Southside Forums

[Pastor Charles]

Small Group Lesson
October 28, 2007
Mike Tarry, Small Group Pastor

What does being a disciple mean to you?

Read Luke 14:25-35

25 Great crowds were following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 "If you want to be My follower you must love Me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be My disciple. 27 And you cannot be My disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow Me. 28 "But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if there is enough money to pay the bills? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of funds. And then how everyone would laugh at you! 30 They would say, 'There's the person who started that building and ran out of money before it was finished!' 31 "Or what king would ever dream of going to war without first sitting down with his counselors and discussing whether his army of ten thousand is strong enough to defeat the twenty thousand soldiers who are marching against him? 32 If he is not able, then while the enemy is still far away, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace. 33 So no one can become My disciple without giving up everything for Me. 34 "Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? 35 Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for fertilizer. It is thrown away. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!"

After reading these verses we see that there was a great multitude following Jesus around. No doubt many in that multitude considered themselves disciples and thought that Jesus was a great teacher and healer. I have no doubt that Jesus knew their thoughts and their hearts as well. In verse 26, Jesus gets to the point of telling about the cost of being a true disciple. To follow Christ is to be totally sold out to Him, to love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. To love Him above mother, father, brother, sister, child, and even self. Boy, that is a tough one isn’t it? If we can’t do all the above, in Jesus’ words, we cannot be His disciple. He also says that we cannot be His disciples if we don’t carry our cross and follow Him. The multitude Jesus was speaking to understood well the meaning of carrying one’s cross. They had seen countless criminals forced by the Romans to carry the very cross that they would be crucified on. This was a sign to others that they would submit to Roman authority or they would face the same fate. I believe Jesus used this same terminology so that the multitude would understand something they were familiar with. Following Christ also would require total submission to His authority, possibly even to the point of death. For some it would also mean death on the cross. I believe He wanted them to examine their hearts and see if it was infatuation with Him and the miracles He performed, or if it was a deeply rooted conviction that He was the Son of God.

Jesus then asks who would begin a building or what king would go to war without first counting the cost. He is simply challenging us to ask ourselves the same question. Have we truly considered what the cost of following Christ is?

What are some of the costs of being a Christ follower?

Wouldn’t you agree that a half-hearted commitment to being His disciple does much more harm to the Kingdom than being a sold out follower? Following Christ doesn’t mean a life without difficulties or trials, but we do know He will never fail us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Jesus then challenges us to be “salty”. The purpose of salt is to preserve or to season. Many of us fail on both of these points. A true disciple that is totally committed will be salty by preserving what is good in the world and by seasoning those around us. If we are salty, those around us should thirst for what we have (a deep relationship with God). How can we regain our “saltiness”?

Read John 1:1-18

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and He was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 He created everything there is. Nothing exists that He didn't make. 4 Life itself was in Him, and this life gives light to everyone. 5 The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 6 God sent John the Baptist 7 to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light. 9 The One who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world. 10 But although the world was made through Him, the world didn't recognize Him when He came. 11 Even in His own land and among His own people, He was not accepted. 12 But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan – this rebirth comes from God. 14 So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. 15 John pointed Him out to the people. He shouted to the crowds, "This is the One I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming who is far greater than I am, for He existed long before I did.'" 16 We have all benefited from the rich blessings He brought to us – one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But His only Son, Who is Himself God, is near to the Father's heart; He has told us about Him.

John teaches us through these verses that Jesus has always been with God, and in fact is God. John writes that Jesus was in the beginning with God and created everything there is. And that nothing exist that he didn’t make. But then in verse 10, he says, “Although the world was made through Him, the world didn’t recognize Him when He came.” Why do you think that they did not recognize Him? Maybe because their expectations were not met by Jesus? He didn’t look kingly enough or act like a king that they were accustomed to seeing. I wonder if we would have recognized Him for who He was if we had been there. How do you think Jesus felt being rejected by His own creation? (John 1:10-11).

It seems that we are so deceived today, that we don’t know the truth either, even when it is right in front of our faces. Satan has used so many things that we consider acceptable to distract us from the truth. T.V, movies, magazines, music, billboards, etc. the list goes on. We have become so accustomed to the schemes of the devil that we rarely recognize them anymore. Ask the Lord to reveal to you what it is that keeps you from seeing the truth. Then ask Him to help you to embrace the truth and turn from evil. The time is drawing to an end, peoples eternity are depending on it.

[John and Melissa Simmons]

Well its been a while since my wife and I have had a chance to catch up on our reading here on the forums. Those of you with large families know the drill... never enough hours in the day it seems.

I couldnt agree more with the final statement in this post and its overall subject matter.

I watch as events unfold both in our own country and globally , and from my studies and all around ongoing studies , it is quite clear, that indeed we do live in the final days. And many, many souls are at stake.

For myself , and my wife, we beleive that being a disciple is exactly what is referred to in this lesson post. We also beleive that being complacent as disciples , is the same as not being disciples that God calls us to be.
Although our salvation comes from grace, and not works. We justify our faith through works. meaning that we must practice living what we beleive and know to be truth as found in Gods word.

As mentioned by Pastor Mike , alot of things media of all types, liberally adjudicated schooling curriculums, things of this nature , hurl those fiery arrows at our Christian Armor every day. While we must be cautious not to endanger any laws which my be affected that seperate church from state, we must also recognize, Gods law overrides mans law.
If we here the schools are trying to remove God or prayer from our schools locally, will we be the disciples we should be and act to preserve that which is good and righteous as one of our God given freedoms. Or will we sit back and just hope if we pray , that praying will be enough?
Prayer is a powerful tool. But only Part of what is required.
We are baptized why? Because as Jesus says, we must do that which is right in Gods eyes.
God also says he helps those who help themselves. Why? Because we were created with the ability to choose right from wrong. If we choose to act on behalf on preserving that which is right in Gods eyes, God will help us accomplish that task according his will and timing, and prayer serves as the communication for that need. We must remember God says to live in the world, but not be of the world.

There will come a day, most likely , sooner than later, that we as Christians will be killed for standing up for what is right. Not just in small numbers, but on a genocidal scale. We are told of this time in the bible.
"and it was given to him (Satan-Anti-Christ) to make war with the saints and over come them." Now is the time to act , we must take advantage of every chance we can, to make our voices heard as the Disciples of the one true living God. To say that we are disciples and not act as such, is what Jesus refers to as being 'lukewarm'. In the Gospels we read where Jesus tells us that it will be better for those of Sodom and Gommorah on the day of judgement, than those who would be 'lukewarm' disciples.
People think to themselves. Well God is a God of love , it couldnt possibly be that extreme. I tell you , if its scripturally written, you can count on it.
He is the God of love, but he is also perfect, which means His love, His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness, His justice is perfect...
I have used but one example. There are powers at work now more than ever to remove God from our culture, from our childrens education, from our country and our governing bodies.
If we need to know how exactly this will ultimately be dealt with by God, we need look no further than the fall of the Roman Empire. Kind of a startling thought isnt it?
Now , obviously I am not stating that we need to go out and walk picket lines and put on protest. That is not how it is done. God instructs that his business be handled in an orderly fashion, just as we are to worship Him in the same fashion. When their are votes that are vital to such related issues, go vote. When there are meetings and discussions being held to discuss these key issues in our world, participate. Why?
Scripture says we are to let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify, OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. Praying is key , instrumental in our relationship with God, but unless we act on our faith and what we pray over, we are not going to get near as much accomplished on issues like this we face as the Christians of today. Scripture says... faith without works is dead... now folks theres no grey area there. Thats pretty cut and dried.

Finally , while it is true that nothing will stave off the prophesies of the bible and the end of days , the rapture , the second coming, etc. We can not use that as an excuse to not act and do what is right. Not acting in my opinion and understanding of scripture , is the same as denying we even know God. Jesus addresses this issue as well... "if we deny Him before men, He will deny us before His Father in heaven... quite a sombering thought .... activeley witnessing our faith and relationship with God , and preserving our right to do so where and everytime we can, or facing judgement having not done so...? I have said it before, as it comes from scripture, but my answer is the same as Joshuas... as I hope all would choose to follow Joshuas example... he says, "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

I encourage any who will, to become involved in as many ministries as you can. Each person will be different because everyone has different Spiritual Gifts, but all are equally important , the parts of the body make up the whole of the Church. as Pastor Charles and others I know have taught many times. Dont be worried or nervous . Not everyone is a person who can stand in front of people in large numbers and teach, not everyone can pray in a small group, but anyone can answer the calling God lays upon your heart, and God has provided the members at Southside with a God fearing Pastorial , and administrative staff to help help you grow in the work of the Lord, to help everyone to learn through scripture and Christ teachings how to be successful in any given ministry and opportunity to serve our Lord. We as beleivers , as Disciples are instructed to make our voices heard. Jesus says in scripture " go unto all the world, and teach the gospel to everyone, to the Jew first , and to the Gentiles.
If you look at world , watch the news, recognize the events in the world as they are unfolding, you will see that time is short, and as Pastor mike stated so truthfully and sincere-hearted, peoples eternal destination is at stake. We know that one day, most likely , perhaps in our lifetime, Jesus will return, its His will none should perish, but all have ever lasting life... we must be faithful disciples, less self indulgent and more passionate in leading souls to Christ, or back to the fold, before time runs out. Most of all, pray together that God will bless us with the knowledge to accomplish that which he has set forth for us to accomplish, because we know if we share his word, His truth, it will accomplish that which he sets it out to accomplish.... to save souls...
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God Bless ! John and Melissa Simmons