And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered… “and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:16-18
Jesus has always called people to follow Him.
Jesus has always called those who follow Him to tell others about Him.
Jesus has always promised to build His church on our confession of who He is.
This is why at Living Hope all of us are challenged to
“Be a disciple… Make disciples... Be the church… to the glory of god.”
BE A DISCIPLE
A disciple is a person who follows Jesus because they have been forgiven of their sin. They have been saved by grace through faith once they have repented of their sin and trusted in Jesus’ sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection. (Ephesians 2:8)
A disciple denies himself, takes up his cross and follows Jesus. (Luke 9:23)
A disciple obeys Jesus’ commands. (John 14:15)
A disciple abides in Jesus’ word. (John 8:31-32)
MAKE DISCIPLES
A disciple understands that it is their responsibility and privilege to point others to Jesus. Disciples also understand that God is calling us to help train others in the discipleship process – not as experts, but as fellow disciples seeking to follow Jesus together.
Jesus commissioned us to go into all the world to make disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20)
This is to be done in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8)
Being a disciple involves replicating discipleship in others. (2 Timothy 2:2)
BE THE CHURCH
A disciple realizes that God doesn’t call us to go to church. Rather, He calls us to be the church. There’s a radical difference. Going to church is passive. Being the church is active. Let’s go church!
The church is to gather to encourage and admonish one another in the faith. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
The church is to love and support one another. (Romans 12:9-21)
The church loves one another, showing the world that they are His disciples. (John 13:35)