Community // True Discipleship

Community // True Discipleship

Community Defined: “A community is a place where believers connect with each other on a soul level and in doing so, spur each other on to a deeper relationship with God. A community is more than just individual friendships; it is an atmosphere of deep relationships, a synergistic place where friends connect in grace and truth. In such a community, believers can authentically challenge each other through words and deeds toward being more like Christ.”

1) The Surrendering

Matthew 4:18-22 NIV

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Luke 9:23 NIV

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves  and take up their cross daily and follow me.

2) The Source

Revelation 3:14-16 NIV

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

John 1:14 NIV

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 17:15-19 NIV

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the Truth; your Word is Truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

3) The Sanctification

John 17:20-21 NIV

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.

Questions:

1. When you consider what it means to pursue a life of true discipleship, are there areas of your life that you haven’t fully surrendered over to Jesus?  What are those areas?  What is stopping you from letting those things go?

2. Jesus wants all of you including your trust that He will provide all that you need.  When you hear that He needs to be your source, what does that mean to you?

3. What does the word sanctification mean to you? This idea of setting yourself apart to pursue the things of God, how does this resonate with you?