From Small group meeting to Disciple-Making

 

• Commitment Part 1 5^th Jan
• Commitment Part 2 12^th Jan
• Character 19^th Jan
• Calling 9^th Feb
• Charisma 16^th Feb
• Competency 23^th Feb
• Christ-Likeness 1^st Mar

 

 

Commitment Part 2 12^th Jan 2020

• In order to bring a complete picture, I will be using the scriptures from Matthew and Luke Gospels.
• Luke 14:25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them,
• Matthew 16:24-27 “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Forwhoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake (Mark 8:35 and the gospel’s) will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
• Luke 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 ownglory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
• Luke 14:28-33 ²⁸ Forwhich of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— ²⁹ lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. ³³ So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Introduction

• We all have commitments: House, cars, investment, marriage, children, etc.
• Commitment is the foundation of achievement and achievement leads to success.
• How to know what you are committed to? See what you do with most of your time and energy (Investment)?
• Gallup’s new 142-country study on the State of the Global Workplace. Oct. 2013
• 63% Not Engaged
• 24% Actively Disengaged
• 13% Committed
• People who choose cohabitation before marriage has been shown by statistic that they are highly likely to be divorced after their marriage… why? Commitment.
• Many who were cohabiting often end up getting married anyway. Why? When they started living in together, they begin to realize that they have invested more and more on each other and even though they have serious problem, they tend to overlook.
• Imagine hoping churches – that is like having many mistresses for men and many men.
• About our commitment… to what degree? 10%, 50%, 90%, 100%?
• What is important is when we are committed to something, we want satisfaction not setbacks; fulfilment not frustration, treasures and not troubles.
• We commit because we want to see continuity not Cut-off.
• What about eternity?
• What we choose to commit our lives to, will shape our lives.
• Taking this a step further, while what we are committed to shapes our lives, but it also shapes the lives of the people around us.
• Question is whether it is Constructive or destructive?
• This means we have to make our choices what we are committed to?
• What motivates commitment? Purpose and meaning.
• Invest in the eternal:
• Whatever we choose to invest for the sake of Christ and the gospel, has eternal significance.
• Whatever we choose to invest in lives for the sake of Christ, has eternal implication.
• How? Be committed to the Church.
• Why commit to a Church? If not church, then what or where? The world is not going to talk about Jesus, not your workplace, not in your schools, and many I would dare say… not even in some home.
• What measures our commitment? How do I know how committed I am if there is no accountability?
• Commitment and Accountability (To self and to others) is inseparable.
• While commitment shapes our lives, we have the choice to shape our commitment.
• Matthew 16:24- “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
• Background
• Jesus had just told His disciples that He will suffer lots of things, that He is going to die but He will be resurrected.
• Peter with his natural mind told Jesus not to let this happen. Jesus rebuked and asked Satan to get behind Him.
• It was then Jesus issued this challenge to everyone who wants to be His disciples.
• Luke 14:25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them,
• Matthew 16:24a “If anyone desires to come after Me,
• Anyone desires means no one is forced to, it is by choice.
• Three Conditions to be Jesus’ disciples and five “For” Implications.
• Three Conditions: Matthew 16:24b let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
• Five Implications of discipleship:

1. Matthew 16:25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake (Mark 8:35 and the gospel’s) will find it – PURPOSE
2. Matthew 16:26-27For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? MEANING
3. Matthew 16:27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. TREASURES
4. Luke 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 ownglory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. FAITHFULNESS
5. Luke 14:28-33 ²⁸ Forwhich of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— ²⁹ lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. ³³ So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. COMMITMENT

• Verses 28-33 reiterated by asking us to count our cost before saying yes, lest we dropped out halfway.
• No one want to start anything only to abandon it midway.
• Three Conditions to be Jesus’ disciples…

 

Roadmap

1. Deny ourselves and delight in God.
2. Take up the cross and persevere in God.
3. Follow Jesus and make disciples.

 

1. Deny ourselves and delight in God.

• Matthew 16:24a let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
• Deny (Lexicon :: Strong’s G533 – Aparneomai)
• To affirm that one has no acquaintance or connection with someone.
• To forget one’s self, lose sight of one’s self and one’s own interests.
• To deny ourselves is to obey God no matter what.
• Example only one master – God and not money (Matthew 6:19-24)
• Old self dies and new creation lives:
• The old self wants what the world offers: Approval of men, honour, wealth and comfort, but also sees shame, suffering, and death.
• The new self which denies ourselves sees the eternal significance and is willing to follow Jesus, even with difficulty and suffering.
• To deny ourselves is simply to delight in God.
• Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
• When we begin to learn to deny ourselves, all the promises of God are made available.

 

2. Take up the cross and persevere in God.

• Matthew 16:24b let him take up his cross,
• Without denying ourselves, it is not possible to take up the cross.
• What does ‘Take up your cross’ mean?

1. Opposition: A cross was used to execute criminals who opposed the Romans Empire. In this case, when we take up the cross, it is opposing the things of the world.

• 1 John 2:15-16 ¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that isin the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

1. Perseverance: We think of death and suffering like that of Christ.

• Matthew 24:13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
• Therefore, to take up our cross means we must be willing to face the opposition of the world and the devil. With joy instead of murmuring, with courage and not cowardice, to be proud of Christ and the gospel instead of being ashamed, willing to face tribulation and give our full allegiance to him.

1. Dedication and commitment: Our whole life is given to His service in anything He says.
2. To carry our cross is simply to persevere in God.

• Luke 9:23 adds a word “take up your cross daily” means we must give our lives to God every day.

 

3. Follow Jesus and make disciples.

• Matthew 16:24 let him follow Me.
• Having deny ourselves, carry our cross, it is then we can follow Jesus.
• Without denying ourselves and taking up our cross, it is not possible to follow Christ
• We all follow something or someone in life.
• Talk to someone who invested their wealth in certain stocks and shares, or another who constantly loves to follow the trends in fashion or celebrities.
• How about wanting a great following in our twitter or Instagram?
• We all follow something or someone in life. We do not mind if we have a great following.
• However Jesus say to follow Him.
• Leonard Ravenhill: “Sunday morning church attendance shows how popular the church is; Sunday night shows how popular the preacher is; and attendance at prayer meetings show how popular God is.”

 

Conclusion

• Matthew 10:37 ³⁷ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
• Luke 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.
• Luke 14:34-35 ³⁴ “Salt isgood; but if the salt has lost its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? ³⁵ It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
• Today we need to ask ourselves about our commitment? Have we counted our cost about following Jesus?
• To follow Jesus is simply to do what He has commanded us to do – Love Him and love one another.
• Matthew 28:18-20 MAKE DISCIPLES… starting with our children and please do not stop there. Make disciples of all nations.