“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” —Matthew 7:15-21

Introduction:

Our goal is to become radical Christ followers or

of Jesus.

You are already a disciple. The question is

.

Jesus said, “I am

and the truth and the life.”

Jesus’

of life leads to life: times of silence, solitude, work, and rest as led by God.

Goal #1:

The first and most important goal of practicing the way of Jesus is to be

.

It is not a program, but a process and

of becoming like him.

Becoming like Jesus requires a way of

.

Goal #2:

To become like Jesus takes

and practice.

“Becoming like Jesus is a process. It forms us and shapes us over time. It’s not something that happens all at once.” —Dr. Robert Gorrell

Willpower becomes

power over time.

If Bible study hardens your heart towards people God loves,

.

“All of us are on a trajectory to either life or death… We are either becoming immortal horrors or everlasting splendours.” —C. S. Lewis

The single most important question is, “Are we becoming more

?”

Love is to

of another ahead of your own, regardless of the cost.

Goal #3:

Do as He Did: The final goal of an apprentice is to carry on the

of the master. (Matthew 7:16, 24)

It’s not what you say; it’s about your undeniable

of joy and service to others that comes out of a loving relationship with Jesus. (1 John 2:3-6, 9-10, 17)

We become what we

.

What did Jesus do? First, he did life with at least 12

people who loved God.

You can’t follow Jesus

.

“Jesus didn’t have a disciple; he had disciples, plural. He called people to apprentice under him in community…Salvation itself is a communal experience.” —John Mark Comer

People who stay in community

. Those who leave don’t.

Second, Jesus took those

people and

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them.

Jesus was always doing “show/how training:” 1. I do. You

. 2. I do. You

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. 3. You do. I help. 4. You do. I watch. 5. You do. And somebody

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watches.

Third, Jesus did the

of the Father through the

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of the Holy Spirit.

The same Holy Spirit power that was on Mary, Jesus, Peter, and Paul is

to you. (Acts 1:8-9)

We are

, not salespeople.

Fourth, Jesus

with anyone.

Jesus transformed meals from “boundary markers” to signs of God’s great

.

God’s already

in every life. Meet them where they are,

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, and help them see it.

Live a

, God-honoring, other-centered life.

Acts 2:42: Learn how to love, take care of one another, eat meals together where all are

, and pray.

Every person we meet is a God

to love and to serve.

Action Steps

First, ask God to help you make yourself

to his transforming guidance.

Pray, help me want to

you.

Ask God, “Is there

big or small you would like for me to do?”

“My additional notes:

”.