Foundation of Faith 2

Foundation of Faith 2
 
Brady quoted Eugene H. Peterson’s book “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society” as he spoke about the foundational importance of discipleship.
 
Are you a disciple of Jesus?
You are a Christian; you are a student of Jesus.
Being a Christian and being a disciple is the same thing. But today, we have separated the meanings.
 
          Acts 11:25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
 
Disciples were called Christians; the words are interchangeable.
A Christian is a person who is Christ-like.
A Disciple is a person who is a follower, a learner of Christ.
 
          Dallas Willard wrote in The Great Omission: “So the greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as “Christians” will become disciples – students, apprentices, practitioners- of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence. Will they break out of the churches to be His Church-to be, without human force or violence, His mighty force for good on earth, drawing the churches after them toward the eternal purposes of God? And, on its own scale, there is no greater issue facing the individual human being Christian or not.”
 
Somewhere through history, a disciple of Jesus became a definition of a more faithful Christian. That is not biblical. A Christian is a disciple. Discipleship means growing in your dedication to Jesus. It is the process of sanctification, becoming more holy and righteous in the way you live because you are imitating Jesus.
 
Be an imitator of Jesus. (Imitation is the highest form of flattery.)
 
          1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
 
          Ephesians 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
 
What does a disciple / a Christian look like?
A person who loves.
            … who sacrifices.
            … who is selfless.
            … who is humble.
            … who looks out for others.
 
          Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
 
What does a disciple / a Christian look like?
 
          Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
 
A Christian is a person who is holy.
            … who is compassionate.
            … who is kind.
            … who is gentle.
            … who is patient.
 
What does a disciple / a Christian look like?
 
          1 Peter 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
 
A Christian is a person who suffers.
            … who receives insults.
            … who doesn’t retaliate.
            … who trusts.
 
Do you look like a disciple of Jesus?
            Let’s take steps today to look more Christ-like.
 
Being a Christian in word is easy. You accept Jesus as Savior.
Being a Christian in action is hard. You surrender to Jesus as Lord.
 
What does a disciple / a Christian look like?
 
          Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
 
A Christian is a person who carries the cross of Jesus daily.
            … who denies self.
            … who follows Jesus.
            … who loses his life.
 
What does a disciple / a Christian look like?
 
          John 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
 
A Christian is a person who finds real life.
            … who has a full life.
            … who listens to the Shepherd.
 
A Christian walks like Jesus.
 
          1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
 
Grow in your imitation of Jesus.
Walk like Jesus today.
 
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A Christian is a teacher of others.
 
          Hebrews 5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.