Discover Discipleship

DISCOVER DISCIPLESHIP

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Daily Readings and Bible Studies

D I S C O V E R D I S C I P L E S H I P page 1

DISCOVER DISCIPLESHIP written by Brad Flood

Christ Church Umhlanga, 2015

57 Hambridge Avenue Umhlanga, 4019

South Africa 031 572 6542

[email protected] www.ccu.org.za

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Contents

Page Introduction 5 1. Introducing Discipleship

Matthew 28:16-20 7 2. Jesus, the Example of our Faith!

Philippians 2:1-11 11

3. Pilgrims and Soldiers Romans 6:8-23 15

4. Seeing with Spiritual Eyes

Hebrews 11:1-6 19

5. The Character of a Disciple Galatians 5:16-26 23

6. The Vertical Dimension

John 15:1-7 27 7. The Horizontal Dimension

Luke 10:25-37 31 8. Good and Faithful Servants

Matthew 25:14-28 35

D I S C O V E R D I S C I P L E S H I P

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For other titles in the DISCOVER series, please visit: www.freeforall.co.za/discover

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Origins (Genesis 1-3)


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Introduction

Introducing “Discover Discipleship” Discover Discipleship is a course that teaches the basics of discipleship in a systematic way. It is our belief that in order to be a ‘good and faithful’ servant, we need to not only know what we are commanded to do, but more importantly, to know Him who has given us these commands. Jesus, in his office of King, the One who has been given ‘all authority in heaven and on earth’, demands our obedience. We follow a great King, but we must never forget that Jesus was also a great servant. The suffering servant who humbled himself, came to earth in ‘the nature of a servant’ and obeyed his Father in all things, even to death on a cross. So we obey the King, while at the same time looking at the obedient example of the Servant. Jesus is truly both the foundation and the goal of discipleship.

How to use this book

This booklet is designed to be used privately and corporately. There is one passage that will be studied each week. Before coming to “Discover Discipleship”, work through the questions on days 1 to 5. Each question will be based on the passage being studied. It won’t take you more than 10 minutes to note down your thoughts. These will form the basis of your time together.


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Introducing Discipleship

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Matthew 28 : 16 - 20 ______________________________________________________________

Many people view discipleship as an ‘add-on’ to Christianity, something

that we can choose to do if we are ‘super-spiritual’ or if we are more

‘inclined’ to religion. Jesus views discipleship as the normal Christian life

and commands the church to not merely make converts, but to make

disciples of people from all nations.


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Matthew 28:16-20

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”


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Daily Reading

If someone had to ask you, “What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?”, how would you answer this question in one sentence?

Jesus proclaimed that all authority had been given to him. How far does this authority extend, and can you think of anything that would be outside of his authority?

In your own opinion, would it be fair to say that ‘being a Christian’ and ‘being a disciple’ are exactly the same things? Give a reason for your answer.

In verse 20, Jesus tells us that obedience to him is something that needs to be taught (knowledge). What do you think are the best ways of acquiring this knowledge?

Jesus gives his disciples a promise at the end of verse 20. Why do you think that it is important for us to believe that Jesus will be with us to the very end of the age (in the context of discipleship)?


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Group Study

What have I learned about Jesus and God? What have I learned to cause shame?

What have I learned about following good? Is there a promise to claim?

Personal Application


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Jesus, the Example of our Faith

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Philippians 2 : 1 - 11 ______________________________________________________________

This week’s study focusses on Jesus as the Example of our faith. True disciples

need to constantly be looking at both the Person as well as the Work of Christ

in order to fuel their obedience to their Master. Jesus exemplified discipleship

by humbling himself and becoming an obedient servant, perfectly doing the

will of the One who sent him.


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Philippians 2:1-11

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


Daily Reading

According to this passage, why did God exalt Jesus to the highest place and give him the name that is above every name?

Does this passage anywhere suggest that Jesus is God? Where?

Why do you think it was important for Jesus to come to earth as a man? See Hebrews 2:17 also.

These verses show Jesus’ ‘humiliation’ (coming to earth as a man) and his ‘exaltation’ (returning to the Father as king). How should these verses help us when it comes to being disciples of Jesus?

What do these verses teach us about how we should relate to each other?


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Group Study





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Pilgrims and Soldiers

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Romans 6 : 8 - 23 ______________________________________________________________

The Bible gives us many helpful pictures of the nature of the Christian life:

one is of a pilgrimage or a journey towards a better country, a heavenly city

and eternal life with God; another is of a battle or war, where we are urged to

fight against the things that oppose God, and especially against the sin so

prevalent in our own hearts.


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Romans 6:8-23

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death,or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.


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Daily Reading

What are the results of being a ‘slave to sin’?

What are the benefits of being a ‘slave to God’?

We are told to offer every part of ourselves to God as an instrument of righteousness. What does this mean? See Romans 12:1-2 also.

Underline the words ‘obey’, ‘obedient’ and ‘obedience’. What do these words tell us about our relationship to sin and righteousness?

What is the ‘gift of God’ in this passage and how should it motivate us in our fight against sin?


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Group Study





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Seeing with Spiritual Eyes

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Hebrews 11 : 1 - 6 ______________________________________________________________

The previous three studies have focussed on defining what discipleship is in

light of the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. This week’s study looks at what

this knowledge is meant to produce - faith. Faith in the perfect finished work

of Jesus transforms our hearts enabling us to obey God in our actions.


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Hebrews 11:1-6

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.


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Daily Reading

Both Enoch and Abel were commended for their faith. Why were they commended and what does this say to us?

Why is it impossible to please God without faith? What does this say about an unbeliever who does ‘good’ things but has no faith?

Do you think that it is possible for a person to have ‘blind’ faith? Give a reason for your answer.

Why does faith give us confidence and assurance? Can we manufacture our own faith? Where does faith come from? See Romans 10:17 also.

Do you believe that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him? Are you earnestly seeking Him?


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Group Study





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The Character of a Disciple

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Galatians 5 : 16 - 26 ______________________________________________________________

A good tree will always bear good fruit! Good Christian character will always

produce good works. This week’s study continues building on the foundations

of the past 4 weeks. Knowledge (hearing God’s Word) increases faith, and

faith in turn transforms our character (hearts).


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Galatians 5:16-26

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.


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Daily Reading

What will happen if we walk by the Spirit, according to verse 16?

What is the outcome of being led by the Spirit, from verse 18?

What have ‘those that belong to Christ Jesus’ done with regards to the flesh?

Why do you think that the flesh and the Spirit are in conflict?

We are told that believers are those who live by the Spirit. Why do we need to keep in step with the Spirit? What are some practical ways that we can do this?


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Group Study





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The Vertical Dimension

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John 15 : 1 - 17 ______________________________________________________________ Having spent the past five weeks laying a solid foundation in our study of

discipleship, we can now focus on the actions of a disciple. We have moved

from knowledge as the basis for increasing our faith, to faith as the power to

transform our character. Character always produces action. This week we

study our vertical actions, namely hearing from and speaking to God.


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John 15:1-17

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.


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Daily Reading

Who is the True Vine? See John 14:23 also.

Jesus’ disciples are told to ‘remain’ in the Vine. What benefits of remaining in the Vine can you find in the passage?

What is the difference between a ‘servant’ and a ‘friend’? What does this teach us about knowing what God’s will is?

What do you think that the ‘fruit that will last’ refers to?

How do we remain in God’s love?


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Group Study





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The Horizontal Dimension

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Luke 10 : 25 - 37 ______________________________________________________________

This week’s study focusses on the horizontal dimension of discipleship: earthly

relationships. Disciples need to know how to honour God in their families,

local churches and even in their relationships with unbelievers.


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Luke 10:25-37 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”


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Daily Reading

What must we do to inherit eternal life?

Why do you think that the expert in the law wanted to justify himself by asking who his neighbour was? Do you see the same kind of tendency in your own heart?

Why did Jesus use a Samaritan as an example? See John 4:9 and John 8:48 also.

What specifically did Jesus mean when he said, ‘Go and do likewise”?

How would you apply the lesson that this parable teaches to your relationships with members of your family, your church and also non-Christians ?


Group Study





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Good and Faithful Servants

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Matthew 25 : 14 - 28 ______________________________________________________________ Everything we have, ultimately belongs to God. We have been given time,

money, work and talents to be used for the glory of God. This lesson’s focus is

on being good stewards of God’s property so that one day we may hear the

precious words of our Master’s voice saying to us, ‘Well done, good and

faithful servant’.


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Matthew 25:14-28 14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.


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Daily Reading

Why were each of the servants given a different number of bags of gold? Do you think this is fair?

What was the reason given by the servant for burying the gold? Do you think his reason was valid?

How would you relate this parable to the subject of discipleship?

What do you think the main point of this parable is?

Write down some of the things that God has entrusted to you. Are you using them for God’s glory?


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Group Study





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