An Overview of Discipleship . . . OR . . . Learning to Lead As a Follower
Sabbath School Class—A Life of Discovery
January 5, 2008
Larry R Evans
Quiz for Reflection
1. The most costly form of discipleship is the kind Christ requires. [Lk 14:25-35] True or False?
2. The Christian can be a disciple of many different leaders. [1 Cor 1:10-17] True or False?
3. The true disciple understands and accepts the reality that surrendering to Jesus means giving up one’s freedom. True or False?
4. We cannot make ourselves disciples by following Christ. [Mk 1:19,20; 2:13,14; Acts 9:4-6; Jn 6:44] True or False?
5. Discipleship transforms one’s vision of the future. True or False?
Introduction
In addition to the Sabbath quarterly I will most likely be referring to two different support books which you may or may not want to get: Called to Discipleship by Bertram Melbourne and The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
I would like to suggest at the very beginning, that it is my personal conviction that discipleship is the focal point of all that God asks of us. If we speak of commitment, we are speaking of discipleship. If we are encouraging true Sabbath observance, we are addressing discipleship. If we pray for a revival in the Church, we are wanting the Church to experience true discipleship. In other words, when Jesus sent us into all the world to baptize and to teach he did so that we might “make disciples.” (Matt 28: 19,20). Furthermore, and we will study about this more fully later, the command “to make disciples” is said in the same breath as “And surely I will be with you”. The very One who calls us to be His disciple also is with us so that we might become like Him. As we will see this combination is no coincidence.
It is not enough to go, to teach, to baptize. All of this must lead to discipleship. To do otherwise is what Bonhoeffer calls “cheap grace”. He puts it this way: That is what we mean by cheap grace, the grace which amounts to the justification of sin without the justification of the repentant sinner who departs from sin and from whom sin departs. Cheap grace is not the kind of forgiveness of sin which frees us from the toils of sin. Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves.” (p.47)
1. The most costly form of discipleship is the kind Christ requires. [Lk 14:25-35] False
Luke 14:25-2725
Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (NIV)
Jesus was an amazingly popular person at the time but for Him, discipleship is not a mass movement! He often taught His principles in startling ways. He is not suggesting that we hate our loved ones but he is saying that it is “only that person who for the sake of His service surrenders all self-seeking and abandons all striving after his own interest can be His disciple.” (Norval Geldenhuys in The New International Commentary on the New Testament – Luke, p. 398)
“The important thing is that whosoever desires to follow Him must be inwardly free from worldly-mindedness, covetousness and selfishness and wholly devoted to Him.” (Ibid p. 399)
But we say “False” is the answer to the question because:
“. . . not to be a disciple of Jesus means to be a disciple of the power of darkness. And to be a servant of the world and of sins costs incalculably more than to be a disciple of Jesus. . .” (Ibid)
2. The Christian can be a disciple of many different leaders. [1 Cor 1:10-17] False
1 Cor 1:10-15
10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.(NIV)
God has many servants who are used to bring honor to God, to Christ. Paul makes it clear that the servant must not be confused with the master. Quarrelling over the prestige of a servant misses the point of discipleship. Others may play a vital role in leading us but we must be led to Jesus and not ending with the servant.
“No power in the world could have united these men for a common task, save the call of Jesus. But that call transcended all their previous divisions, and established a new and steadfast fellowship in Jesus.” (Bonhoeffer, p.227)
3. The true disciple understands and accepts the reality that surrendering to Jesus means giving up one’s freedom. False
When a car that is designed to run on gasoline is fueled with diesel what can we expect – more freedom? Of course not. Actually the choice of fuels does exist but one will quickly lead to the repair shop because it was not been designed to run that way. Freedom is not simply being free to make our own choices. Freedom includes being able to reach one’s fullest potential. Discipleship under Christ is the pathway.
How free was the rich man who asked about inheriting eternal life?
Mark 10:17-22
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good-except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"
20 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. (NIV)
4. We cannot make ourselves disciples by following Christ. [Mk 1:19,20; 2:13,14; Acts 9:4-6; Jn 6:44] True
Mark 1:19-20
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. (NIV)
John 6:44-45
44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.(NIV)
The Greek word for disciple implies “following” a teacher and there can be no disciple without a teacher. In every instance discussed in the Gospels, Jesus chose His disciples. This means that one does not make himself or herself a disciple—the initiative resides with Jesus. . . . Ellen White wrote, ‘It was thus that the early disciples gained their likeness to the dear Saviour. When those disciples heard the words of Jesus, they felt their need of Him. They sought, they found, they followed Him. They were with Him in the house, at the table, in the closet, in the field. They were with Him as pupils with a teacher, daily receiving from His lips lessons of holy truth.’” (Melbourne, p.13 [SC:72,73])
5. Discipleship transforms one’s vision of the future. True
Matt 10:32-33
32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. (NIV)
Some Concluding Reflections
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