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A disciple is a Christian!
In modern Christianity, particularly in America, it
is popular saying to call yourself “a Christian.” Whether political or spiritual, the term is widely used by people
who are not even “Christians” themselves!
It started back in the
first centuries. Rome had a major
problem with the early church and couldn’t stop them from spreading. Even if they cut off these be heads, more
would be added to church! They just
couldn’t beat them with persecution, it spread even the more! So Rome said, “If we can’t beat them, join
them, we’ll adopt their terms, but we will not REALLY surrender
our lives to following this Jesus.” So
now we see it ALL time during our altar calls; “repeat after me, Jesus I
believe you died for my sins and rose again, forgive me, come into my heart and
be my SAVIOR! NOW
you’re a Christian!” Although that may
be a good start, the problem is that becoming “a Christian” doesn’t work that
way! “Christian” means “Christ-like”
and you don’t get that from repeating a few words from a preacher or
tithing! You get it from people taking
knowledge of you, that you have been with Jesus! The Bible says that they were first called
“Christians” in Antioch (Acts 11:26) They
didn’t go around calling themselves “Christians”, they were first called
Christians!!! The Bible calls us to be
disciples, to deny ourselves, take up our cross
daily, and follow Jesus!!! That’s
the only way you grow into the name “Christian”!!! That’s the only way you’re going
to get to Heaven!!! A disciple
means to be discipline to the teaching of Jesus Christ! Not just a nominal Christian, but to follow
Him, He’s the way, the truth, the life; only He has the words to eternal
life!
Being a disciple is the center of
Christianity and the core of discipleship is, “He must increase, I must
decrease!” (John 3:30) Many want
to claim “Christianity” but few want to follow! We want Jesus to be our SAVIOR so we can go to Heaven, but
we don’t want to make Him LORD over ALL the kingdoms of our heart! A salvation without lordship is not
salvation at all! “He became the
author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;” (Heb 5:9) Even the Holy Ghost was only given to them
that obey Him (Acts 5:32)
The words “Christian”,
“Christianity” are found in the Bible only 3 times!!!
The word “disciple” is
found 28 times!!! The word
“disciples” is found 243 times!!!
1.
What is a DISCIPLE? .
2. Is there a difference in being a “DISCIPLE” and being a “CHRISTIAN”?
(e.g. Everybody is a Christian but only
a select few are disciples) Yes or
No? .
3.
Does Scripture make reference to Jesus as SAVIOR and LORD? Or LORD and SAVIOR?
.
4. There are 3 prerequisites in order to be a follower of Jesus!
And he said to them all, If any man
will come after me, let him , and
daily, and . Luke 9:23
5.
Luke 14:26-33
26 If any
man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children,
and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, ..
27 And
whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, ..
28 For
which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth
the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest
haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that
behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying,
This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or
what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and
consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against
him with twenty thousand?
32 Or
else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and
desireth conditions of peace.
33
So likewise, whosoever
he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath .
.
6.
And why call ye me, Lord,
Lord, and do ?
Luke 6:46
7. Ye
are my friends, if ye
. John 15:14
8. John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give
unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that, if ye have love one
to another.
9. John 15:6-8
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is
withered; and men gather them, and cast
them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what
ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye ;so shall ye be .
10. John 14:15 If
ye love me, .
11. John 14:21 He that
hath my commandments, , he it is that loveth me:
and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and
will manifest myself to him.
12. John 8:31 Then
said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If
ye continue in my word, then
are ye indeed;
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of
the world. Amen.
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