What Does It Mean to be a Disciple of Jesus?

1. Read: Matthew 28:18-20

2. About the Text:

1) Jesus wants us to make disciples.

2) The word “disciple” means “follower.”

3) How do we follow Jesus?

4) We can’t help others become disciples if we don’t have a clear sense of what that means.

5) Do we understand what it means to be his disciple?

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. A disciple listens to Jesus.

1) “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

2) “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Rev.3:20).

2. A disciple believes Jesus.

1) “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11).

2) “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” (John 11:25-26).

3. A disciple follows Jesus.

1) “And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt.4:19).

2) This means forsaking all other concerns – Matthew 8:18-22.

1. Jesus wants us to care about the physical and spiritual concerns of others.

1) Jesus cared for others while he lived on the earth.

2) He had spiritual concern: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt.9:36).

3) He had physical concern: “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14).

2. People have physical concerns that need to be met.

1) “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:44-45).

2) “Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution” (Acts 6:1).

3. People also have spiritual concerns that need to be met.

1) Romans 1:16-17

2) “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).

1. The church is Jesus’ instrument to impact the world today.

2. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

3. The church are the people.

4. By people caring for other people, we impact the world – “Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do” (Galatians 2:10).

5. By worshipping we impact the world – John 4:24.

6. By evangelizing we impact the world – Mark 16:15-16.

7. We cannot impact the world if we don’t participate!

1. Being a disciple of Jesus means that we are committed to His values by…

1) Listening and Following Jesus, Our Spiritual Leader

2) Caring About Others

3) Participating in the Church

2. Invitation