The Importance of Discipleship
A disciple is someone who follows another person or way of life. A student,
learner, or pupil. A disciple submits himself to the discipline or teaching of
that leader or way.
A few times in the Old Testament the word is translated “learned” and
“taught”. Wherever there is a teacher and those taught, the idea of
discipleship is present. Isaiah used the term “disciple” to refer to those who
are taught, instructed (Isaiah 8:16).
In the Gospels the immediate followers of Jesus are called “disciples”. The
twelve were called by Jesus’ authority from a wide variety of circumstances.
Indicating that a disciple is not any one set of peoples. All those who
approved of His teaching and were committed to Him are called “disciples”.
Jesus indicates that everyone that believes on Him is not a disciple (John 8:
30-32), which says “as He spoke these words, many believed on Him. Then
said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him. If you continue in My
words, then are you My disciple indeed. And you shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free”. So you see to believe on Him only does not
make you a disciple, it is when you continue in His words. Jesus says “not
every one that says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven, but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will
say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name?
And in Your name have cast out devils? And in Your name done many
wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you; depart
from Me, you that work iniquity. Therefore, whosoever hears these sayings
of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, which built his house
upon a rock” (Matthew 7:21-24). Groups of Jesus’ first disciples included
both the twelve and the seventy, then as many as they would teach.
Again in (John 6:56-69) Jesus knew that many would leave; the word says
“he that eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, dwells in Me, and I in him. As
the living Father has sent Me, and I live by the Father; so he that eats Me,
even he shall live by Me. This is that bread which came down from heaven;
not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead; he that eats of this bread
shall live for ever. These things said He in the synagogue, as He taught in
Capernaum. Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this,
said, this is a hard saying; who can hear it? when Jesus knew in Himself that
His disciples murmured at it, He said to them, does this offend you? What
and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before? It is
the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I speak to
you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe
not. For Jesus knew from the beginning, who they were that believed not;
and who should betray Him. And He said, therefore said I to you, that no
man can come to Me, except it were given to him of My Father. From that
time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. Then
said Jesus to the twelve, will you also go away? Then Simon Peter answered
Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we
believe and are sure, that You are that Christ, the Son of the living God”.
The disciples of Jesus had a unique experience, they benefited from the
immediate teaching of Jesus, His words; but they also witnessed the
unfolding drama of redemption that has Christ as its center. They followed a
teacher who was the substance of that teaching. At the time of His
ascension Jesus commissioned His disciples to “go you therefore, and make
disciples in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit. teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Discipleship covered the time before and after Christ’s death and
resurrection, and it continued on after Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit taught
the disciples about matters that they could not bear while Jesus remained on
earth. They became the foundation teachers of the newly emerging
Christian church. Peter preaches on the day of Pentecost saying “repent
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For this
promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as
many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38-39). Disciples called later
are not in any sense inferior to the first disciples. This is because they were
carrying on the teaching of Jesus and following His examples.
Disciples refers to a larger group of Jesus’ followers; for example, Saul of
Tarsus, who was later called Paul was added. He was converted on the road
to Damascus; he saw the risen Lord and was immediately commissioned by
Christ as the apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15, Galatians 1:12,16).
The book of I John shows that only those who keep Christ’s commandments
show discipleship (I John 2:3-6), which says “and hereby we do know that we
know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that says, I know Him, and
keeps not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But
whoso keeps His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby
know we that are in Him. He that says he abides in Him ought himself also so
to walk, even as He walked”.
We have to remember that Jesus says “a new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one
another. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have
love one to another” (John 13:34-45) and in John 7:1-12; verses 7-8 says “if
you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and
it shall be done to you. Herein is My Father glorified that you bear much
fruit, so shall you be My disciples”.
Many people are making converts, people are believing in Him, but it is
important to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: May 10, 2009
A disciple is someone who follows another person or way of life. A student,
learner, or pupil. A disciple submits himself to the discipline or teaching of
that leader or way.
A few times in the Old Testament the word is translated “learned” and
“taught”. Wherever there is a teacher and those taught, the idea of
discipleship is present. Isaiah used the term “disciple” to refer to those who
are taught, instructed (Isaiah 8:16).
In the Gospels the immediate followers of Jesus are called “disciples”. The
twelve were called by Jesus’ authority from a wide variety of circumstances.
Indicating that a disciple is not any one set of peoples. All those who
approved of His teaching and were committed to Him are called “disciples”.
Jesus indicates that everyone that believes on Him is not a disciple (John 8:
30-32), which says “as He spoke these words, many believed on Him. Then
said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him. If you continue in My
words, then are you My disciple indeed. And you shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free”. So you see to believe on Him only does not
make you a disciple, it is when you continue in His words. Jesus says “not
every one that says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven, but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will
say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name?
And in Your name have cast out devils? And in Your name done many
wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you; depart
from Me, you that work iniquity. Therefore, whosoever hears these sayings
of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, which built his house
upon a rock” (Matthew 7:21-24). Groups of Jesus’ first disciples included
both the twelve and the seventy, then as many as they would teach.
Again in (John 6:56-69) Jesus knew that many would leave; the word says
“he that eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, dwells in Me, and I in him. As
the living Father has sent Me, and I live by the Father; so he that eats Me,
even he shall live by Me. This is that bread which came down from heaven;
not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead; he that eats of this bread
shall live for ever. These things said He in the synagogue, as He taught in
Capernaum. Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this,
said, this is a hard saying; who can hear it? when Jesus knew in Himself that
His disciples murmured at it, He said to them, does this offend you? What
and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before? It is
the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I speak to
you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe
not. For Jesus knew from the beginning, who they were that believed not;
and who should betray Him. And He said, therefore said I to you, that no
man can come to Me, except it were given to him of My Father. From that
time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. Then
said Jesus to the twelve, will you also go away? Then Simon Peter answered
Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we
believe and are sure, that You are that Christ, the Son of the living God”.
The disciples of Jesus had a unique experience, they benefited from the
immediate teaching of Jesus, His words; but they also witnessed the
unfolding drama of redemption that has Christ as its center. They followed a
teacher who was the substance of that teaching. At the time of His
ascension Jesus commissioned His disciples to “go you therefore, and make
disciples in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit. teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Discipleship covered the time before and after Christ’s death and
resurrection, and it continued on after Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit taught
the disciples about matters that they could not bear while Jesus remained on
earth. They became the foundation teachers of the newly emerging
Christian church. Peter preaches on the day of Pentecost saying “repent
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For this
promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as
many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38-39). Disciples called later
are not in any sense inferior to the first disciples. This is because they were
carrying on the teaching of Jesus and following His examples.
Disciples refers to a larger group of Jesus’ followers; for example, Saul of
Tarsus, who was later called Paul was added. He was converted on the road
to Damascus; he saw the risen Lord and was immediately commissioned by
Christ as the apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15, Galatians 1:12,16).
The book of I John shows that only those who keep Christ’s commandments
show discipleship (I John 2:3-6), which says “and hereby we do know that we
know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that says, I know Him, and
keeps not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But
whoso keeps His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby
know we that are in Him. He that says he abides in Him ought himself also so
to walk, even as He walked”.
We have to remember that Jesus says “a new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one
another. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have
love one to another” (John 13:34-45) and in John 7:1-12; verses 7-8 says “if
you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and
it shall be done to you. Herein is My Father glorified that you bear much
fruit, so shall you be My disciples”.
Many people are making converts, people are believing in Him, but it is
important to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: May 10, 2009
