Called to Discipleship . . . OR . . . Being Seen for What We Might Become!

Sabbath School Class—A Life of Discovery
January 19, 2008
Larry R Evans

The answers to the following quiz along with the teaching notes will be posted later this week.

Quiz for Reflection

1. The calling of a disciple often begins long before the formal call, “Come!,” is heard. [Jn 1:35-39] True or False?

2. Being a disciple of Christ is a private matter between Christ and the one called. [Jn 1:45] True or False?

3. Today each Christian should be involved in calling disciples. [Jn 1:40-42] True or False?

4. The call of Nathanael revealed some latent prejudice which had to be overcome. [Jn 1:45-51] True or False?

5. Matthew did not need to leave his tax work to show His love and commitment for Christ. [Mt 4:18-20] True or False?

6. The call to a life of discipleship breaks down groups of followers into individual followers. [Philip 3:17-21] True or False?

7. The call to discipleship involves a commitment of the entire life to Jesus and the desire to share Him with others. [Jn 1:35-51] True or False?

8. As disciples of Christ, when we come into the presence of Jesus we become less conscious of sin and more conscious of the inner strength supplied by Him. [Lk 5:8; Rom 4:20] True or False?

9. When building a team it is best to build around a core of well respected individuals knowing that they will be a primary influence upon others. [Mt 9:9-13; Lk 18:10,11] True or False?

10. To be a true and effective disciple of Christ we must count the cost before making the commitment to follow. [Heb 11:1; Mk 10:35-40] True or False?

11. The strength of one’s faith is conditioned by what he or she “sees”. [Jn 1:35] True or False?

12. It is characteristic of those who follow Christ to feel unworthy before being entrusted with a call to service. [Isa 6:5; Desire of Ages, p. 246] True or False?

Reflections in Review

A call by Jesus to follow Him is no ordinary invitation. The issuing of a the call is unique in that the One calling knows far more than our strengths and weaknesses. He knows what we can become under His care and guidance. Secondly, the call received is no ordinary acceptance. Its demands are seldom fully understood at first. Those who accept the call do so despite the hardships involved because the acceptance is foremost the acceptance of the Person Jesus. It is then, and from this perspective, that a life of discipleship begins. Bonhoeffer says it well: “Christianity without the living Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship, and Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.” Moving from a mere psychological motivation Ellen White penetrates the meaning of calling and the making of disciples when she wrote: “God takes men as they are, and educates them for His service, if they will yield themselves to Him. . . . The weak vacillating character becomes changed to one of strength and steadfastness. Continual devotion establishes so close a relation between Jesus and His disciple that the Christian becomes like Him in mind and character. Through a connection with Christ we will have clearer and broader views. His discernment will be more penetrative, his judgment better balanced. He who longs to be of service to Christ is so quickened by the life-giving power of the Sun of righteousness that he is enabled to bear much fruit to the glory of God.” (The Desire of Ages, p.251)

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