Discipleship
What does it look like to be a true disciple? How do we become one? It is easy to say a prayer and walk to the front to receive Jesus as someone prays over you. The truth of the matter is, Jesus never held a revival meeting to only have people say a prayer and go home and that’s it. Jesus’ invitation has always been to come and follow Him—not a one-time prayer or a one-hour service and return to the life you have been living. It is a lifetime of following. A disciple is not only a student but a follower; they are spoken of as imitators of if their teacher. In order to follow, you have to be willing to be a disciple and in order to be a disciple, you need to be taught, unlearn things, and have the wisdom to apply what you have learned. Disciples are followers who cultivate a strong foundation. Allow God to deconstruct everything that is not of Him, so that He can construct in us ways that are productive for the Kingdom of God. Become Jesus’ disciple. John 8:31 (NLT) states, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful (continue, abide, hold fast) to my teachings.”
Why discipleship? The very simple and bottom line is Jesus said, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” Amen! Matthew 28:18-20
Week 1: Knowing Jesus Through Biblical Discipleship
Jesus says it is possible to do Christian things without actually knowing Him.
He warns of being deceived into thinking one is saved without knowing Him biblically. Matthew 7:21-23
Danger of cultural Christianity for prioritizing Jesus only for salvation after death, rather than following His leadership in life.
Discipleship is to be a learner and a teacher to others. Be a teacher in word and deed, be a mentor. Let them know you are there, like a coach, to encourage, instruct, rebuke and edify. Make sure they know you are committed to them.
PRAYER POINTS:
Humble ourselves before the Lord, thanking and knowing that we are called to be His disciples, His followers
Pray for Holy Spirit to guide us in our spiritual growth and to help us to have a deeper relationship with Him, aligning ourselves with His will, and building a strong foundation
Pray to have a deeper understanding of His Word and to open our hearts to have a teachable spirit, guiding us into all truth
As we open ourselves to His divine guidance, we can find peace and assurance in knowing He is always with us
Pray to fill our hearts with a deep sense of compassion for those who have not yet experienced the joy of knowing Him
Pray to surrender ourselves to His divine guidance and trust that He will accomplish His purposes through us
Pray to have the opportunity be a teacher and a mentor to others
Week 2: Live for Jesus
Jesus' disciples left behind safety, family, and self for a cause that revolves around denying oneself and following Him. Luke 9:23
Jesus' initial invitation was to follow Him, become fishers of men, and make disciples of all nations
If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. John 8:31-32
Jesus chooses disciples by grace, revealing God's pursuit of humanity. God seeks a personal, transformative relationship with each person through Jesus.
PRAYER POINTS:
Ask the Lord to help us to be humble in our hearts and to recognize and obey that His will is more significant than our own
Pray to remove any fear or doubt that hinders us from boldly sharing the Gospel to others
Pray to guide us in His ways and give us grace to stay faithful to His teachings, even when it is difficult
Pray to give us strength when we feel weak and give us courage when we feel afraid
Pray to give us the heart that is sensitive to the needs around us
Ignite within us a passion for souls, a deep desire to see others come to know Him
Pray to open our eyes to recognize the seeking souls who long for a relationship with the Lord
Pray that by Your grace, we may walk in spirit and truth as we search the Scriptures to discover what the Holy Spirit would teach us daily
Pray we choose to follow Him, make fishers of men, and disciple the nations
Pray to have a personal and transformative relationship with those we disciple
Week 3: Be Willing to Pay the Price
Jesus is worthy of total abandonment and supreme adoration, not casual acceptance.
Jesus paid the price for you, for all of us. Matthew 13:43-46
The cost of discipleship. Luke 14:25-33
Followers of Jesus must die to self and cling tightly to Him, sacrificing safety and comfort for the Gospel's sake. Matthew 10:16
"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops." 2 Timothy 2:3-6
PRAYER POINTS:
To truly follow Jesus, we pray to put Him in the center of our lives
Pray to serve Jesus with the same faithfulness with which He served and gave His life for us
Pray to give up and let go those things to which we are clinging that are not from the Lord. Ask for forgiveness and renounce our sin and turn from it
Pray to help us die to our own desires and live for Christ and to present our lives as a living sacrifice that is holy unto the Lord—pay the price
Pray that we may endure life's hardships like a good soldier of Christ and keep pressing on to the goal of our callings
Week 4: Disciples Making Disciples
A disciple is a person who has given much serious thought to the words and teachings of Christ and has sought to duplicate their actions to His. He becomes an imitator of Christ and seeks to reproduce himself in others.
Trust and obey Jesus, not just live a culturally Christian life.
Biblical discipleship is trusting in Jesus and turning from sin.
“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so, you will be My disciples.” John 15:8
It is not enough just to be saved; you have to pass on the Good News.
PRAYER POINTS:
Pray for the wisdom to know when and how to share the Gospel effectively
Open doors of opportunity for us to share Jesus’ love and redemption
Grant us the patience and perseverance to walk alongside new believers, nurturing them in their faith. Give us the words to speak, the wisdom to guide, and the humility to learn from them as well
Pray for the individuals we are discipling, asking God to guide, strengthen, and empower them through Holy Spirit
Pray that the Lord would remove the blinders from their eyes and soften their hearts to receive Your truth. Break down the barriers of doubt and skepticism, replacing them with a hunger for Your word
Pray to obey His word, abide and trust in His love and faithfulness, bear good fruit, serve and love others intentionally
Pray that we are a good and faithful servants of God and that we prove to be loyal, dependable, disciplined, hard working in our Christian Walk with God
Pray to commit ourself wholeheartedly to the task of making disciples, knowing that it is a calling of eternal significance for His glory
Let’s follow Christ’s leadership in life and disciple the nations!
