerPoint file available. E-mail bethelhn@bellsouth.net
