What Makes a Christian a Disciple of Christ?
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NOTE FROM JOHN I want to share some of the reasons I decided to compile this study book. I first believed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ when I was twenty-seven years old, and as of this writing I have been a believer for fifty years. I am a seasoned citizen and have been around the block a few times. In the early years as I was developing my own walk with Jesus, I think it was based mainly on my love for Him and for what He did for me. We know that love for Jesus must be our first and last love. It was like being on cloud nine, but eventually we must come down out of the clouds. As we return to earth we begin to experience turbulence and then it is back to reality. The question began to come – what is my real purpose as a Christian? Since Jesus has all power and authority in heaven and earth, why did He leave the earth and expect Christians to continue His work and message? How can I make a difference? There were many other questions and prayers to God. He said to me, “Through My word, if you are willing, I will show you examples of your questions and prayers through your own life.” This happened about nine years after I first believed, Like Isaiah, I said, “here am I, send me”. God sent my wife, three daughters and me to two different countries. We were one year in Switzerland and three years in Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa. You might say, “he is a missionary so he knows the Bible inside and out.” Here is the point – you can know the Bible inside and out and not really understand much of it. As the years keep clicking off I must admit I still don’t know much and I am still learning. I don’t know how many times I wished I would have known this earlier in my Christian life. I have compiled this study book with basic truths, so that if we can understand and grasp them, it will make our walk with Jesus sweeter each day. As we each read this book, may we gain insight that will help us live the Spirit-filled life. A NOTE TO LEADER This study book is for all Christians. Mature believers can be refreshed and new believers can learn basic truths for living a spiritual life. Each chapter has its own theme and the comments and questions are meant to stimulate discussion. The leader is encouraged to guide the discussion and keep it on point. It is important to start each session by breaking up in two’s and reciting memory verses. Table of Contents Getting Started 12 Chapter 1 - The Believing Christian 18 Chapter 2 - The Loving Christian 28 Chapter 3 - The Obeying Christian 36 Chapter 4 - Wise Counsel for the Christian, Part 1 48 Chapter 5 - Wise Counsel for the Christian, Part 2 58 Chapter 6 - The Christian in Relation to the Church 66 Chapter 7 - God Wants the Whole Christian, Part 1 76 Chapter 8 - God Wants the Whole Christian, Part 2 86 Armor of God Illustration 99 Chapter 9 - The Belt of Truth 100 Chapter 10 - The Breastplate of Righteousness 112 Chapter 11 - Feet Fitted with the Gospel of Peace 121 Chapter 12 - The Shield of Faith 127 Chapter 13 - The Helmet of Salvation 138 Chapter 14 – The Sword of the Spirit, Part 1 150 Chapter 15 – The Sword of the Spirit, Part 2 160 Chapter 16 – The Praying Christian 172 Recommended Reading and Studies 186 Memory Verses 188 GETTING STARTED - WHAT MAKES A CHRISTIAN A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST? Memory Verse: Matthew 28:18-20, 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, baptizing 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 will be with you always, to the very end of the age.” A disciple is one being taught by a teacher. Pretty simple stuff isn’t it? Only in this case our lives depend on it! Jesus said to go make disciples. We need to understand what He meant by “make”. This study will by no means exhaust everything it takes to make a disciple, but its purpose is to focus on some of the essential truths that a Christian must know and apply to his life. Discipleship is a process of commitment to learn to become like Jesus. To find God’s will, it takes a commitment of time in prayer, faithfulness, perseverance and memorization of His Word. This process equips us to teach believers to become disciples, ultimately to become more like Christ. Here is the basis for and of Christian discipleship in the memory verses Matthew 28:18-20. This is The Great Commission. First of all Jesus backs up His command by saying, “ ‘…all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me…’.” This is a declaration of His sovereignty. The sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man is an abiding principle throughout the Bible, Old and New Testaments. So we see in these verses “ ‘…all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me…’ ”, (God’s sovereignty), and “ ‘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…’ ”, (the responsibility of man), “ ‘…and surely I am with you always, to the end of the age,’ ” (God’s sovereignty). We read Matthew 28:18-20. Now let’s read companion verses in Mark 16:15-16, “15 He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.’” We see that the one who is commanded to be taught is the one who believes and is baptized and saved. The teachers Jesus is speaking to are all the apostles and disciples who were gathered there. Concerning the commands of Jesus, often there is some misunderstanding. There are those who believe that the only command that is important is in John 13:34-35, 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” We will be discussing this more in chapter two, the Love Chapter, but for now keep in mind that throughout His ministry and teaching His followers, He used words like seek, do, do not, go, pray, etc. These are all commands of Jesus. The desired purpose of this book is to study truths that are basic and essential in teaching believers to become more like Jesus and to live the Spirit-filled life. The Bible is the handbook for life that is God breathed (inspired by God), and is the absolute truth. For this book we want to have a personal motto concerning God’s word and this is it: God said it! I believe it! That settles it! Welcome to the Way, the Truth and the Life! REVIEW GETTING STARTED 1. Who is commanded to teach believers? 2. Who is commanded to be taught? 3. Is baptism an option for the believer? 4. Is believing an option to becoming a Christian? 5. What is the main subject to be taught? 6. By what authority does Jesus make these commands? 7. When Jesus commanded, “go”, will we be alone? Explain. 8. What is the goal of the teacher and the believer? State our motto concerning God’s Word. Remember to recite the memory verse without looking at it.
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About the Book
A disciple is one being taught by a teacher. Pretty simple stuff isn’t it? Only in this case, our lives depend on it! Jesus said to go make disciples. This study will, by no means, exhaust everything it takes to make a disciple. Its purpose is to focus on some of the essential truths that a Christian must know and apply to his life. Discipleship is a process of commitment to learn to become like Jesus. To find God’s will takes a commitment of time in perseverance, faithfulness, memorization of His Word and prayer. This process equips us to ultimately become more like Christ.
About the Author
John Johnson was born and raised on a family farm in the foothills of Mendocino County, California. After a short service in the Army, John married Sandra Stoddard; and they were blessed with three daughters. Soon after their third daughter was born, John found a Gospel of John at a check stand in the grocery store where he worked. He took it home, read it, and gave his life to Jesus. Days later, he and Sandie shared with each other they had both surrendered their lives to Christ within days of each other! Several years passed, John and Sandie went to seminary for a year, packed up their three girls and went to Africa. They served a four year term, of which included one year in Switzerland to learn the French language. John also served on two church planting teams, one before his time in Africa and one after.
Since John’s encounter with Jesus, his passion is to “be excited about Jesus”! It is his greatest desire to ignite this passion in other believers.
John and Sandie are retired and have ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren to keep them busy. They currently reside in the foothills of Northern California.