LESSON 3: CHARICTERISTICS OF DISCIPLESHIP 1

Characteristics of Discipleship II. Fundamentals of Discipleship

A. What are the specifics of discipleship?
Theme: What should a disciple of Christ look like? 1. Going public: While salvation must be personally
received on an individual basis, the idea of our faith in Christ
Text: (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV) And Jesus came and as a private matter is completely contrary to the teachings of
spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in Christ Himself.
heaven and on earth. {19} "Go therefore and make disciples (Matthew 10:32-33 NKJV) "Therefore whoever
of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} "teaching them to Father who is in heaven. {33} "But whoever denies Me
observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in
with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. heaven.
(Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV) "You are the light of
Introduction: The evidence of salvation is a transformed the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. {15}
life. Without obedience to Christ we cannot claim to be a His "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a
disciples. If we are not His disciples, then we are not actually lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. {16}
saved. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
“Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity
without Christ.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer 2. Knowing the truth: If we are to follow Christ, we
must know His word.
(1 John 2:4 NKJV) He who says, "I know Him," and (John 8:31-32 NLT) Jesus said to the
does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if
not in him. you keep obeying my teachings. {32} And you will know the
(Luke 6:46 NKJV) "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' truth, and the truth will set you free."
and do not do the things which I say? (Matthew 11:29-30 NLT) Take my yoke
upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and
I. Whole Life Discipleship gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} For my yoke
A. Unknowingly, we have allowed a dumbing down fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."
of biblical discipleship.
“Christianity is not a school for the teaching of moral 3. Mentors: A disciple must have those who
virtue, the polishing of our manners, or forming us to live a demonstrate following Christ.
life of this world with decency and gentility. It is deeper and (1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT) And you should
more divine in its designs, and much nobler ends. It implies follow my example, just as I follow Christ's.
an entire life, a dedication of ourselves, our souls, our bodies (2 Timothy 2:2 NLT) You have heard me
unto God in the strictest and highest sense of the words. teach many things that have been confirmed by many
William Law reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy
people who are able to pass them on to others.
“Jesus in His extremism insists that we surrender all
our relationships, our resources, our careers, our futures-our 4. Accountability: A disciple must have those to
total lives-to His lordship…In becoming Christian it appears whom they give account.
that many of us have unquestionably attempted to layer our (Hebrews 13:17 NLT) Obey your spiritual
faith right over the top of the secular values with which we leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over
have been raised. We have simply accepted cultural your souls, and they know they are accountable to God.
expectations as largely unquestioned givens. For many, this Give them reason to do this joyfully and not with sorrow.
business of following Christ seems to be placing a little That would certainly not be for your benefit.
“Jesus veneer” over middle- and upper middle-class (1 Peter 5:5 GWT) Young people, in a
lifestyles and their implicit values. That simply won’t work.” similar way, place yourselves under the authority of spiritual
Tom Sine, ‘Taking Discipleship Seriously’ leaders. Furthermore, all of you must serve each other with
humility, because God opposes the arrogant but favors the
1. To be a disciple of Christ, one must actually humble.
follow Christ.
“When someone claims to have faith in Christ, he 5. Structure: Structure gives us boundaries, and a
must also commit to follow Christ. Remember, Jesus taught format for developing godly habits, and character.
that faith meant to follow Him. Anything less is something (1 Corinthians 14:40 NKJV) Let all things
else – a wish, a desire, or a good intention. But it’s not faith, be done decently and in order.
because faith means to follow. Bill Hull ‘The Complete (Titus 1:4-5 NKJV) To Titus, a true son in
Book of Discpleship’ our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. {5} For this
(Luke 9:23 NKJV) Then He said to them all, "If reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the
anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I
take up his cross daily, and follow Me. commanded you;
LESSON 3: CHARICTERISTICS OF DISCIPLESHIP 2
6. Godly fellowship: A disciple needs relationships, ________________________________________________
where they experience love and security. ________________________________________________
(Acts 2:42 NKJV) And they continued ________________________________________________
steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the ________________________________________________
breaking of bread, and in prayers. ________________________________________________
(Philippians 2:20-22 NLT) I have no one ________________________________________________
else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. ________________________________________________
{21} All the others care only for themselves and not for what ________________________________________________
matters to Jesus Christ. {22} But you know how Timothy has ________________________________________________
proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has helped me ________________________________________________
in preaching the Good News. ________________________________________________
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Conclusion: ________________________________________________
 A disciple abides in Christ through the Word and ________________________________________________
prayer. (John 15:7) ________________________________________________
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 A disciple bears much fruit (John 15:8) ________________________________________________
 A disciple demonstrates his/her love for God through ________________________________________________
obedience. (John 15:9) ________________________________________________
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 A disciple possesses joy. ________________________________________________
 A disciple loves as Christ loves us. (John 15:12-13) ________________________________________________
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