Practicing the Way: A Journey of Discipleship
Summary
In today's discussion, we explored the profound concept of "practicing the way of Jesus," a journey that transcends mere religious conversion and invites us into a lifelong apprenticeship under Jesus. This path is not about adopting a new religion but about embracing a transformative way of life that Jesus called the Kingdom of God. The term "practicing" is crucial here, as it implies a continuous, intentional effort to live out the teachings of Jesus in community with others. This practice is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of growth and transformation.
Historically, the term "Christian" was not used by Jesus or his early followers. Instead, they were known as "followers of the way," a term that emphasizes the active, dynamic nature of discipleship. Over time, the word "Christian" has taken on various cultural and political connotations that often diverge from its original meaning. Today, many identify as Christians, yet only a small percentage actively practice the way of Jesus, highlighting a significant gap between cultural Christianity and true discipleship.
The call to discipleship is a call to intentionality. It involves organizing one's life around three primary goals: to be with Jesus, to become like Jesus, and to do as Jesus did. This requires a shift from a passive identification as a Christian to an active, intentional apprenticeship under Jesus. It challenges us to examine what or who is at the center of our lives and to realign our desires and actions towards becoming more like Christ.
In a culture that values radical individualism and self-made success, the idea of apprenticeship may seem countercultural. Yet, it is an honest acknowledgment of our human condition—we are all disciples of something or someone. The question is not whether we are disciples, but who or what we are discipling under. By choosing to apprentice under Jesus, we aim our attention and affection towards Him, allowing His life and teachings to shape us into His image.
Ultimately, this journey of discipleship is about discovering true life. It is about losing our lives in order to find them, about surrendering control to gain true freedom. It is a call to intentional transformation, a journey that requires devotion and a willingness to rearrange our lives around Jesus as our Rabbi and center.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Invitation to Follow Jesus: Jesus' call was not to a new religion but to a transformative way of life in the Kingdom of God. This journey requires continuous practice and community, emphasizing the dynamic nature of discipleship. [01:06]
2. Redefining Christian Identity: The term "Christian" has evolved over time, often losing its original meaning. True discipleship involves moving beyond cultural Christianity to actively practicing the way of Jesus. [04:59]
3. Intentional Apprenticeship: Discipleship is about organizing life around being with Jesus, becoming like Him, and doing as He did. This requires intentionality and a shift from passive identification to active apprenticeship. [18:26]
4. Countercultural Discipleship: In a world that values individualism, acknowledging our need for apprenticeship under Jesus is countercultural. It involves recognizing that we are all disciples of something and choosing to follow Jesus intentionally. [11:45]
5. Discovering True Life: The journey of discipleship is about losing our lives to find them, surrendering control to gain freedom. It is a call to intentional transformation, requiring devotion and a willingness to center our lives around Jesus. [31:08]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:23] - Defining "Practicing the Way"
[01:06] - Invitation to the Kingdom of God
[02:20] - Followers of the Way
[03:33] - The Evolution of "Christian"
[05:52] - The Gap in Modern Christianity
[07:11] - Discipleship as Apprenticeship
[09:30] - The Myth of Radical Individualism
[11:45] - Aiming Our Attention and Affection
[13:34] - Causes of the Discipleship Gap
[15:24] - Conversion vs. Discipleship
[18:26] - Goals of Apprenticeship
[21:23] - Intentionality in Discipleship
[25:14] - Deep Human Desires
[31:08] - The Paradox of Finding Life
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 16:24-25 - "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.'"
2. Acts 9:2 - "And asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem."
3. Matthew 28:19-20 - "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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when he invites his followers to "deny themselves and take up their cross"? How does this relate to the concept of discipleship discussed in the sermon? [31:08]
2. How does the term "followers of the Way" in Acts 9:2 differ from the modern understanding of the term "Christian"? [02:20]
3. According to the sermon, what are the three primary goals of apprenticeship under Jesus? [18:26]
4. How does the sermon describe the gap between cultural Christianity and true discipleship? [05:52]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What might it look like in today's world to "deny oneself" and "take up one's cross" as described in Matthew 16:24-25? How does this challenge modern cultural values? [31:08]
2. In what ways has the term "Christian" evolved over time, and how does this evolution impact the way people perceive discipleship today? [04:59]
3. How does the sermon suggest that radical individualism conflicts with the concept of apprenticeship under Jesus? [11:45]
4. What does it mean to organize one's life around being with Jesus, becoming like Him, and doing as He did? How might this differ from simply identifying as a Christian? [18:26]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current lifestyle. What are some practical steps you can take to intentionally apprentice under Jesus, focusing on being with Him, becoming like Him, and doing as He did? [18:26]
2. Consider the cultural influences in your life. How can you identify and shift away from those that conflict with the teachings of Jesus? [11:45]
3. How do you currently define your Christian identity? What changes might you need to make to align more closely with the concept of being a "follower of the Way"? [04:59]
4. In what areas of your life do you find it challenging to surrender control? How can you practice losing your life to find it, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 16:24-25? [31:08]
5. Think about the community you are part of. How can you encourage and support each other in practicing the way of Jesus together? [01:06]
6. Identify one area where you are currently a disciple of something other than Jesus. What steps can you take to redirect your attention and affection towards Him? [11:45]
7. How can you incorporate the practice of intentional transformation into your daily routine, ensuring that Jesus remains the center of your life? [32:55]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
Day 1: Embracing the Kingdom of God
The invitation to follow Jesus is not about joining a new religion but about entering a transformative way of life within the Kingdom of God. This journey requires continuous practice and community, emphasizing the dynamic nature of discipleship. It is a call to live intentionally, aligning one's life with the teachings and example of Jesus. This path is not a one-time decision but a lifelong commitment to growth and transformation, where the focus is on being part of a community that practices the way of Jesus together. [01:06]
Luke 17:20-21 (ESV): "Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, 'The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.'"
Reflection: How can you intentionally practice the way of Jesus in your daily life and within your community this week?
Day 2: Rediscovering True Christian Identity
The term "Christian" has evolved over time, often losing its original meaning. True discipleship involves moving beyond cultural Christianity to actively practicing the way of Jesus. This means redefining what it means to be a follower of Christ, not just in name but in action and lifestyle. It challenges individuals to examine their lives and ensure that their identity as Christians is rooted in the teachings and example of Jesus, rather than cultural or political connotations. [04:59]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: In what ways can you move beyond cultural Christianity to embody the teachings of Jesus more authentically in your life?
Day 3: Intentional Apprenticeship with Jesus
Discipleship is about organizing life around being with Jesus, becoming like Him, and doing as He did. This requires intentionality and a shift from passive identification to active apprenticeship. It involves a conscious decision to prioritize time with Jesus, learn from His teachings, and apply them in everyday life. This intentional approach to discipleship helps individuals grow in their faith and become more like Christ in their thoughts, actions, and character. [18:26]
Colossians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to intentionally apprentice under Jesus and align your life with His teachings?
Day 4: Countercultural Discipleship
In a world that values individualism, acknowledging our need for apprenticeship under Jesus is countercultural. It involves recognizing that we are all disciples of something and choosing to follow Jesus intentionally. This choice requires a conscious effort to resist the cultural norms of self-reliance and independence, and instead, embrace a life of dependence on Jesus and His teachings. It is a call to prioritize spiritual growth and transformation over personal success and achievement. [11:45]
Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: How can you resist the cultural pull towards individualism and instead embrace a life of intentional discipleship under Jesus?
Day 5: Discovering True Life through Discipleship
The journey of discipleship is about losing our lives to find them, surrendering control to gain freedom. It is a call to intentional transformation, requiring devotion and a willingness to center our lives around Jesus. This paradoxical journey leads to true life, where individuals find fulfillment and purpose in following Jesus. It involves letting go of personal ambitions and desires, and instead, aligning one's life with the values and teachings of Jesus, leading to a deeper sense of freedom and joy. [31:08]
Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV): "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to surrender control to Jesus in order to experience true freedom and life?
Quotes
I think you know we start with the invitation of Jesus which as you know was not to convert to a new religion called Christianity he never used the word religion or the word Christianity doesn't make them bad it just means they were not in Jesus' vocabulary his primary invitation was was come and follow me and it was to Apprentice under him into this whole new way of life that he called the kingdom of God. [00:00:42]
The word itself literally means something like you know mini Messiah or little Christ but it's a it's a sarcastic term like you want to be Jesus or something like that and later on in church history after the New Testament followers of Jesus started to self ident they picked up this religious slur and said yeah we that's exactly who we want to be we want to be little christs we want to be like Christ. [00:02:59]
The greatest issue facing the world today and you could stop right there like there's a lot of issu a lot of is facing the world today is whether or not those who identify as Christians will become disciples practitioners students followers of Jesus the Christ and so I think that's the call to many I think Americans or westerners is to move from being a quote Christian in the kind of modern use of that par Lance of that word to being a disciple of Jesus. [00:06:21]
The reality is we're all following somebody or something there's so much money to be made there are subscriptions and books to be sold so much that can be done yeah and so I don't mean that in a cynical way just my conviction is even though all of the cultural value everybody wants to be a leader not a follower but the reality is none of us come into this world by ourself we're not self-made. [00:10:34]
To be a follower of Jesus is simply to say I want to very intentionally aim my attention and my affection at Jesus of Nazareth yes and by so doing over time be formed increasingly Into His Image yeah I mean the question is not are you a disciple it's who or what are you a disciple of whether it's Jesus or goop or some tech Guru Jack dorsy or some writer or Buddhism or modern Neuroscience or trauma informed therapy. [00:12:01]
The Gospel of Jesus has been um laid out in such a way that you could become a Christian without becoming a disciple of Jesus you could become you know I believe in God I'm going to heaven when I die I have some faith without devoting your life to Apprentice under Jesus without Jesus becoming the animating like what the tell us just what you said what you aim your attention and your affection at. [00:13:57]
The rubric that you and I both use is a very simple one uh an apprentice or a disciple or a follower of Jesus Jesus is anyone who has organized their life around three driving basic goals number one to be with Jesus number two to become like Jesus and number three to do as he did and that's just basically an interpretation of first century discipleship. [00:18:20]
Your life is already organized around something it just may not be Jesus it may be your career and trust me like the careerism of Western culture is thousand times more legalistic than anything Jesus has on offer it may be health and wellness or physical fitness it may be the Arts it may be pleasure it may be food it may be addiction it may be your family like your life is already your life has a center every life has a center. [00:21:34]
I think that all other desires we have to do well in work to have meaningful relationships maybe to have a thriving family to be well all of these other desires only find their rightful place under our deepest desire which I I this language of be with Jesus become like Jesus do as he did what what are the driving the deepest human desires let's just set aside Christian or not follower of Jesus or not just human being wherever you come from. [00:22:59]
The invitation of Jesus is to stop trying to save your life to lose it and the great Paradox of Christian spirituality is it's in losing your life that you find it it's in dying to yourself that you discover your true self it's in letting go of I'm going to control my life that you actually become the person that you most deeply desire to become and I just believe it is ultimately found in the animating Center of Jesus. [00:32:46]
Transformation is possible but it's not inevitable it will require you to rearrange your life around Jesus as your Rabbi your Center and to devote your whole Hearts to aim as you said your 's attention and affection being with him becoming like him and doing as he did and I just think that that's how you discover Life. [00:32:57]
The term "practicing" is crucial here, as it implies a continuous, intentional effort to live out the teachings of Jesus in community with others. This practice is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of growth and transformation. Historically, the term "Christian" was not used by Jesus or his early followers. Instead, they were known as "followers of the way," a term that emphasizes the active, dynamic nature of discipleship. [00:00:14]
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