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I. INTRODUCTION
Have you ever wondered what a disciple really is? Jesus calls men and women to be His disciples, yet many times we have not really considered what He is asking or what He requires in order to answer His invitation.
In this lesson, we will examine what being a disciple of Jesus is all about and show from the Bible what Jesus expects of those who desire to follow Him.
Let's review your relationship with Christ so you will have a clear
idea of where you are and what, if anything, you might do to improve this relationship.
Do you believe that Jesus is the Divine Son of God and that God raised Him from the dead?________
Are you now, or have you ever been saved?__________
If you answered yes, how were you saved (time, age, event, location, circumstances, etc). Use the life-line below.
Life Line____________________________________________
Have you ever been baptized?_______________ (Write an "X" and give your age at the time)
If you answered yes, why were you baptized? (Put this by the "X")
Were you baptized by sprinkling, pouring, or, immersion?__________________
II. THE CALL TO DICIPLESHIP
A.Romans 1:16
Is the Gospel message the power which God uses to save us?____
B.John 20:30-31
Are we able to have eternal life by believing and obeying the written word?_______________
C.Luke 6:46
Should we call Jesus Lord if we are not willing to obey Him?______
D.Matthew 7:21-23
Is simply calling Jesus Lord enough to save us?___________
Did these believers prophesy in Jesus' name?____________
Did these believers cast out demons in Jesus' name?______
Did these believers do many works in Jesus' name?________
What did Jesus say to these believers _____________
Why? ______________________________________
Is being religious or doing religious things in Jesus' name enough to save you?_______________
Is it your understanding that you must do the Father's will in order to be saved?_______________
E.Hebrews 5:8-9
Jesus is the source of eternal life for those who _______ Him.
F.James 2:19
Does the devil believe in God?________________
G.Ephesians 2:8-9
For by ___________ are you saved through ____________
Grace is God's part. Faith is man's part.
H.Hebrews 11:6
For without faith it is _______________ to please God.
III. THE REQUIREMENTS OF DICIPLESHIP
A.Luke 14:25-35 (see also Matthew 10:37-39)
Must you love Jesus more than your family or even your own life in order to be His follower?___________ Are you willing to make that commitment in order to follow Him?________
B.Luke 14:27
Jesus said you must carry your own ____________. What is cross bearing? Let's read on and see.
C.John 19:17-18
When Jesus carried His own cross, did He go to die?______
Crosses (like electric chairs) are for dying.
D.Galatians 2:20
Did Paul say that He had been crucified with Christ?_______
Was the old Paul (Saul of Tarsus) still alive?_____________
Who was now alive in him?_______________(In order to live for Christ, you have to die to self first)
Are you willing to make the commitment to let your life be controlled by Jesus?_______________
E.Romans 6:4-7
When you are crucified with Christ, two things die. What are they? ____________and____________
F.Luke 14:28-32
Is the consideration to follow Jesus very serious?__________
Does it require that you count the cost of your commitment?_________
G.Luke 14:33
If a you want to follow Jesus, what must you give up?_________
Are you willing to relinquish ownership of everything you own to
follow Jesus?_______________
H.Philippians 3:7-8
Did Paul view all things loss in order to gain Christ?________
Did he consider knowing Christ and being a disciple of far greater value than anything this earth could offer?__________
Will you follow Christ and put Him first above friends, family, self,
and possessions?___________
I.Crucifying sin and self can be a challenge. Read Gal. 5:19-24, Rom. 1:28-32, Eph. 4:17-5:5.
What are some things that you must change in your life in order to follow Jesus?
IV. BEING UNITED WITH CHRIST
A.Romans 6:1-7, Colossians 2:12
Is baptism the act of obedient faith in which we are crucified with Christ?_______________
Is baptism an act of obedient faith in the working of God
(Col. 2:12)?_______________
Is baptism a burial?_______ Do you bury "live" people?_________
Must you die to sin and self in order to be buried with Christ?_______________(called repentance)
B.Acts 2:38
Name two things you receive when you are baptized according to this verse? ____________and____________
C.Acts 22:16
Why was Saul baptized according to this verse?__________
NOTE: Obeying God in baptism is "calling on the name of the Lord." Paul had seen the risen Christ and fasted for three days, yet his sins were not forgiven until he had them washed away by this obedient act of faith (Col. 2:11-12). A person is not saved until forgiveness is received, therefore a person is saved when their sins are washed away in baptism.
D.Mark 16:15-16
Must a person believe in Christ before being properly baptized?_______________
Can an infant believe in Christ?_________ Does an infant need to believe in Christ? _______?
Why?________________________________________
E.Acts 18:8-9
Were these Corinthians baptized after they were baptized? _________________
F.Acts 2:38
Must a person repent (die to sin) before being properly baptized?__________
Can a baby repent?_______________ Does a baby need to repent? _______________
Why
G.Romans 10:9-10
Must we confess Jesus as Lord before being saved?___________
Is this a work of merit by which we earn our salvation or a work of faith?_______________
Can a baby confess Jesus as Lord?_____________ Does a baby need to?_____________
H.Acts 8:34-39
Does biblical baptism require one to go down into and come up out of the water?______________
I.Ephesians 4:4-5; Acts 19:1-5
Were these twelve people baptized incorrectly with the wrong baptism?_______________
What did they do when they discovered the truth?______________
They were honest people, but had not been taught about the one baptism that God accepts.
J.Galatians 3:26-27
Does baptism put you "into" Christ?______________
K.1 Peter 3:20-21
Does Peter say that baptism NOW saves you? _____not a bath, but a cleansing of the conscience
L.John 3:3-5
If a person is not born of water and the Spirit, can he enter the kingdom of God?_______________
M.The Biblical Life Line: saved and forgiven at the point of baptism (being born again)
_________________________X______________________
N.Does your life line look different than the Bible's life line? ____Do you want to do God's will?
V. Conclusion
A.From this lesson we've learned that you must believe in Jesus, be willing to die to sin and self (repent), confess Jesus as your Lord, and be immersed in water as an obedient act of faith in the working of God to remove your sin, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and be put "In Christ". The decision to accept Jesus' invitation is a serious one and you must count the cost of your commitment.
B.The benefits are eternal life, forgiveness of all your sins, and peace with God. One hundred years from now, friends, family and possessions will all be gone, however, where you spend eternity will be fixed forever. Have you ever been born again of water and the
Spirit?______________
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