The Four Qualities of a Dynamic Disciple

The Four Qualities of a Dynamic Disciple

INTRO: Personal story about taking from 1973 until 2007 (34-years) to complete your four-year degree. Bit of a slow learner, eh? 

Matthew 28:19 – Go and make disciples.  What is a disciple? The Greek word for disciples is “Mathetes” (Math-ay-tes’). A disciple is a student, pupil, a learner. We are first disciples. A disciple is “one who is a learner.”

(Pro 9:10)

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

We put ourselves under the tutorship of the Master. It’s like an apprenticeship program.  Jesus Christ called the twelve as disciples.  They became apostles. Study what they and the followers of Jesus Christ did as disciples.  It helps us learn how to be a disciple—to become a disciple has great teaching and meaning. The word disciple occurs (disciple or disciples – checked and there are 272 occurrences) in the New Testament, and the word Christian only occurs three times. 

SPS: There are four qualities of discipleship necessary to succeed as a dynamic disciple of Jesus Christ.

1. Disciples are Learners: Disciples should always be learning.  In order to learn, we must be taught.  The Bible is our textbook.  (Isa 8:16) Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples.

 

This is in Matthew 28:19-20. “Go and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things I’ve commanded you. For lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age.” Go and make disciples. Teach them to observe all things I have commanded you. This is among the final words of instructions Jesus gave to His followers, His church.  People, men in this case and women who were disciples and had been a part of the initial founding of the church.  What are some of the things the disciples did when they followed Jesus Christ?

You look at the word disciple and you find it in the Bible, both from a Hebrew and a Greek perspective, the word disciple really means a student or one who is a learner. To become a disciple is really to put ourselves under the tutelage, under the mentorship, the watchful eye and care of a teacher who is in a sense a master at their particular subject or art or science or discipline. And we discipline ourselves to be a disciple, a learner, a student of all that that individual knows and has to teach us about that particular subject. That’s essentially what a disciple is. There are entire apprentice programs in various fields for people to learn to become an electrician, a plumber, a carpenter(give personal story regarding carpenter’s apprenticeship). And they become a disciple under the tutelage of a master at that particular craft or trade.

Christ called twelve individuals who were called to a lifelong job of becoming a disciple. These twelve men became apostles, and they in turn taught other disciples as they followed this teaching from Jesus Christ to go out and to make disciples and spread the word of God.

(Luk 9:1-5) Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. (Luk 9:2) He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luk 9:3) And He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. (Luk 9:4) "Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. (Luk 9:5) And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them." [OK, so just before you go home after services today, leave any leftover food, any canes or staffs, your money, and any shirts, blouses, jackets, or sweaters other than what your wearing.]

As learners and students of Jesus Christ, as followers of His Way, we are to be rooted and grounded in Him.  We are taught by God through His Word, and by teachers and ministers and other disciples sharing God’s beautiful Way of life!

(Col 2:7) rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

(2Co 8:7)

But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.

(2Pe 3:18)

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Let’s look at an example of disciples that demonstrated the quality of being the one who learns, or learners.

(Act 18:24-28) Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. (Act 18:25) This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. (Act 18:26) So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. (Act 18:27) And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; (Act 18:28) for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

[Aquila and Priscilla did what Peter wrote: (1Pe 3:15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;] They gave a defense of the truth with meekness and fear.  They knew Apollos was zealous for the truth, but didn’t have the complete picture.  The teacher learned from other disciples who in turn were teaching.  Discipleship involves learning God’s word, His Way, and teaching what we learn when appropriate.

Discipleship involves letting your light shine!  [It’s possible to see the light from a candle in the dark up to 30-miles away!] When you learn God’s word, He wants you to be doers of the word (James 1:22).  He wants you to do something with the gift or gifts He has given you.

(Luk 11:33) "No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. (Luk 11:34) The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. (Luk 11:35) Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. (Luk 11:36) If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light."

1. A disciple is first and always a Servant. (Mar 8:34) When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Jesus Christ is all servant, the suffering servant, our Messiah!Isaiah 49, 50, 52-53.

In Luke 22:27 Jesus says He is the “One who serves.”

(Luk 9:57-62)

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." (Luk 9:58) And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (Luk 9:59) Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." (Luk 9:60) Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." (Luk 9:61) And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." (Luk 9:62) But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Remember when Elijah passed his mantle to Elisha?  What happened before that?

(1Ki 19:19-21)

So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. (1Ki 19:20) And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" (1Ki 19:21) So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen's equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

Elisha stayed with Elijah until he was taken up in the fiery chariot. (2Ki 2:1-11)

What is the mindset of a servant? It is a mental shift and unnatural change of mind (conversion). See how God lauds Caleb’s example, and says “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants will inherit it.”  It is an example we should follow (Numbers 14:24). In Philippians 2:19-20, we see that Timothy is like Caleb.  Timothy is like minded and Paul knew he would care for the brethren in sincerity.

We are told to take up our cross in Mark 8:34.

(Luk 14:25)

Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, (Luk 14:26)

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. (Luk 14:27) And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. (Luk 14:28) For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—(Luk 14:29) lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, (Luk 14:30) saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

(Luk 9:23) Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luk 9:24) For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

Our cross is our responsibilities to God. We are to remember that in order to be a disciple of Jesus Christ that we were bought with a price, and that we are bond servants, we are slaves of Jesus Christ.  He said that He is the One who serves, He was the suffering servant.  If we are going to be His disciples, we must be His faithful servants, and let our lights shine.  Our example, our service to one another and to neighbors and communities should point to and glorify the Holy Father and Jesus Christ, our Savior!

We must have a total commitment to being God’s servants!  Change discipleship from a noun to a verb!  You can take a personal action step through self-examination and questioning your own example of discipleship.  Live it!  Do it!  Be one!  When you talk to people and what you’re doing when you leave for the Feast, don’t just say you’re going to a church convention.  Tell them you’re going to the Feast of Tabernacles!  Serve God and speak the truth! (Luk 9:26)

For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.

Luke 14 is a key example of Christ’s discipleship and how we should follow Him as His disciples.

1. A disciple learns humility. (Psa 51:17) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.

As disciples we are learners of God’s word, and we are God’s servants.  I think most of us understand we should exercise humility as a godly character, as a quality of a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Yet knowing, and doing, are two different things.

God expects us to take on the characteristics of Jesus Christ, and to be an example of humility to others.  Jesus Christ certainly was the example of humility, and He was God in the flesh.  We are to learn humility from our mentor, our Teacher and Master and learn the things of the Kingdom of God.

(Mat 10:24)

"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

Jesus Christ here is telling His disciples then, and now, that if He the Master and Teacher can exemplify humility and serve His servants, then we need to do the same.  We have no excuse for lacking humility.

(Php 2:3) Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. (Php 2:4) Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Php 2:5) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Php 2:6) who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (Php 2:7) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. (Php 2:8) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

(Mat 23:12)

And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Every Passover we participate in the footwashing as Jesus Christ commands.

(Joh 13:2-8) And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, (Joh 13:3) Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, (Joh 13:4)

rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. (Joh 13:5)

After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. (Joh 13:6) Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?" (Joh 13:7) Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." (Joh 13:8)

Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."

Peter learned this lesson of humility and instructs us to take on humility as disciples of Christ as well.

(1Pe 5:1) The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: (1Pe 5:2) Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; (1Pe 5:3) nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; (1Pe 5:4) and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. (1Pe 5:5) Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." (1Pe 5:6) Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, (1Pe 5:7) casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Humility is a key quality of a disciple of Jesus Christ, and absolutely necessary for having the mindset of the One who is teaching us!

Over and over again, Jesus taught the disciples that they should be humble. 

(Mar 9:33-35)

Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?" (Mar 9:34) But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. (Mar 9:35) And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."

Yet, on the very night before Jesus’ death, they argued, again, about who among them should be considered the greatest! 

(Luk 22:24-27) Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. (Luk 22:25) And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.' (Luk 22:26) But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. (Luk 22:27) For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

An essential quality of disciples of Jesus Christ is humility. If God can be humble, so can you!

1. A disciple is known by love.

The word love is mentioned 215 times in the New Testament in 184 verses (NKJV).

VISION STATEMENT—A Church led by God’s Holy Spirit joined and knit together by what every member supplies, with all doing their share and growing in love to fulfill God’s great purpose for humanity to bring many children to glory (Ephesians 4:16; Hebrews 2:10). What you become is a result of what you do.

I will never forget one Feast where I was shown genuine, sincere love when I very much needed it.(Give story of Mr. Walker greeting me with great joy – the wonderful atmosphere at the hall that was loving, and vibrant.A welcoming, wholesome, godly atmosphere!)

We want to be disciples that exude love for God, for one another and for our neighbor!That’s what Jesus did, right?Is it just His job?Is it just the job of the ministry?I don’t think so.It’s every disciple’s job.I’ve mentioned before that the phrase “love one another” occurs thirteen times in the New Testament in twelve verses. The phrase “love your neighbor” occurs eight times.

(1Jn 5:2)

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.

(1Sa 16:7)

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

We should be thankful that God looks at our heart.What does He see when he looks?

I’ve actually heard someone scoff “at all that love stuff” when Carol Jean and I shared an inspiring sermon at a Feast.

(Rom 13:8)

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

(Jas 2:8)

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you do well;

1. (Luk 10:29) But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

(Luk 10:30) Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. (Luk 10:31) Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. (Luk 10:32) Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. (Luk 10:33) But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. (Luk 10:34) So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (Luk 10:35) On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' (Luk 10:36) So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"

(Luk 10:37) And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Let’s think about what we just read.Perhaps discipleship should be thought of as a verb and not just a noun.When we see someone in desperate need, perhaps in need of not only physical aid, but in need of hope, in need of a light shining in the darkness – why not be that light and let the love of God you have so abundantly received shine on your neighbor – be their neighbor, be a disciple of the living God!

We know that none come to Jesus Christ unless the Father calls them.He called you didn’t He?

(Eph 3:20)

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

(Eph 3:21)

to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus Christ said FOLLOW ME! He loved His disciples then until the very end when He was crucified.He loves you this very day and will continue to love you as you show you’re an eager learner, committed to His Way, humble in attitude and spirit, and that you love Him, one another and your neighbor. Take an active role in letting your light shine, the light you have received from God!