True Discipleship: Following Jesus in Everyday Life
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound call to be true disciples of Jesus, not just in name but in practice. We often find ourselves wanting Jesus to follow us in our daily lives, but the true call is for us to follow Him. This shift in perspective is crucial for a deeper relationship with God. We discussed the concept of spiritual pathways, recognizing that each of us connects with God in unique ways, whether through nature, rituals, solitude, activism, caregiving, or intellectual pursuits. Understanding and embracing these pathways can enrich our spiritual lives.
However, it's essential not to limit ourselves to our preferred pathways but to explore others to grow holistically. Just as a balanced diet is necessary for physical health, a variety of spiritual practices is vital for spiritual health. We also delved into the historical context of discipleship, noting that Jesus called ordinary people to follow Him, breaking the norms of His time. This inclusivity is a powerful reminder that everyone is invited to be a disciple.
Being a disciple involves three key practices: spending time with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did. This requires intentionality and sacrifice, such as creating space in our busy lives for spiritual practices like Sabbath, solitude, silence, prayer, scripture reading, fasting, and community. These practices help us remain in Jesus, as He remains in us, enabling us to bear fruit.
We also emphasized the importance of love as the defining characteristic of a disciple. Love is the essence of God, and our spiritual maturity is measured by our capacity to love, even those who are difficult to love. Finally, we discussed the practical outworking of discipleship in our communities, meeting tangible needs, building relationships, and sharing the good news of Jesus. This holistic approach to discipleship can transform our lives and the lives of those around us.
### Key Takeaways
1. Follow Jesus, Not the Other Way Around: Often, we want Jesus to follow us in our plans and daily routines, but true discipleship means following Him. This shift in perspective is crucial for a deeper relationship with God. When we align our lives with His direction, we find a more profound sense of closeness and purpose. [55:19]
2. Embrace Diverse Spiritual Pathways: Each of us connects with God in unique ways, whether through nature, rituals, solitude, activism, caregiving, or intellectual pursuits. Understanding and embracing these pathways can enrich our spiritual lives. However, it's essential to explore other pathways to grow holistically, just as a balanced diet is necessary for physical health. [56:28]
3. Intentional Spiritual Practices: Being a disciple involves spending time with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did. This requires intentionality and sacrifice, such as creating space in our busy lives for spiritual practices like Sabbath, solitude, silence, prayer, scripture reading, fasting, and community. These practices help us remain in Jesus, as He remains in us, enabling us to bear fruit. [01:09:10]
4. Love as the Defining Characteristic: Love is the essence of God, and our spiritual maturity is measured by our capacity to love, even those who are difficult to love. Jesus calls us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This self-giving love is the hallmark of true discipleship and reflects the heart of God. [01:13:24]
5. Practical Outworking of Discipleship: Discipleship is not just about personal spiritual growth but also about impacting our communities. Meeting tangible needs, building relationships, and sharing the good news of Jesus are practical ways to live out our faith. This holistic approach can transform our lives and the lives of those around us, making us agents of light and love in a broken world. [01:25:07]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[55:19] - Follow Jesus, Not the Other Way Around
[56:28] - Embrace Diverse Spiritual Pathways
[57:08] - Naturalist Pathway
[57:34] - Sensate Pathway
[57:52] - Traditionalist Pathway
[58:34] - Activist Pathway
[59:00] - Enthusiast Pathway
[59:24] - Intellectual Pathway
[01:00:12] - Balanced Spiritual Practices
[01:02:11] - The Cost of Discipleship
[01:03:17] - Deny Yourself for the Best Things
[01:04:29] - The Call to Be Disciples
[01:05:59] - Spend Time with Jesus
[01:09:10] - Intentional Spiritual Practices
[01:13:24] - Love as the Defining Characteristic
[01:25:07] - Practical Outworking of Discipleship
[01:31:28] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 16:24-25 - "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.'"
2. John 15:4-5 - "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
3. John 13:34-35 - "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He says, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me"? (Matthew 16:24-25)
2. According to John 15:4-5, what is necessary for a disciple to bear fruit?
3. How does Jesus describe the defining characteristic of His disciples in John 13:34-35?
4. In the sermon, what are the three key practices of being a disciple mentioned? ([01:06:37])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What might it look like in practical terms to "deny yourself and take up your cross" in today's context? ([01:03:17])
2. How can abiding in Jesus, as described in John 15:4-5, influence our daily lives and decisions?
3. Why is love considered the defining characteristic of a disciple, and how does this align with Jesus' command in John 13:34-35? ([01:13:24])
4. The sermon mentions various spiritual pathways. How can exploring different spiritual practices contribute to holistic spiritual growth? ([56:28])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily routine. Are there specific areas where you are asking Jesus to follow you instead of you following Him? How can you shift this perspective? ([55:19])
2. Identify your primary spiritual pathway. What is one new spiritual practice you can try this week to grow holistically in your faith? ([56:28])
3. What intentional steps can you take to create space in your busy life for spiritual practices like Sabbath, solitude, and prayer? ([01:09:10])
4. Think of a person who is difficult for you to love. What practical steps can you take to show them love this week, reflecting Jesus' command to love our enemies? ([01:13:24])
5. How can you actively participate in meeting tangible needs in your community, building relationships, and sharing the good news of Jesus? ([01:25:07])
6. What are some "good things" in your life that might be crowding out the "best things"? How can you prioritize your time to focus on what truly matters? ([01:04:06])
7. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt distant from God. How might following Jesus more closely in that situation have changed your experience? ([55:19])
Devotional
Day 1: Follow Jesus, Not the Other Way Around
True discipleship means aligning our lives with Jesus' direction, not expecting Him to follow our plans. This shift in perspective is crucial for a deeper relationship with God. When we align our lives with His direction, we find a more profound sense of closeness and purpose. Often, we want Jesus to follow us in our plans and daily routines, but true discipleship means following Him. This shift in perspective is crucial for a deeper relationship with God. When we align our lives with His direction, we find a more profound sense of closeness and purpose. [55:19]
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 find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 2: Embrace Diverse Spiritual Pathways
Each of us connects with God in unique ways, whether through nature, rituals, solitude, activism, caregiving, or intellectual pursuits. Understanding and embracing these pathways can enrich our spiritual lives. However, it's essential to explore other pathways to grow holistically, just as a balanced diet is necessary for physical health. By embracing diverse spiritual pathways, we can deepen our relationship with God and experience His presence in new and meaningful ways. [56:28]
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV): "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone."
Reflection: Which spiritual pathway do you naturally gravitate towards? How can you intentionally explore a different pathway this week to grow holistically in your spiritual journey?
Day 3: Intentional Spiritual Practices
Being a disciple involves spending time with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did. This requires intentionality and sacrifice, such as creating space in our busy lives for spiritual practices like Sabbath, solitude, silence, prayer, scripture reading, fasting, and community. These practices help us remain in Jesus, as He remains in us, enabling us to bear fruit. By prioritizing these practices, we can cultivate a deeper relationship with God and grow in our spiritual maturity. [01:09:10]
John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Reflection: What intentional spiritual practice can you incorporate into your daily routine this week to help you remain in Jesus and bear fruit in your life?
Day 4: Love as the Defining Characteristic
Love is the essence of God, and our spiritual maturity is measured by our capacity to love, even those who are difficult to love. Jesus calls us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This self-giving love is the hallmark of true discipleship and reflects the heart of God. By embodying this love, we can demonstrate the transformative power of God's love to those around us. [01:13:24]
1 John 4:7-8 (ESV): "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is difficult to love. How can you extend God's love to them in a practical way this week?
Day 5: Practical Outworking of Discipleship
Discipleship is not just about personal spiritual growth but also about impacting our communities. Meeting tangible needs, building relationships, and sharing the good news of Jesus are practical ways to live out our faith. This holistic approach can transform our lives and the lives of those around us, making us agents of light and love in a broken world. By actively engaging in our communities, we can demonstrate the love of Christ and make a meaningful difference. [01:25:07]
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: Identify a tangible need in your community that you can help meet this week. How can you build relationships and share the good news of Jesus through this act of service?
Quotes
1. "I wonder how many times that I don't feel close to God because I've just got this whole paradigm thing upside down. I want Jesus to follow me in my world when he's actually called us to follow him into his. No wonder I don't feel close to him sometimes. We're going to talk about what it means to be a disciple or a follower or another modern word is an apprentice of Jesus." [56:28] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "What makes you feel close to God? It could be different from the person. And you're sitting next to. There's a great book called Sacred Pathways by a guy named Gary Thomas. And I read this several years ago. And it was just like light bulbs because we all have these different natural ways that draw us close to God." [57:08] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Most of our lives were just on the crazy train we fill it up with so many things so much noise so much to do and when we are so busy this is what we learned last week that hurry hurry is toxic to your soul to my soul I'm a hurrier I want to squeeze more multitasking is I love it man you know I get three things done at the same time and I'm in a hurry and none of them are really good but they're done right no no no you need space inner space to follow Jesus." [01:02:36] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "It says deny yourself it's gonna it's gonna require suffering and surrender take up your cross it means that you've gotta stop pursuing all the things that are in your life and you're gonna have to let go of some good things to make room for the best things you hear me most of life isn't this competition between good and bad for most of us sometimes it is it's between good and best and we can have so many good things that we miss out on the best things and the best things are space and our soul connected to Jesus it is worth the cost." [01:03:17] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Jesus has called you and me if we're followers of him not to be Christians but to be disciples to be apprentices and a lot of people don't understand this in the Jewish world back in the first century there would be rabbis that would travel around and they would call people to be their disciples to follow and a lot of times a lot of times this was a really big deal if a rabbi called you to leave your occupation or during your occupation and to follow to be a disciple this was prestigious." [01:04:29] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Transformation is possible if you're willing to arrange your life around the practices and the rhythms and truths that Jesus himself did which will open our lives hear me to God's power to change it means practicing the way spend time with him become like him do what he did let's talk about first one making space if you're a disciple make space to be with Jesus." [01:08:51] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "The apprentice's goal is to live in the moment by moment flow of love within the trinity moment by moment you spend time you do your life in the presence of Jesus you're at work you're at school you're in your home you should be following and realize you're not there alone Jesus is with you right you're forget that sometimes I'm glad I think he's not with me but he is with me but following Jesus means we spend time with him." [01:09:10] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "If we are to become more and more like Jesus we should become people who are more characterized by love now we've talked about agape love this isn't the kind of love where I love my dog and pizza and my wife I love my dog I love unselfishly see spiritual formation in the way of Jesus is being formed into a person of self-giving love through deepening surrender to and union with God the Trinity you want to know how spiritually mature you are love is the acid test of how God is growing you." [01:14:12] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "You need other people in your life to help you become more like Jesus I don't know if you know that or not you really can't be fully formed as a follower of Jesus into what Jesus wants without having other people in your life why is that? we fool ourselves because I always think I'm doing better than I am and I need people that I trust and that I love and I know love and trust me who can speak into my life and say you're not as patient as you think you are Wilkinson." [01:19:25] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Jesus got himself crucified by the way he ate you ever think about this? he ate with all the wrong people turncoats like Zacchaeus prostitutes Gentiles the unclean danger danger he was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard a friend of tax collectors and sinners which means I can have all the ice cream and cookies I want I glutton no it doesn't it means we're called to hang out with people that are messed up because we're messed up." [01:28:00] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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