Beyond Labels: The Call to True Discipleship
Summary
In today's message, I challenged us to reconsider what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus. Many of us have grown up with the understanding that becoming a Christian is easy—it's a free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus. However, the term "Christian" itself was not used by the early followers of Jesus; it was a label given to them by others. Instead, they were known as disciples, a term that implies active following and living out the teachings of Jesus.
The distinction between being a Christian and a Jesus follower is significant. While the former can be a static label, the latter demands a dynamic, often counter-cultural way of life. Jesus' teachings, especially those in the Sermon on the Mount, call us to a radical love that goes beyond what is comfortable or expected. This includes loving our enemies, giving generously, and seeking reconciliation with others before seeking peace with God.
The story of Jesus and the Roman centurion illustrates this point vividly. Despite the centurion representing everything that was wrong and oppressive about the Roman Empire, Jesus chose to help him, demonstrating a love that transcends personal and national grievances. This act challenges us to do good even to those who have wronged us or represent systems of oppression.
Following Jesus is not about merely believing the right things; it's about acting on those beliefs, especially when it costs us something. Jesus anticipated that many would hear his words but not act on them, and he warned against this complacency. The true difference-makers in the world are those who act and react when they see injustice, even at personal cost.
So, the invitation is clear: let's not settle for the label of "Christian." Instead, let's commit to following Jesus, doing good for those who can't or won't do good for themselves, and embracing a love that has the power to transform the world.
Key Takeaways:
1. The True Meaning of "Christian": The term "Christian" was originally a label given by outsiders, not a self-designation. Early followers of Jesus were known as disciples, indicating a life of active following and living out Jesus' teachings. This distinction challenges us to move beyond static labels to a dynamic, lived faith. [01:14]
2. The Cost of Following Jesus: While becoming a Christian is free, following Jesus will cost us something. It requires living counter-culturally, as exemplified in the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus calls us to radical love and generosity. This path is challenging but transformative. [04:31]
3. Loving Beyond Boundaries: Jesus' interaction with the Roman centurion teaches us to love beyond personal and national grievances. This love is not just for those who are like us or who treat us well, but even for those who have wronged us or represent oppressive systems. [21:21]
4. Belief vs. Action: It's not enough to believe the right things; we must act on those beliefs, especially when it costs us. Jesus warned against hearing his words without putting them into practice, emphasizing that true discipleship involves action. [26:41]
5. The Invitation to Follow: Jesus never invited anyone to become a Christian; he invited us to follow him. This invitation is to a life of love and action that can astonish the world and bring about real change. Let's embrace this call and live out a faith that makes a difference. [29:43]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Introduction to the Challenge
[00:26] - Becoming a Christian is Easy
[01:14] - The Origin of "Christian"
[02:02] - Who Were the Disciples?
[03:28] - The Challenge of Being a Jesus Follower
[04:31] - The Cost of Following Jesus
[05:16] - The Sermon on the Mount
[07:06] - Radical Teachings of Jesus
[09:14] - Jesus and the Leper
[11:36] - The Centurion's Request
[14:47] - Historical Context of Roman Oppression
[21:21] - Jesus' Response to the Centurion
[26:41] - The Warning Against Inaction
[28:12] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
[29:43] - Conclusion: Follow Me
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Acts 11:26 - "The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."
2. Matthew 5:1-12 - The Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount.
3. Matthew 8:5-13 - The story of Jesus and the Roman centurion.
#### Observation Questions
1. What does the term "Christian" originally mean, and how was it used in the early church according to Acts 11:26? [01:14]
2. In the Sermon on the Mount, what are some of the radical teachings Jesus presents that challenge cultural norms? [07:06]
3. How does Jesus respond to the Roman centurion's request, and what does this reveal about his approach to love and justice? [21:21]
4. What is the significance of Jesus' warning against hearing his words without acting on them? [26:41]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the original use of the term "Christian" challenge modern perceptions of what it means to be a follower of Jesus? [01:14]
2. What might Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount suggest about the cost of truly following him? [05:16]
3. How does Jesus' interaction with the centurion illustrate the concept of loving beyond personal and national grievances? [21:21]
4. Why does Jesus emphasize action over mere belief, and how does this relate to the concept of true discipleship? [26:41]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are you more comfortable with the label "Christian" or with actively following Jesus' teachings? What steps can you take to move towards the latter? [03:28]
2. Consider a situation where you might need to love someone who has wronged you or represents an oppressive system. How can Jesus' example with the centurion guide your actions? [21:21]
3. Jesus calls us to a radical love that includes loving our enemies. Identify one person you find difficult to love and think of a practical way to show them love this week. [07:06]
4. What are some beliefs you hold that you find challenging to act upon? How can you begin to put these beliefs into practice, even if it costs you something? [26:41]
5. Think about a time when you heard a teaching of Jesus but did not act on it. What held you back, and how can you overcome this barrier in the future? [26:41]
6. How can you actively seek reconciliation with others in your life before seeking peace with God, as Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount? [07:21]
7. Identify one area in your life where you can move beyond what's comfortable and expected to follow Jesus more closely. What specific action will you take this week? [18:29]
Devotional
Day 1: Beyond the Label: Embracing Discipleship
The term "Christian" was originally a label given by outsiders, not a self-designation. Early followers of Jesus were known as disciples, indicating a life of active following and living out Jesus' teachings. This distinction challenges us to move beyond static labels to a dynamic, lived faith. Being a disciple means engaging with the teachings of Jesus in a way that transforms our daily lives and interactions. It calls us to a deeper commitment, where our faith is not just a part of our identity but the driving force behind our actions and decisions. [01:14]
Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV): "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you move beyond the label of "Christian" to actively live out the teachings of Jesus in your daily life?
Day 2: The Cost of True Discipleship
While becoming a Christian is free, following Jesus will cost us something. It requires living counter-culturally, as exemplified in the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus calls us to radical love and generosity. This path is challenging but transformative. True discipleship involves sacrifice and a willingness to go against societal norms to embody the values of the Kingdom of God. It is a journey that demands courage and perseverance, as we strive to reflect the love and grace of Jesus in all that we do. [04:31]
Luke 14:27-30 (ESV): "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where following Jesus feels costly? How can you embrace this challenge as part of your discipleship journey?
Day 3: Love Without Boundaries
Jesus' interaction with the Roman centurion teaches us to love beyond personal and national grievances. This love is not just for those who are like us or who treat us well, but even for those who have wronged us or represent oppressive systems. Jesus demonstrated a love that transcends barriers and calls us to do the same. This kind of love is radical and transformative, challenging us to extend grace and compassion to all, regardless of their background or actions. [21:21]
Romans 12:20-21 (ESV): "To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Reflection: Who in your life represents a challenge to love? How can you take a step towards loving them as Jesus would today?
Day 4: From Belief to Action
It's not enough to believe the right things; we must act on those beliefs, especially when it costs us. Jesus warned against hearing his words without putting them into practice, emphasizing that true discipleship involves action. Our faith is meant to be lived out in tangible ways, impacting the world around us. This means stepping out of our comfort zones and allowing our beliefs to shape our actions, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. [26:41]
James 2:14-17 (ESV): "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: What is one belief you hold that you struggle to put into action? What practical step can you take today to live out this belief?
Day 5: The Invitation to Follow
Jesus never invited anyone to become a Christian; he invited us to follow him. This invitation is to a life of love and action that can astonish the world and bring about real change. Let's embrace this call and live out a faith that makes a difference. Following Jesus is an ongoing journey that requires us to continually seek His guidance and align our lives with His teachings. It is an invitation to participate in the transformative work of the Kingdom, impacting the world with His love and truth. [29:43]
Matthew 4:19-20 (ESV): "And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' Immediately they left their nets and followed him."
Reflection: How can you respond to Jesus' invitation to follow Him more closely this week? What changes might this require in your daily routine or priorities?
Quotes
Becoming a Christian is easy, but and you know this, when you open the pages of the Gospels, and when you read the letters of the Apostle Paul, you don't read anything about anybody becoming a Christian. In fact, as you probably know, first century Christians didn't call themselves Christians. That's what non Christians called Christians. [00:57:23]
It's easy to say I'm a Christian, but are we, are you, am I a Jesus follower? Are we following or are we simply believing in. Am I following his example? Or am I just trying to be a good example? And this is a terrifying question. It's terrifying because well, see I can define and redefine the term Christian until I'm fine. [00:57:23]
Following Jesus, it will always cost us something. And it cost some people more than others, right? And here's what you know and here's what I know. Here's what history tells us. The ones it cost the most are the ones that made the most difference. As we talked about all the time in our churches, Jesus came to earth to introduce the kingdom of God to earth. [04:35:41]
Love your enemies, give away your stuff. And when somebody asks for a little give them a lot. And when somebody wants to borrow from you, let them borrow and don't even ask for the stuff back, go the extra mile, turn the other cheek. Oh, you can't make things right with God until you're right with the people around you. [07:07:32]
Jesus, you know the story, he reaches out his hand, and he touched the man, and I love this. And he said, "I am willing, be clean." And immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. And the crowd, the large crowd, it goes wild. I mean, this guy is walking his talk, he's doing for others, he stopped his car and gave that couple with the sign all the cash in his wallet, he is the real deal. [09:43:03]
Following Jesus, moving beyond what's reasonable, beyond what's expected, that's difficult. It's unnatural, it's beyond natural. It's almost supernatural. And of course, that was Jesus point. And if you do good, remember he taught this, Sermon on the Mount, "And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners, do that." [18:19:04]
And so, in keeping with his own teaching, to illustrate what he just taught, he chose to do good for someone who represented an empire, who had done unimaginable harm to his people, his nation, his family, and think about it. In the end, the empire that would oversee his own crucifixion. Jesus says to him, okay, I'll do it. [21:21:46]
He actually, he actually expects us to literally do good for those who don't and won't do good for us. He expects us to literally to do good for those who don't look like or live like us. He expects us to do good for people who don't, who don't even like us. So, back to us. It's no wonder come on, right? [23:38:03]
The men and women who make a difference in the world, are not the men and women who believe right. They are the men and women who act and react when something isn't right, even when it cost them. So, here's my invitation to you. Here's my invitation to us. Here's my invitation to me. Let's not be content with Christian. [28:12:49]
But God, but God demonstrated, but God acted, God responded, but God demonstrated his own love toward us. In that while we were yet centurions. Christ died for us. And then he rose from the dead, and from the pages of the New Testament, he glances over his shoulder at you and me and all of us, and he says, follow me. [29:43:25]
It's easier to be a Christian than a Jesus follower. But here's the funny thing. Jesus never invited anyone to become a Christian. He invited us to follow. [29:43:25]
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