Discipleship

Observations Based on Below Study--
1) A disciple of Jesus is a student striving to learn his ways and adhere to his commands. This requires the study of Jesus teachings (scripture) and trust in his commands (faith) manifested in obedience.
2) A disciple of Jesus is willing to give up all things, including life itself, for him.
3) The outside world recognizes a disciple of Jesus by their love for others and by the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).
4) We are called to teach people all over to become disciples of Jesus Christ. (Note: the NIV says go and make disciples, but the KJV says go and teach).

Matthew 28:18-20--
Mat 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Mat 28:19 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,
Mat 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary *
--one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.
--a convinced adherent of a school or individual.

Easton's Dictionary: **
Disciple: A scholar, sometimes applied to the followers of John the Baptist (Mat_9:14), and of the Pharisees (Mat_22:16), but principally to the followers of Christ. A disciple of Christ is one who

(1.) believes His doctrine,
(2.) rests on His sacrifice,
(3.) imbibes His spirit, and
(4.) imitates His example

Strong's Information:
--make disciples=teach in KJV=matheteou (math-ayt-yoo-o) in Greek
--to become a pupil;
--to disciple, that is, enrol as scholar;
--be disciple, instruct, teach
--translated in other nt verses as instructed, teach, disciple in KJV
--mathetes (math-ay-tes): a learner, pupil, disciple. Used in Mat 22:16, Mat 9:14 to describe followers of Pharisees and John the Baptist respectively. See below verses of interest which are all this particular word.

Verses of Interest:
Mat 10:24,25: "A student (disciple, mathetes) is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master..." (also Luke 6:40).

Luke 14:26,27: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."

Luke 14:33: "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."

John 8:31: Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples."

John13:35: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 15:8: This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples
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* Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary
**M. G. Easton, M.A., D.D.; Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1897.

Suffering.

Because human freedom is necessary for all that is meaningful in life (e.g., love, relationships, and acts of nobility) then God cannot create a meaningful world without letting people exercise their freedom. The same freedom that makes it possible to love makes it possible to hate. The same freedom that can lead to heaven can lead to hell. The heart of the appeal to free will is that freedom is worth the price of evil.

– C.S. Lewis


God is not like a senile old grandfather whose only concern is the temporal gratification of his grandchildren, but more like a skilled, benevolent surgeon who will do whatever it takes to eradicate the cancer of sin from the character of his creature, because he knows that ultimate health and happiness are impossible as long as any trace of the malignancy remains. In a fallen world this type of surgery often requires the scalpel of suffering. It is fortunate for us that God is perfectly willing to hurt us in order to bring about the ultimate healing of our souls.

– Alvin Plantinga

Ultimate God Compass

I came to faith in my late 20s. I had heard the story of Jesus and his death and resurrection. But I felt satisfaction in life would be found elsewhere. I set off on a journey to find fulfillment, peace, happiness....whatever you want to call it. I looked in a lot of different places over the years. Athletics, academics, partying, relationships, success, materialism. I looked for fulfillment in all. And found none. At the end of this journey, like Solomon it seemed to me life was meaningless. After running out of options, God mercifully pointed me toward him. In reality, the "compass" always points to him. We just don't look to see it, because we think we know better what is good for our lives. Jesus Christ has filled the emptiness in my life in ways that are unexplainable. He is the substance that fills the God shaped hole in each of us. Without him there is only disappointment and despair. Only he is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).

Things That Strengthen My Faith.

We all have faith in something. I choose to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and the authenticity of the Bible text in revealing him to us. Others believe there is no God. Make no mistake about it, atheism is a belief system. But, I also know that at times all believers if they are honest struggle with doubt. I think the fact that it is a struggle is a manifestation that those in this situation are indeed believers. I also am convinced that faith by definition is NOT the abscence of doubt. In fact, John the Baptist, while in prison, sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was indeed the "one who is to come." Jesus said John was the greatest man spiritually to walk the earth (obviously other than himself). So, when I struggle with doubt, what are some thoughts that refocus me on God and his truth?

1) God has not proven his existence because doing so would eliminate mans' free will in regards to loving him. (In other words, there is a reason for the lack of proof). --My belief.
2) Believing there is no God requires as much faith as believing there is a God.
2) Creation is unexplained if there is no God. (one must believe in the spontaneous generation of matter from nothing or matter that has eternally existed if there is no God. These positions are unbelievable to me).
3) Conscience points to right and wrong. If there is no God, there is no reason for an inate sense of guilt when wronging others. (In fact, evolutionary theory would suggest wronging others in many circumstances is beneficial to the one doing the wronging).
4) The Bible is approximately 1500 pages long, written over around 2000 years, by 40 different authors, in multiple locations BUT with one theme. (The Koran for example was written by one man).
5) Out of the 12 Apostles present after Jesus death and resurrection (not including Judas who was replaced by Matthias), eleven were martyred for their faith and one died in old age as a believer. (The Apostles died for Jesus even though there was no gain financially, materially or positionally to following him).
6) The tomb Jesus was laid in was and is empty. No reliable explanation exists as to how this happened. The tomb was guarded. Those who crucified Jesus wanted no questions arising regarding the truth of Jesus death. And the disciples would have risked persecution for no benefit in attempting to move Christ's body.
7) The heavens declare the glory of God (Romans 1, Psalm 19). Who can look at the stars on a clear night and deny the existance of the Almighty?
8) The inability to understand God and his working completely does not exclude me or excuse me from believing in him. If I point a gun into the night sky, eliminate friction and gravity where will the bullet end up? I believe in the universe without understanding it.
9) Seeing God is not necessary for belief and not seeing God is not an excuse for disbelief. The wind is invisible, yet I see it move the leaves and feel it on my face. In the same way, if we look we see God's Spirit moving around us in the lives of others.
10) The strongest assurance is the realization of what God has done in me...making me a new creation. I am not the same as I was before. Some can tell. Others may not be able to But, I am a different man.

Edward's 56th Resolution

Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

Jonathon Edwards

Hunger.

I frequently am impressed with my inability to do what is right in God's eyes. Even if I try "really, really hard," I find it impossible to lead a righteous life. I am able to see sin in my thoughts, and even in my trivial actions that to others go unnoticed. It makes me sad to think I dishonor God through my sin in so many ways. I long to be a good and faithful servant to my Lord. But in reality, this sadness because of my sin and the longing to honor God point to the condition I will have in eternity. I long for myself fulfilled in purpose to the Almighty. Until I am with him this cannot be fulfilled as sin in me prevents it. Listening to Steve Brown on the radio this week was encouraging as he commented on Jesus' words on the above situation:

Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

Observations:
-Those that long (hunger and thirst) for righteousnes are blessed.
-Those that long for righteousness will receive it.