Teaching Notes

Disciples also must be disciplined. It does not just come natural to do what is right. One must be trained in the things of God. These youth were being trained to sing songs and they took the time to become disciplined in what they needed to do. This is true for us as well, we must continue to allow God to teach us his ways.

How do I Become a Disciple?

John 8:25-32 (The Message)

They said to him, "Just who are you anyway?" Jesus said, "What I've said from the start. I have so many things to say that concern you, judgments to make that affect you, but if you don't accept the trustworthiness of the One who commanded my words and acts, none of it matters. That is who you are questioning—not me but the One who sent me." They still didn't get it, didn't realize that he was referring to the Father. So Jesus tried again. "When you raise up the Son of Man, then you will know who I am—that I'm not making this up, but speaking only what the Father taught me. The One who sent me stays with me. He doesn't abandon me. He sees how much joy I take in pleasing him." When he put it in these terms, many people decided to believe. If the Son Sets You Free Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you."

Notes: The Pharisees questioned Jesus ability to speak about himself as the Son of God. They did not want to take Jesus' word on the matter. Jesus told them he was speaking not his own words, but the words of the Father. The people were having a hard time understanding what Jesus was saying and become of it, Jesus had to explain it again. When he did he told them that those that understood he's saying could be his disciples.

Question: What did it take for individuals to be a disciple of Christ? And why do you think he was willing to explain the way more than once?

Answer: Jesus said if you stick with this you will be his disciple. The "this" is that Jesus was sent by the Father to do the work of the Father. If you believe that Jesus was sent by the Father, then you will become a disciple of Jesus. He was also willing to explain it more than once to the people because he did not want anyone to miss the opportunity to be saved. When you and I accept Jesus as the son of God and repent of our sins, God makes us a disciple of Jesus. This is what God sent Jesus to do, become the lamb that would pay for the sins of the world. If we believe this and accept it, we then believe the words Jesus spoke as being the words of his Father. The be his disciple means we are now followers and he will teach us his ways and help us to go into the world and reach others.

Prayer: Lord, help us to understand what it takes to be your disciple. And we thank you God that when we don't understand, you will teach us and you will not turn us away because we do not understand. Thank you this day for helping us to be all that you want us to be as your disciples.