THE CALL OF DISCIPLESHIP

PURPOSE OF STUDY

Each study in this series builds on the ones preceding it. Thus far, you’ve covered The Bible, Jesus, Sin and The Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Each of these is an important part of the call to discipleship, and it is here in the series when we present Jesus’ call to “come follow me.”

BOTH LORD AND CHRIST

Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah and our Savior, and we’ve discussed that in the previous studies. In this study, we focus on how he is Lord (King and Master). We cannot accept him as the one and not the other! We point to six passages that all illuminate what it means to really be a follower of Jesus. And since Jesus is our Savior, and since he has come to rescue us from our sin, why wouldn’t we want to be his disciple?

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY

We point out in Luke 9:23-26 that a disciple takes up their cross daily. What does that phrase mean? It certainly meant a lot more to Jesus’ original audience than it typically does to us. When you ask the person you are studying with how they think these people would have understood Jesus’ call to take up their crosses daily, take that opportunity to remind them about the previous study (The Good News). Those hearing Jesus state these words would have seen crucifixions like that of Jesus. They would know that carrying their cross wasn’t simply to put up with inconveniences or deny themselves some desire. To carry our cross is a death sentence, and one that involves a complete annihilation of self.

IF ANYONE DOES NOT HATE…

The Greek word for “hate” in Luke 14:25-26 certainly does mean to “hate” or “have a strong aversion to.” However, it is also used in the New Testament where it seems to have the sense of “disregard or disfavor,” where preference of one thing is held over another. God is to be held over money (Matthew 6:24). We should live for the eternal life over the present life (John 12:25). Jacob was chosen over Esau by God (Romans 9:13). This is indeed a very strong word, and “hate” is an appropriate translation. But as in these other uses, the point is that Jesus comes before even family!

THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

Why do we follow Jesus, learn from him, put him first in our lives and deny ourselves? Why do we go and make disciples? Because we love God and love our neighbors! Matthew 22:34-40 is a great verse to conclude a study on discipleship. When asked what matters most, Jesus spoke of love. It’s what matters most to God, and it is the reason we do all that we do as disciples.

³⁶ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Jesus Announces the Good News

¹⁴ After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

¹⁶ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed him.

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? ²⁶ Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

² He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,^a]
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.^b]
³ Give us each day our daily bread.
⁴ Forgive us our sins,
    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.^c]
And lead us not into temptation.^d]’”

The Cost of Being a Disciple

²⁵ Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

³¹ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. ³³ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^a] ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^b] ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”