ARE YOU A DISCIPLE FOR CHRIST

What is Discipleship? What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? What does it mean to make disciples of Jesus Christ? According to the American Heritage Dictionary, “disciple” means, “One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another.” Jesus Christ!

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? What does it mean to make disciples of Jesus Christ? According to the American Heritage Dictionary, “disciple” means, “One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another.”

Jesus Christ!Called to be a discipleWe are first called into relationship with Jesus Christ before we even know it. God’s grace is available to us before we can even recognize it. Some have said that our soul / spirit is “wired” to seek God.

Yes, we are all called in someway to be a Disciple for Christ.For some of us who were brought up in the church, our faith is something that has always been a part of us. Others come into relationship through a gradual recognition of God in their lives or perhaps through a conversion experience where their hearts “are strangely warmed.” John Wesley’s Aldergate experience.
When he recognized the presence of Christ in his life.

Nurtured as a disciple Disciples are life-long learners – students of the master. Through prayer, worship, the Sacraments, and Bible study we grow in our faith, becoming more like Christ as our faith matures and becomes an integral part of who we are. We share in Christian community in our churches and in small groups like Sunday School, United Methodist Women or Men, and Bible Studies or other faith development opportunities. Disciples sent out in ministry As disciples, we are called to be the hands and feet of Christ. We participate in ministries of compassion and justice such as Habitat for Humanity, supplying the food bank, mission trips, cooking and serving meals at The Stephen’s Center, participating the Nothing But Nets program, rebuilding a church destroyed by a tornado and so much more. We make a difference in a hurting world, giving people a hand up to a better life or creating systems of justice that will end cycles of injustice. Disciples sharing faith Disciples are called to complete the circle of discipleship.

Discipleship: It is for Life. We share our faith, as well as invite and welcome new disciples into our community of faith. Why do we do this? To be able to report higher worship attendance numbers or to get more funds into our church for ministry? No, because, every person in the pew means another soul saved and another person to become the hands and feet of Jesus in a hurting world.

Do you remember the old Breck shampoo commercial (I couldn’t use it now)? The commercial celebrated the product by saying it was so good that each person who used it would “tell two friends, and they’ll tell two friends, and they’ll tell two friends…” Imagine what ROCKbrook would be like – imagine what our world would be like - if each of us told two friends about the Good News, and they told two friends, and they told two friends! As Jesus commanded us, we are called to share our faith: “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.” Matthew 28:19

Pastor William