Sermon Cloud

CORE

1 – Jesus Said!

Teaching Notes

October 05, 2008

Michael Wiley

John 15:5

Matthew 28:18-19

Introduction

Dan Fossett’s crash site was found this past Wednesday. Fossett disappeared over a year ago while on a solo flight. Searchers gave up after weeks of searching. Until this week because Monday, while hiking in the California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, Preston Morrow stumbled on something that didn't look quite right stashed away in a pile of dirt and pine needles. By freak chance, It was Fossett’s identification and 1k in cash.

Searchers picked up the again and found the crash site Wednesday night.

Discipleship doesn’t happen by chance. It must be intentional!

Three part series on our CORE ministry ending with the CORE Dinner Sunday evening, October 19 at 6:00 pm

Why CORE – center depth, foundation, going deeper

Eccl 4:12 --- Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (NIV)

Transition

These three weeks, we are going to look at the Mandate – Jesus Said! – The Cost – The Reward.

READ Matthew 28:18-19

Christian Discipleship - The First Twelve
Christian discipleship is a concept that was born when Jesus Christ hand-selected His first followers. A disciple, by definition, is a convinced adherent of a school or individual. In the case of Jesus, His disciples were those who followed Him while He was on earth, as well as those who continue to follow He and His teachings today.

Note, I said “Christian Discipleship”

The concept of discipleship was not foreign to men in the days of Christ. The terms used in the New Testament of disciples came from the Greeks. It is crucial for us to grasp the distinctions between our Jesus’ concept of discipleship from those of His contemporaries.

In Ancient Greek, the verb manthano is used to denote the process by which one acquired theoretical knowledge (Discipleship). A disciple (mathetes) was a learner. The disciple  bound himself to another in order to acquire his practical and theoretical knowledge. There was never a disciple without a master or teacher. In some Greek circles the teacher was paid by his disciples

As R. T. France has observed, “Every Jewish teacher worth his salt had his circle of ‘disciples’ who ‘followed’ him (literally walking behind him as he rode or walked ahead), looked after his daily needs, and soaked up his teaching. Their teacher was the most important person in their Lives.”[1]

In Judaism one must learn not only the Old Testament Scriptures, but also the oral traditions, the traditions of the fathers. One would attach himself to a Rabbi, who would serve as a kind of mediator between the student and the Scriptures. One dared not to interpret the Scriptures independently, and could only speak with authority after years of study under a master.

Since there were several masters, there sprang up several schools of rabbinical thought, each in competition with the others.

Although the concept of discipleship was common knowledge in the days Jesus, His teaching on discipleship differed greatly from contemporary thought.

(1) Jesus called His disciples. In Jesus’ day, it was the followers who chose their master. The students chose their teacher or rabbi. But in Jesus’ ministry, it was He Who chose them (cf. John 15:16).

(2) The relationship between Jesus and His followers was more personal than academic. In Judaism, the relationship between a rabbi and his disciple was largely a matter of academics. It was the impartation of knowledge. There was never the sense of intimacy which existed between Jesus and His disciples (cf. John 15:15). Although Jesus taught His disciples, they perceived their commitment as a very personal one.

(3) The path of a disciple of Christ was far different that than of contemporary Judaism. One who chose to be a disciple of a great rabbi looked forward to the time when he, too, would be a great leader in Israel. The path which a disciple of Christ chose to walk was the path of service and self-sacrifice. His disciples must take up their cross (Luke 9:23-24). They must suffer rejection and persecution (John 15:20,21). They, as their Master, must give up their lives in service (Mark 10:45). AND he called led them to one higher than Himself

Christian discipleship began, according to John's Gospel, the day after Jesus was baptized (John 1:35-39). According to this passage, the first two men to follow Him heard John the Baptist declare that Jesus was the Lamb of God. Andrew and John believed what they heard and followed Jesus. Before long, they were telling others about this amazing Man of God!

Andrew recruited his brother Simon (whom Jesus called Peter); the next day Jesus found Philip in Galilee; Philip found Nathaniel and soon a movement was born. Before long, Jesus had twelve disciples. Why only twelve? We don't really know that answer, but twelve has become a symbolic number of completion in Scripture. From Jacob came the twelve tribes of Israel, so it's possible this number was intended to represent each tribe.  --- But it was a great span of care

Christian Discipleship - The Transformation Process
Christian discipleship is more than being a believer - it's about being a follower! Once we make a decision for Christ, then just like Andrew, John and Peter, we must become His disciples and follow Him. Have you chosen to follow Christ? If so, then you are a modern-day Christian disciple!

Thanks to the faithfulness of those apostles, who clearly understood their role as messengers of Christ, we have their gospels and letters to go by. Later, when Paul was added to their number (by virtue of his Road to Damascus encounter with the risen Christ), he wrote letters to all the churches he helped create. These books and letters became the New Testament of God's Word, and unlike those first disciples, we have all of Christ's instructions at our fingertips!

Christian Discipleship - The Short Course in a Long Journey
Christian discipleship begins when you make an active choice to get to know Jesus better. By God's grace, it is then accomplished in several ways:

• You can study His Word daily and spend time alone with Him in prayer.
• You can make Sunday worship attendance a priority in your life.
• You can seek out the companionship in Community Groups of other Christians who are growing with Christ.
• You can participate in CORE ministry and meet the needs of other believers.
• You can share serve others in ministry.

Like those first twelve, you too can be a believer who becomes a follower.

If you look at the original twelve you wonder, how could they ever make it?

Jesus invested His life into them

Discipleship creates an environment where no one stands alone, struggles alone, serves alone, develops alone, seeks alone, or grows up alone.

Jesus recognized that people are at various levels of spiritual maturity. He ministered to the crowds, the 12, and the inner circle of 3 (Peter, James and John).

John Wesley (mid 1700s) followed this same pattern and developed a 3-strand approach to discipleship. He created Societies (congregational), Classes (small groups), and Bands (gender specific groups of no more than 4).

October 19 CORE dinner 6:00 pm

Conclusion

I am making a plea for us all to BE the church. To become disciples and make Disciples.

I ask you to come along this great ride, where you will grow in Christ.