Experiencing Discipleship . . . OR . . . Living the Hope

Sabbath School Class—A Life of Discovery
February 23, 2008
Larry R Evans

There will be no class notes this week due to other responsibilities. however at the end of the quiz is "Reflections in Review" which does give a brief summary of this week's study.


Quiz for Reflection

1. Discipleship is or of an experience than a title. [Mk 8:34] True or False?

2. Choosing the right “bakery” is a life or death decision. [Jn 6:26, 27] True or False?

3. There should be no organizational differentiation in God’s Church. [Mt 18:1-4] True or False?

4. Children teach us that it is possible to believe without having all the answers to our questions. [Mt 18:1-6] True or False?

5. Jesus never calls us to discipleship, to being a follower, without giving us reasons to believe. [Mt 17:1-13] True or False?

6. Because of their devotion and commitment to Christ disciples will be protected from Spiritual deception. [Mt 24: 4-44] True or False?

7. There are times when even truth should not be shared. [Mk 8:27-30] True or False?

Reflections in Review

Someone asked Mahatma Gandhi, “If you were given the power to remake the world, what would you do first?” He replied: “I would pray for power to renounce that power.” Experiencing discipleship is not about “remaking the world.” It is not about having special powers. It is about being so identified with Christ that we carry out His will in any given experience. We do not presume to be God but rather sensitive to His leading so that we become instruments in His hands. History has shown how we use powers that we have: we fight wars, we commit genocide, we pollute the earth, we seek gain at the expense of others. We are not safe to be given more power. It’s best for God to have the power and for us to be His disciples. Some prayers are best not answered – at least in the ways we think best. Prayer teaches us about discipleship. Discipleship is both surrendering and following Christ with the openness to being sent where He leads. It is He who in the end will remake the world. The amazing twist in the whole plan is that we who have abused the powers given to us are empowered by Him in new ways. True disciples are safe to be empowered as agents of hope . . . and change. They not only speak of a different world view. They live it moment by moment in the presence of Jesus.

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