Become a Disciple

There is a story of a man that was a great tight-roper. Crowds would always surround him as he would do amazing feats. One day he placed a rope across two objects and quickly tight roped across. The crowd cheered. So then he asked the crowd would you like to see me tight rope across with a wheelbarrow? The crowd cheered and immediately he accomplished the feat. The crowd went nuts. So then asked, which one of you would volunteer to be in the wheelbarrow.

None accepted.

What about you?  Are you willing to be more than someone in the crowd and actually become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 4:18-22 (Jesus Calls the First Disciples)

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he (Jesus) saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

From Matthew Chapter 4 until 16 we see the training of theses disciples. Jesus preaches his best sermon in chapters 5-8. We call it the sermon on the mount. The disciples listen and learn. They are there as Jesus heals people. He restores people. He calms the storm.  In Chapter 10 he calls the same 12 and gives them authority to cast out demons, heal every disease and sickness. Even Judas was included in this time.  Then Jesus starts telling parables. Stories. Feed 5000. Walks on Water.

Unitl Matthw 16 which states

Matthew 16:24-28 (Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection)

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

God loves you just as you are, but he loves you too much to let you stay that way.
He loved the disciples. Called the disciples. Gave gifting to the disciples.
And still asked them to

1. Deny Themselves

We simply deny ourselves those things that are temporarily pleasurable but eternally painful. We deny the desires of our flesh. We deny the temptation of sin. We refuse to settle for anything less than the best which is God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will.

This is completely opposite to culture.
Culture says it’s all about me. Jesus says it’s all about Him.
Culture says take a selfie. Jesus to deny your selfie. (we’re tired of seeing them anyways)
Culture says live for likes on Facebook. Jesus says dive into His Book.
Culture says live for the moment and Jesus says live for eternity.

2.  Take Up Your Cross

Die to self-everyday.  How?

By allowing your circumstances to help you become more like Christ–especially the circumstances you don’t like. Anytime you feel the pain of an insult, disappointment, suffering, physical challenge, failure, injustice, or trial–it’s an opportunity to die to pride, die to ego, die to sin, die to self. And if you keep dying to self, you’ll come alive in ways you never imagined. In fact, you’ll live forever.

The goal is to be more like Jesus every day.
From month to month.
From year to year.

3. And Follow Him

Its why at Hope Community we will preach from the word on Sunday Morning and not our opinions on what we think about certain things. We will study the scripture in context. It’s why we will dissect the word together so that you can do that you can learn how to do that in your own personal time.
It’s why we are serious about memorizing scripture and encourage you with amazing gifts as prizes. Seriously free Chick Fil A.
It’s why in your bulletin, posted on Facebook, and with a flyer we are intentionally reading through the bible in a year.
It’s why we will take a foreign mission trip every year and encourage you to be a part. We think a foreign mission trip is better than a year of our sermons. And my husband preaches good.
It’s why Wednesday nights are discipleship classes that allow you to talk grow and learn together.
It’s why we text (almost harass) have your names on our prayer list for Monday, want you praying with us for Sunday and a Part of Basic on Sunday.
To be a disciple. It’s not about flashy lights and glitz and glam. It’s not even about how well we speak or if you like our program. We will try hard but when it comes down to it we want you to be his disciple. We want you serving and teaching and training and when you do that well you bring others with you.
Therein lies the adventure of being a disciple.

This journey of denial and picking up your cross ultimately leads us to following Him.
For some that we be becoming a world warrior for six weeks in five different countries.
For some that will mean being a foreign missionary. Staying and preaching the gospel.
For some that will mean advancing the kingdom of God in your workplace and with your families and in your neighborhood.

For some that will mean something that you can’t even possible think of yet.
And you will look back five ten fifteen years from now and see how far God has bought you.
And those you take along with you.
The legacy will be great.
And His name will be greater on account of it.
As you deny, pick up your cross and follow Him.