A DISCIPLE IS DEFINED IN MATTHEW 4:19
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
A DISCIPLE OF JESUS IS ONE WHO:
Committed to FOLLOWING Jesus
(Luke 9:23) Giving Up Self and One’s Own Desires
23 Then Jesus said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow Me, he must give up himself and his own desires. He must take up his cross everyday and follow Me.
· Committed to BEING CHANGED by Jesus:
Romans 12: 2 Do not act like the sinful people of the world. Let God change your life. First of all, let Him give you a new mind. Then you will know what God wants you to do. And the things you do will be good and pleasing and perfect.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit that comes from having the Holy Spirit in our lives is: love, joy, peace, not giving up, being kind, being good, having faith,
Committed to the MISSION of Jesus:
Matthew 28: 19 Go and make followers of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 19: 10 For the Son of Man came to look for and to save from the punishment of sin those who are lost.”
HEAD, HEART & HANDS
Following Jesus at the head level:
A disciple is one who has repented of self-rule and follows Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They know and are under the authority of Jesus and they know the truth as revealed by the Word of God.
Being changed by Jesus at the heart level:
Jesus takes us as we are when we decide to follow Him. A disciple does not just know about Jesus at the head level but is being changed at the heart level as well. A disciple is being changed from one who is worldly to one who is Christ-like. Jesus changes our character and reason for living as the Holy Spirit does His work in our hearts. A disciple is being transformed by Christ.
Committed to the mission of Jesus at the hands level:
A disciple of Jesus serves him with their lives and is committed to impacting the world and the time of history we live in for Christ. As they experience who God is and what he cares about their perspectives and priorities change towards the mission of Jesus. A disciple uses their hands to achieve the mission of Christ.