DEVOTED TO JESUS

To Grow as a Disciple
January 16, 2022

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• The book of Acts tells us the story of the first century church. It didn’t begin as an institution. It began as a movement.

ekklesia (Church) actually means: an assembly or gathering.

1. A simple message. 2. An expanding mission. 3. A serious devotion.

• Devoted means: To be earnest towards, to persevere, be constantly diligent, or to attend tirelessly all the exercises.

Acts 2:42 - They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…

Two questions:

1. What is the PURPOSE of the church?

Matthew 28:18-20 - 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 am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

• To make DISCIPLES

2. What is a DISCIPLE?

• DISCIPLE means: to be the disciple of one; to follow his precepts and instruction.

Three attributes of a disciple:

Matthew 4:19-20 – “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

1. “Follow me” involves the HEAD.

Matthew 4:19 – “Come, follow me,” Jesus said…

Follow means: the same way with.

John 12:26 – “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

• Knowledge without obedience leads to pride.

1 Corinthians 8:1-2 - Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.

2. “and I will make you” involves the HEART.

Matthew 4:19 – “…and I will make you…”

Romans 8:29 - For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son…

• He transforms how we see the world, what we value, and what we consider to be important.

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 - Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

3. “fishers of men” involves the HANDS.

Matthew 4:19 - “…fishers of men.”

2 Corinthians 5:15-20 - And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

• When our heart is transformed, it moves the disciple into action.

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

A growing disciple of Christ is a person who is following Christ (head), is being transformed (heart), which leads to a commitment to the mission of Christ (hands).

Colossians 1:28-29 - We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Make sure to use your devotional and work through the questions each day.