As we have thought together about what it means to be the church, we have considered what it means to worship, what it means to have a relationship with God, and what it means for us to be in relationship with each other. This morning we consider what it means to truly be a disciple of Christ. I thought that I might subtitle this “How to avoid being a pew potato.” Someone has written about the “balcony people” — the people who observe what is going on, but are never really involved. They watch others, but have never considered being a part of the action. There are many church people across the country who are balcony people. They are good, salt-of-the-earth kind of people. They are sympathetic to the cause of Christ, but they have never made a commitment to truly be a disciple. They have joined the church, and are even faithful in attendance and giving, but they are still not what could be called a disciple of Christ.
What does it mean to be a disciple, and how do you become one? I would like to try and answer that question this morning. There are several things which could be said, but the first I will mention is this: A disciple is one who has made a commitment to learn. The word disciple comes from the Greek word meaning “student.” A disciple of Jesus Christ is a student of Jesus Christ. But how can you be a student if you are not studying what the master is teaching?
Just a few weeks ago, the Barna Research Group surveyed people in Columbus, Ohio. The Dispatch reported that 77% of those surveyed said that religion was important in their lives. Of those who said that religion was important, only a little over half said that they read the Bible at least once a day. It makes you wonder how important people’s faith really is when they don’t care to read what God has to say. One interesting question on the survey asked whether or not: “the Bible teaches that God helps those who help themselves.” Seventy-six percent agreed that is found in the Bible. The only problem is that the statement is found nowhere in the Bible. If the Bible teaches anything it is that God helps those who cannot help themselves. He helps those who humbly admit that they are helpless. But most did not recognize that this was not a teaching of the Bible.
One of the important qualities of a disciple is humility. We understand that we have not arrived. The problem is that there are many who really believe that they already know what the Bible says, even though they have not read it. They believe that they understand the teachings of the Christian faith, even though they have not studied them in any depth. Even Sunday School classes across the land can become merely an exchange of opinions, rather than searching out what the Word of God has to say. We have to have a teachable spirit if we are going to be a true disciple.
One of the other interesting things about the Columbus survey was that even though 75% believed that “the Bible answers most of the basic questions of life,” 53% either believed that “when Jesus was on earth he committed sins, like other people,” or were not sure whether he did or not. Forty-five percent believed that “all people will experience the same outcome after death, regardless of their religious beliefs.” Seventy-six agreed that the Bible was the Word of God, but at the same time, the paper stated, “respondents see a need only for sincerity in beliefs — whatever they may be. Over three fourths of those surveyed agreed with the statement, “It doesn’t really matter what your beliefs are, as long as you are sincere.” Barna summed up the philosophy of our society as “Even if it’s garbage, it’s OK as long as you’re sincere about it.” And then he concluded with this disturbing insight: “Correcting people’s mistaken assumptions about Bible content is made nearly impossible by their self-assurance about their beliefs. Even if they are exposed to good Bible teaching, they typically fail to absorb that input because they thing they already know it all.” They think they know it, even if they have never learned the basic material. And they also believe that their personal opinion trumps what the Bible actually says.
A learner is someone who understands that there is always more to know, and that it is important to learn it. Even if you are ninety-years-old you should still be learning. You will become a disciple of Jesus Christ when you make the commitment to be a life-long learner. If a scientist stops learning, she is no longer a scientist. When a disciple stops learning, he is by definition no longer a disciple. How can you say you believe the Bible if you have never read the Bible? Many people say, “Well, you know, I am not a Bible scholar,” when what they actually mean is they have never studied the book much at all. Their coffee table may be stacked high with other books and celebrity magazines, but they have never had a desire to learn the eternal truths of God’s Word. How can you say that you believe that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, if you have never studied the way he led, the truth he taught and the life he promised? A disciple has a hunger for that truth and becomes a student of Christ.
Secondly, A disciple is one who has made a commitment to grow. I love my grandchildren. When they were born and I held them in my arms, I thought there was noting more wonderful than that. But as wonderful as those first few days were, if they had not learned to walk and talk I would have been disappointed. Something would have been terribly wrong. One of the things I am relearning as a grandparent is that normal, healthy children have a tremendous desire to learn and grow. Often, when I try to help them, they will say, “No, grandpa, let me do it.” Even though I may want to help them, I know that it is healthy that they want to do it themselves. If they did not want to grow up and do the things that bigger people do, I would know that something was terribly wrong.
When Christians have no desire to grow in their spiritual lives, I know that something is terribly wrong. When there is no desire to grow in their ability to obey God and model his character, I know that is not normal. When they have no interest in growing deeper in their faith, then I realize that a spiritual illness has set in. When Rachel, our one-year-old granddaughter, was first diagnosed with Leukemia, her development went backwards. She had been crawling and pulling herself up on furniture, and walking around it while holding on. But all of that stopped. Not only would she not walk, she would not crawl. She would not even stiffen her legs to stand when you held her up on your lap. She did not learn to talk at the normal time. We knew that she was sick. We knew that this was not normal. It is normal to grow and develop. It certainly is not normal to backwards. It is abnormal not to have the desire to grow, or even understand that it is necessary.
From the word “disciple” we get the word “discipline.” Discipline is an essential part of spiritual growth. We discipline ourselves in order to grow in God. The Bible says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:11-14).
As I grow as a disciple of Christ, I become stronger in my faith and in my walk. I can believe God for more and worry less. I can overcome temptation and trials better than I used to. I become more like Christ in my attitude. I become more patient and loving. I become more authentic. I become more humble. I have a greater desire to serve Christ by serving others. I never want to retire from following Christ and growing as his disciple.
Thirdly, A disciple is one who has made a commitment to be in relationship. Let’s be clear that there is no such thing as a spiritual Lone Ranger. The radical individualism of our day works against true discipleship. The United States Army’s new recruiting ad has a young soldier running alone across the desert. The camera focuses in as he says, “Even though there are 1,045,690 soldiers just like me, I am my own force. . . . And I’ll be the first to tell you, the might of the U. S. Army doesn’t lie in numbers. It lies in me. I am an Army of one.” An Army of one would not last a day in battle. Not even 1,045,690 armies of one are adequate. We want an army of individuals who will operate as a team and realize they need each other. None of them can do everything, or even come close to it. There are enough Rambos in the world who see themselves as an Army of one. But even some Christians see themselves as a church of one. They neglect the most important thing we are given by God in this world — relationships. They don’t se the need for other people. They fail to see the church as a body made up of several parts. The idea that it is just you and God taking on the world finds no place in Scripture. That is spiritual arrogance. Not realizing your need of other people and a genuine relationship with them is a serious weakness. We are not a group of individualists who are a church of one.
The Bible says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25). If you are not in relationship with other Christians you are living contrary to this scripture. You can’t be a disciple by yourself any more than you can be an army of one.
The Greek word for church is ekklesia. It literally means, “called out.” We are the called out ones. We are called out of the world to come together as God’s people, so that we might be strengthened and encouraged to go back into the world and make a difference. We need each other because we need others to show us forgiveness and acceptance. We need people who will encourage us and yet hold us accountable. We need other people to come along side of us and work with us. We need each other because we need people who will love us and pray for us. We need to learn from the wisdom and experience of others. We need other people to push us just enough so that we will be more than we could have been alone. If you are going to be all you can be, you will have to live in relationship with other Christians.
Stephen Curtis Chapman has a new record out, and one of the songs is entitled “The Change.” He writes about the shallowness of American Christianity and contrasts it with real discipleship. The words say:
Well I got myself a T-shirt that says what I believe
I got letters on my bracelet to serve as my ID
I got the necklace and the key chain
And almost everything a good Christian needs
I got the little Bible magnets on my refrigerator door
And a welcome mat to bless you before you walk across my floor
I got a Jesus bumper sticker
And the outline of a fish stuck on my car
And even though this stuff’s all well and good
I cannot help but ask myself ...
What about the change
What about the difference
What about the grace
What about forgiveness
What about a life that’s showing
I’m undergoing the change
Well I’ve got this way of thinking that comes so naturally
Where I believe the whole world is revolving around me
And I got this way of living that I have to die to every single day
‘Cause if God’s Spirit lives inside of me
I’m gonna live life differently
I’m gonna have the change
I’m gonna have the difference
I’m gonna have the grace
I’m gonna have forgiveness
I’m gonna live a life that’s showing
I’m undergoing the change
Rodney J. Buchanan
February 4, 2001
Mulberry Street UMC
Mt. Vernon, OH
www.MulberryUMC.org
Rod.Buchanan@MulberryUMC.org
LEARNING TO BE A DISCIPLE
1 Peter 1:1-9
“To God’s elect, strangers in the world . . . who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance”
(1 Peter 1:1-2).
To be a disciple means:
1. A disciple is someone who has made a commitment to ____________________________________ .
2. A disciple is someone who has made a commitment to _____________________________________.
3. A disciple is someone who has made a commitment to______________________________________.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION (Feb 4, 2001)
1. What are the marks of a disciple?
2. Whose disciple are we to be?
3. Why is discipleship important?
4. Why is Christian discipleship counter-cultural?
5. Read Hebrews 10:24-25. What are the warnings contained in this passage?
6. What word comes from the word “disciple”? How is this relevant to Christian discipleship?
7. Read Matthew 8:18-23. Why were the excuses of these men so inadequate? What excuses do people give today?
8. Read Matthew 16:24-25. Why do we understand so little of the radical nature of what it means to be Christ’s disciple?
9. Read Luke 6:46 and John 14:15. Why is obedience such an important part of discipleship?
10. What can you do to be more committed to being Christ’s disciple?
