Lessons From Would-be Disciples . . . OR . . . How to Flunk While Getting "A's"

Sabbath School Class—A Life of Discovery
January 26, 2008
Larry R Evans
The teaching notes will be posted later this week.

Quiz for Reflection

1. A willingness to follow was always accepted by Jesus. [Mt. 8:19,20] True or False?

2. Jesus taught that His disciples would put His mission over attending a funeral of a loved one. [Mt. 8:21,22] True or False?

3. Jesus knew that salvation could not be attained by the works of the law which is why He pointed the rich young man away from the law. [Mt 19:16-26] True or False?

4. If we keep the commandments as Jesus instructed the rich young ruler, we will meet the criteria Jesus was stressing with this would be disciple. [Mk 10:17-23] True or False?

5. True seekers of truth will, unlike Nicodemus, come to Jesus whether it be day or “night.” [Jn 3:2, 19-21] True or False?

6. The fruit from honestly answering sincere questions is not always immediate. [Jn 19:39-40] True or False?

7. It is more important to believe in God than in what we believe about Him. [Lk 4:16-30] True or False?

8. Truth is truth. How it is packaged is less important than making sure it is “truth” that we share. [See Counsels to Writers and Editors, p.72; The Desire of Ages, p.353] True or False?

Reflections in Review

Commitment and loyalty are weighty words when it comes to discipleship. They reach back into our inner being where we consciously or unconsciously hold our core values. The degree to which we are committed or loyal to a person or cause is often revealed when contradicted by other expectations from such influences as family, friends, cultural norms, public image and at times even our own safety. The call of Christ is always a call to restoration to the divine purpose for which we were created and for which we will find the ultimate fulfillment, yet when we speak of following Christ we often refer to “the cost of discipleship.” Cost is relative. Is there a cost for not following Christ? Changing our core values is difficult and much more difficult to change than modifying a behavioral pattern for the short term. Christ’s call to discipleship is accompanied not only with the challenge to change who we are but it provides the strength by which we can be changed and the vision of what we will be like. “Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.” (Eph. 5:1) Such a challenge can create great turbulence but it also brings inner peace and fulfillment as we relate differently to God, others and, yes, even to ourselves.


Comments

Anonymous said…
Most smokers think they can quit until they make a serious effort and find it's a bigger deal than they thought.

In a similar way, we think the rich young ruler had a problem and Christ told him what to do, but it doesn't really concern us, because we don't think we have that problem.

Like the smoker who hasn't tried, perhaps we haven't heard Christ say, "Sell what you have." We don't think it applies to us.

But Christ is addressing us when He said, "Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have."

This is His introduction to Luke's wedding parable (often overlooked) where the reward for readiness is that "He will make [us] ruler over all that He has." Luke 12:36,44.

Ellen White suggests the "little flock" are the 144,000 and if we are serious about being in that group, we have a duty as she suggests, "Duty In View of the Time of Trouble." EW 56,57.

Not to consider this may be like the smoker who thinks he can and will....later.
Friday, January 25, 2008 11:47:00 PM
LRE said…
The overarching principle with Christ's encounter with all "would-be disciples" was to gain full commitment to "follow" him. He knew in each case the point of resistance and he adapted his words accordingly. For one it was earthly riches and he was told to sell, for another it was conversion and he was told to be "born again" and for yet another it was procrastination using a made-up excuse and he was told to let the dead bury the dead and in all likelihood his father was in good health (see notes). The amazing thing in all of these instances is the penetrating grace of Jesus. In each instance he offered hope through exposure--exposure to oneself. Although painful at times, such exposures are a sign of both God's love and the Spirit's persistence to include us in the family of God. -- LRE
Saturday, January 26, 2008 7:42:00 AM
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