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The Makings of a Disciple

Text: Matthew 10, Mark 6, Luke 9 (and other selected passages from the Gospels and Acts)

In a disciple, there must be

The Makings Of A Disciple


D - ecision to follow Christ Mt.10:32 (this weeks memory verse! ) I - nstruction (the Noun) Jn. 8:31, Prov.4:20-22 S - ending /stepping out (the Verb) Mt.10, 28; Mk 6, 16; Lk 9, 10 C - ommitment (finishing strong). Mt 10:38, Mk 8:34, Lk 14:27 I - ncreasing faith Lk 17:5-6 P - ower (authority from Jesus) Mt. 28:18, 20 , Mk6:7, 16:18, Lk 9:1, 10:19 L - ove Jn 13:35 E - mpowerment (Holy Spirit) Jn 20:21-22, Acts 1:8; Lk 24:49

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January 20, 2013

In a disciple, there must be

D - ecision to follow Christ Mt.10:32 (this weeks memory verse! )


1. The act of becoming a disciple starts with a decision. Jesus has issued an invitation, Come, follow me.1 It is your choice whether you will follow Him or not. It is my prayer that everyone here today will decide to follow Christ. Are you looking for answers? Are you looking for love? Are you looking for something or someone to fill that void in your heart? JESUS IS THE ANSWER! Thats why He is inviting you to follow Him. Only in Him will you find what you are looking for. He loves you so much that He was willing to leave heaven, become human, suffer and die a humiliating death just for you to be reconciled to God the Father. He is offering Himself to you, as your ticket to the Almighty Father. Would you like to make a decision right now to accept Jesus? * Pause for a while and pray with those who wish to accept Christ. Dear God, I admit that I am a sinner. Please forgive me. I thank you that You love me so much that you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for my sins. Jesus, I now accept you as my Lord and Savior. From now on, I decide to follow you. Be the Master of my life. Amen. 2. Being a disciple continues with a decision. Jesus invitation is not a one-time offer. Every day, He is inviting us to follow Him. You see, in every situation we are given a choice. And if we choose to do as Jesus would have done, then we are showing the world that we are followers of Christ! And this is what Jesus has to say about the matter: Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.2 Song:
1 2

I have decided to follow Jesus

Mt.4:19, 9:9a Mt.10:32

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January 20, 2013

In a disciple, there must be

I - nstruction (the Noun) Jn. 8:31, Prov.4:20-22


As a disciple, What are you supposed to do?

Get instructions from the one we are following.


Instruction (teaching): A disciple must learn the teachings of his teacher. A disciple must be taught and trained by his teacher. Instruction (order): A disciple must know the commands / directives given by his master and hold on to / continue in them.

1. Our primary source of instruction must come from the Master Teacher Himself Jesus Christ. Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. (NIV)3 If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of Mine. (NASB)

If we would be truly instructed.we must hear in a worthy manner.4 (A.W. Tozer) He who has ears, let him hear. Mt.11:15

2. For our secondary sources of instruction, it must come from the Church pastors, cell leaders, disciplers those people whom we are sure to be listening to and following the Master themselves. January 20, 2013 No man has any right to offer advice who has not first heard God speak. No man has any right to counsel others who is not ready to hear and follow the counsel of the Lord.5 (A.W. Tozer)

Song:
3 4

My son, pay attention to my word (Prov.4:20-22)

John 8:31 Tozer.A.W. The Root of the Righteous (We Must Hear Worthily) 5 Tozer, A.W. The Root of the Righteous (Listen to the Man Who Listens to God)

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In a disciple, there must be

S - ending /stepping out (the Verb) Mt.10, 28; Mk 6, 16; Lk 9, 10


The Master has sent out His disciples: Mt.10:5a, 8 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Mt.28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Mk. 16:15 He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Lk.9:2 And he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. *Practical Note: If you are a discipler, your goal must also be to send out the ones you are discipling. As a disciple, What is expected of you?

Mk.6:12-13 They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. January 20, 2013

Step out and Go! Do as Jesus have instructed you to do.


Song: Send Me

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In a disciple, there must be

C - ommitment (finishing strong). Mt 10:22, 38, 16:24, Mk 8:34, Lk 14:27


As soon as you step out and get yourself into the appointed task, you will experience real life taking place. All men will hate you because of me... Mt.10:22a

What is a disciple of Christ expected to do when faced with challenges?

Take up your cross


If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mt. 16:24, Mk. 8:34 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Mt.10:38 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Lk. 14:27 We must do something about the cross, and one of two things only we can do flee it or die upon it.6 (A.W. Tozer) Jesus encourages us to endure until the end and finish strong. but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Mt.10:22b In the midst of challenges, find your strength in God. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter spirit because of his sons and daughters (they were taken captive). But David found strength in the Lord his God. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, Bring me the ephod. Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the Lord, Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them? Pursue them, he answered. You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue. 1 Samuel 30:6-8

Song:
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If any man come after me let him deny himself (Kids Praise)

Tozer, A.W. The Root of the Righteous (The Cross is a Radical Thing)

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January 20, 2013

In a disciple, there must be

I - ncreasing faith Mt 9:28-29; Lk 17:5-6


Do you believe that I am able to do this? According to your faith will it be done to you. Mt.9:28-29 (C.H. Spurgeon) this specific; personal Faith in Christ's Ability - Matt. 9:28 Many of us profess much more in our creeds than we believe in our hearts, and we hold a great deal more in theory than we do in reality.7 (Testimony) Blog entry

Real faith knows only one way and gladly allows itself to be stripped of any second way or makeshift substitutes. For true faith, it is either God or total collapse. 8 (A.W. Tozer)

As we grow deeper in our relationship with the Lord, our faith must increase. Our faith must be strengthened. Our faith must be real faith, one that will stand the testings and trials this life has to bring. As we see more of God in our lives, so our faith in Him must become clearer and stronger. How is your faith? Do you arrange things so that *you+ can get on well enough without divine aid, while at the same time ostensibly seeking it? Do you boast in the Lord but watch carefully that *you+ never get caught depending on Him?9 As our faith increases, it must lead us into action. So how should our increasing faith in Jesus be evident in our ministry today? January 20, 2013

By the POWER that He gave us!

from Spurgeon's Sermons, Electronic Database. Copyright 1997, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved 8 Tozer, A.W. The Root of the Righteous (True Faith Brings Committal) 9 Tozer, A.W. The Root of the Righteous (True Faith Brings Committal)

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In a disciple, there must be

P - ower (Authority from Jesus) Mt. 28:18, 20 , Mk6:7, 16:17-18, Lk 9:1, 10:19; Jn 14:12

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well. Mark 16:17-18

The King of Kings, the God who spoke and made the heavens and the earth and everything that is in it to come to being that same God is living in you. And that same God has given us the authority to use His name to regain control of our dominion over the power of the enemy!

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Lk.10:19

Jesus gave a wonderful promise (linking faith and power) in John 14:12: I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Dont hold back. Understand the power that you have in Jesus Christ! You have been given the authority to use against the enemy; dont let it go untapped. USE IT!

Song:

I Have Given You Authority; In the Name of Jesus January 20, 2013

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In a disciple, there must be

L - ove Jn 13:34-35
What should be our identifying factor? LOVE. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35

What should be our motivating factor? LOVE. Love for God who He is, what He has done (He forgave us, saved us) Love for others Freely you have received, freely give. (Mt. 10:8b)

Its nice to have a goal average 100 in attendance by the end of 2013 but if that goal is for a reason other than love (competition? Bragging rights? More income?), then whats the point? Its nice to have a plan of action pay it forward but if that plan is for a reason other than love (fame? Praises of men?), then whats the point?

When our love for God overflows and touches others through our witness, reaching our goal of 100 is not going to be a problem! When our love for God overflows, paying it forward will just be a natural reaction of that overflow. January 20, 2013

May it be that love will be the force that will drive us into action! Remember, God is love. (1 John 4:8)

Song:

Let Your Love Flow Through Me

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In a disciple, there must be

E - mpowerment (Holy Spirit) Jn 20:21-22, Acts 1:8; Lk 24:49


But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 Much is expected of a disciple of Christ. And Jesus knows our limitations as human beings. Thats why He gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us become effective disciples. We are fighting a force that, as humans, is way out of our league. Thats why we need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, so that by His power we can do more for God.

Go, but not yet.


I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. Lk 24:49 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:4-5

Why wait?
He would not have asked them to wait if He didnt think they really need it because Jesus himself was filled and anointed with the Holy Spirit before He started on His ministry. The Baptism of Jesus (Mt. 3:16-17; Lk.3:21-22) Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. Lk.4:1-2

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lords favor today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Lk.4:18-19, 21) Baptizing His followers in the Holy Spirit was one of Christs key goals in his earthly mission.10 (Mt.3:11; Mk.1:8; Lk.3:16; Jn. 1:33) If Jesus meant for His disciples to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, then we need to realize the importance of this gift. If Jesus Himself needed baptism, the more you need it too! Song(Altar Call): Come Holy Spirit January 20, 2013

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Article: Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Full Life Study Bible

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