Wings of Faith

 

Church Folk or Disciple—Pick one

  1. Intro-----are we true disciples or are we mearly going thru the motions
  • The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church

    Funny how hard it is for people learn a simple gospel well enough to tell others, but how simple it is for the same people to understand and repeat gossip

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      1. is our lives transformed into that of Jesus or not
      2. do we do as He says or only listen to what He says
      3. when we come out of church, do we just feel better and our consciounce cleaned or do we act on what we hear?
      4. As we move thru discipleship we will take a look at what it is NOT
    1. Jesus warned of the dangers of Discipleship Mat: 23-1—12
      1. talking to the crowds
      1. just finished with the Sadducees and Pharisees---who were they—the church folk—the religious leaders
      2. gave us picture of what following Him is not to look like
      1. What he warned:
      1. religious leaders in chair of Moses------making interpretations of Gods law added over 500 commands and rituals to do [v 23-2]
      2. do as they say—people were still under the Law for salvation but not as their deeds---they don’t do what they preach/teach [v 23-3]
      3. they wont help you [v 23-4] talk a good talk, but don’t walk the good walk
      4. they want noticed by men---broaden their phylacteries (scripture boxes on the arm, forehead, see them today in bookstores-----contrast to Jesus---he ran from popularity, was a servant and helped people and taught at the same time [v 23-5---7] want best seats, want respect, weren’t concerned with knowing God only working for God

     

    1. He then tells us some things not to do
      1. Don’t be called: [v 23—8]
      1. Rabbi or teacher, cause God is the teacher, we are all brothers
      1. need to help each other
      2. look after the cares and needs of each other (one another) how do you personally do that in your life, however it is God is blessed by it; James, faith without works is dead
      4.
      1. Don’t call anyone Father: God is our Father [v 23-9]
    1. he only choices to us husband and wife to produce biological offspring

      2. truly become His when we are ‘born again’ in the spirit

      1. Don’t be called leaders: Christ is our leader [v 23-10]
    1. to really lead is to be a servant---todays church is not close to that, most serve themselves while the people inside starve
    1. they build their own towers, bigger, better, stronger=they have the technolgy but not the heart, well meaning
    1. too many titles , too much hierarchy today we can function as a leader, pastor etc, but the title is not the point, the message is, the action is, your work is, James, faith without works is dead.
      1. The greatest will be the servant Jesus was greatest teacher
      2. The exalted will be humbled—todays TV Preacher stars maybe
      3. The humbled will be exalted—the downcast, homeless, unemployed, ill

     

    1. What are we to do?
      1. Great Command Mat 28-19—20, go make disciple, teaching them to observe all That I commanded you
      1. note it doesn’t say just teach them what I said, but to observe, or to do
      2. Mark 16-14—18 Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation
    1. where is your world. Next door , your block, grocery store------always may be opportunity to present the gospel to someone
      1. we were given authority over all the earth Gen. 2—26 "let them rule , we are to finish what Jesus started, He worked in a fleshly body and so are we
      1. Who is a disciple of our Lord? Anyone who is deeply and personally committed to Jesus Christ by faith, who manifests the power and authority of our Lord, and who continues and extends His work.
      1. Not the spectators---they are watching, waiting, learning, investigating, seeking---but never doing and feeling like there’s something more
      2. wait for the preacher to minister to us, instead we are to minister to others, believers first, then the world
      3. any one Jesus calls, some volunteered but were turned down, other purposes for them, Gearsens demonic told to go tell people, anticipation of Gospel going to whole world
      4. if your willing for self sacrifice like Jesus not just looking to the day when you can be a great leader like in Judaism.
      5. Based on personal relationship with Jesus, not JUST Him as the Teacher and you as the student, for we are to become like the Teacher
      6. One who follows Jesus not just believes in Him, the demons do that wwjd!
    1. Conclusion
      1. we need to lead by serving others, show your faith, others may ask you and then you got the chance to share Jesus with them
      2. 1, don’t just be part of a program, do it cause God tells you
      3. need to be judged by scripture rather than being the judge of it
      4. need to be more concerned with being a disciple of Jesus rather than just a discipler or disciplee-------which are you, disciple or church folk?
      5. As we said in the start, there are the crowds and then the disciples, which are we