Lesson 4: What does it Mean to Follow Christ?
Review Main Points from our class lessons: In your small groups, discuss the most memorable things you have learned.
Can you express the "So what?" and the "Now what?"
- Can you remember any of the goals we have for the class?
- Can you share what we know about Vision?
- Can you tell your story as it relates to the Gospel?
- Can you declare the amazing characteristics of the One we are to Follow?
Starting Video: "The Better Jesus"
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Review Levels of Vision:
- Biblical Vision given to us by Christ - "Go into all the world, teach, make disciples, baptizing them and mentoring them so that they can be transformed into everything Christ wants to see in a believer.
- Local Vision relevant to a location. A Missional Community share the vision of Christ beyond the walls of a building. They share in and understand each other's struggles, and spend time mentoring and nurturing the community of believers to prepare them for "going". A Missional Community knows where to place their priorities and knows how to support the Plans and Goals they have set inline with God's vision for the world.
- Personal Vision is relevant to our talents, perspectives, social contacts, special interest groups, families, and close friends.
Listen to ( minutes) Follow Me by David Platt
Did you listen to Francis Chan's "The Great Commission?" If yes, discuss with your group what you remember from that video lesson.
What is a Disciple? Not just a Follower, as many followed Jesus but where not His
Disciples.
(10 Minutes) Build a working definition of “Disciple”. Use the Scriptures below to
help you summarize your thoughts.
In the Lord’s own words, what are the conditions of Discipleship?
Matthew 5:13 [ Disciples and the World ] “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become
tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to
be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
Matthew 10:24 [ The Meaning of Discipleship ] “ A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave
above his master.
Matthew 12:49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers!”
Matthew 16:24 [ Discipleship Is Costly ] Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Luke 14:26 “ If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My
disciple.
Luke 14:27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:33 So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own
possessions.
John 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “ If you continue in My
word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one
another.”
John 15:8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My
disciples.
John 15:18 [ Disciples’ Relation to the World ] “ If the world hates you, you know that it has
hated Me before it hated you.
John 17:13 But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have
My joy made full in themselves.
John 21:24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we
know that his testimony is true.
Acts 11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the brethren and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first
called Christians in Antioch
Acts 11:29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined
to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 14:21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they
returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith,
and saying, “ Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
FOLLOWERS WHO LEFT
- Those who began as followers, but did not make it to Discipleship are seen in John 6:66 “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him
- anymore”.
- What was the reason these followers walked away from Jesus?
- HOW ARE WE KNOWN BY GOD? Matthew 7:21f and John 3:3-5
- Reflect on this Scriptures to formulate your answer: 2 Thess 1:7-9 What groups of folks will be Lost?
- What is the Gospel? 1 Cor 15:1-3?
- How do we Obey the Gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus? Romans 6:3-11
- If we have been buried with Christ, what promises do we have? Col 2:9-13; 3:4
- If we have been raised with Christ, what promises do we have? Col 3:1; Romans 6:4
- What are the Spiritual Blessings we have if we are “in Christ”? Eph chapter 1
- What is the promise if we call on His Name in Baptism? Acts 16: 22
- What is the promise if we have faith in the working of God in Baptism? Col 2:12
- What is the problem with “faith Only”? James 2:19, 26 & Luke 4:41
- We must be born of both “Water & the Spirit” What does this mean? Titus 3:5-7; Eph 5:25-26
What were some of the Old Testament Types & Anti-Types leading us to recognize the significance of Christ's Sacrifice, Lordship, and God's Redemptive Plan. They help us to better understand the significance of water baptism? Examples
- Noah- God cleansed the earth with water
- Moses baptized Israel in water 1 Cor 10:2
- Prophets, Priests, Kings, & Judges using water to purify Israel
- Joseph cast down by brothers into a "grave", arose to prophecy and save his people from disaster.
- Priests – cleansed by water before entering the Tabernacle
- Ezekiel 47:12 – water flowing from the sanctuary.
What baptism in NOT: A work you do to prove that you are a Christian
DYING TO SELF - Kyle Idelman
NOTICE: People do not baptize themselves. Christ died to Himself in obedience to the Father's will. The Father raised Jesus from the dead, just as someone must bury us and raise us from the watery grave. We participate in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and thus become a new creation in the Kingdom of God.
Are we willing to follow
Christ into the Grave?
Unfortunately, too many folks do not actually die to self. If you do not die, then you are not raised to walk in newness of life. Notice the "If" statements: Read Col 2:11-13, 20, 3:1-17
The New Life glorifies Christ in all things because He rules our hearts, if we truly died to self. Realizing the depth and magnitude of God's grace inspires each of us to grow toward our full potential in love, unity and power to accomplish the vision of Jesus Christ in the world.
What Blessings do we have in Christ? Eph 1 All chapter.
What baptism IS ---a gracious work of God to which we must submit as an obedient follower of Christ.
What work does God do in Baptism while we Submit to Death?
When we are raised from the dead, what does Christ demand of us?
HOMEWORK & APPLICATION:
(1) Pray with someone this week who is not a member of the Lord’s Body.
- Begin thinking about how you might invite a friend to begin a conversation with you about salvation.
- Ask the Lord to help you become creative and wise in the way you approach your friends.
(2) Listen to the Followship Lessons.
