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Sermon Notes:  Are You the Student Or The Teacher?

Please note that these are the Pastors actual sermon notes.  Depending on time/Holy Spirit/How Well It Goes they may or may not get to all the things on this list.  These are posted for SEO and also because some people like to follow along.  Enjoy.

• From David Platt in Multiply- somehow many have come to believe that a person can be a
• “Christian” without being like Christ. A “follower” who doesn’t follow. How does that make any sense? Many people in the church have decided to take on the name of Christ and nothing else. This would be like Jesus walking up to those first disciples and saying, “Hey, would you guys mind identifying yourselves with Me in some way? Don’t worry, I don’t actually care if you do anything I do or change your lifestyle at all. I’m just looking for people who are willing to say
• they believe in Me and call themselves Christians.” Seriously? No one can really believe that this is all it means to be a Christian. But then why do so many people live this way? It appears that we’ve lost sight of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. The concept of being a disciple isn’t difficult to understand, but it affects everything.
• Today we continue to look at Jesus, prayer- and we see him praying for the disciples- in this we can see a bit about what Jesus thinks about the Disciples, and in that, look at ourselves and become better disciples- followers of Jesus
• John 17:6-10

1.What is a “disciple?”

• What is involved in being a disciple of Jesus?
• “Disciple” in N.T from the root word for “mathematics.” Means a learner, or a pupil.
• Ancient Philosophers had disciples who often paid large sums of money to be their pupils.
• Prospective disciples would seek out teachers.
• The relationship between teacher (master) & disciple was often very close.
• Jesus had 12 close disciples, & others also. Jesus is still calling disciples today (thru gospel).
• Now this is a prayer that Jesus prayed- but in it- we see- as he prays for his disciples- what it takes to be a disciple of Christ

1. Not of this world

A DISCIPLE LIVES AS ONE WHO HAS BEEN “CALLED OUT” OF WORLD!

John 17:6  “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word”

• From the beginning of Jesus ministry- One of the unique features about Jesus’s disciples was the Lord’s disciples did not seek him – HE sought them & called them!
• He came to where they were and called them to the work of being his disciple-
• They didn’t seek him out- they sought him out- and the movement grew— but the original ones- were called
• and this “call” was a call to leave the world- its trappings- its ways- to live life a different way
• Life hasn’t changed that much- everyone on the planet needs, shelter, food, and a means to produce for their family
• Whatever culture that you are living in has a dominant culture that is usually contrary to the Bible
• This idea of a Christian that a looks, acts and is exactly like the world is not a Biblical concept
• The disciples were called out of the world- to not be like the world
• “Jesus spent time with sinners” man if I had a nickel for every time someone said that
• Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance”
• When Jesus was hanging out with sinners- he was preaching repentance- not taking part in their sin
• The words “from the world” mean a calling out of the world.
• 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light
• OUT OF DARKNESS- He didn’t call us into the darkness- but OUT of it
• Romans 12:2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God
• Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts
• Yes the disciples went were there were broken people, yes Jesus ministered to sinners, Yes we are called to minister to  people that are deep in Sin-
• BUT WE’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BECOME LIKE THEM- We were called out of that life
• Some people have allowed too much of the world in them
• 2 Cor 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God
• Someone has said – “The Ship’s place is the sea, but God pity the ship when the sea gets into it. The Christian’s place is the world, but God pity the Christian if the world gets into him!”

• READ 1 John 2:15-19

• This is why we do what we do as a church- I’m not going to water down the truth that the world is full of sinners that need a savior- this is the place they need to come and hear it
• Remember- you are IN this world but not OF this world
• Why Do people struggle to come out of the world?
• 1. Afraid of not having friends
• 2. Worried what people will think
• 3. Unaware of the need to seperate
• 4. Haven’t truly submitted to Christ
• The call of Jesus to his disciples to become disciples was a strong word and a high calling
• LUKE 14:25-33 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. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple
• The disciples were called out of this world- and were not like the world-  dont be like the world
• Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time
• You arethe light in darkness.- you are the salt- The only way to accomplish this is to be different

1. A disciple obeys the word

• A DISCIPLE ACCEPTS & OBEYS THE WORD OF GOD.
• John 17:6-8 6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
• Wouldn’t be odd if you were a disciple of Jesus, but you didn’t agree with what he said, you didn’t follow where he went and you didn’t do what he said?
• You wouldn’t be considered his disciple- you’d just be a guy who hung around him
• When someone is someones disciple, they learn from them, they look like them, they do what they say
• The current culture of America is not one of obedience. Society upholds and regales those who disobedient and individuals-
• Why do people struggle with obeying?
• 1. Weren’t taught obedience in the home as a child
• 2. Spirit of Rebellion
• 3. Want to maintain their individualism
• 4. Don’t fully trust God
• 5. Haven’t fully submitted
• 6. Don’t know what they are supposed to be doing
• In the gym- Doing squats- the guy with the great physique and the career is the guy to listen to
• If you want to become like the teacher- follow the teacher- if you dont- find another teacher
• Note “They have kept your word (obeyed).”(verse 6) and “they have accepted them.” (Verse 8)
• He did not say they thought about them.- they didn’t sit around and pontificate about them
• He did not say they were perfect. (We know that they weren’t).They were men of faith who accepted Jesus by faith, and did what Jesus asked of them!
• simply, they “Practiced What They Preached!”
• Luke 11:28 But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
• Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

Amanda Opens Service

1. A disciple gives God Glory

• A TRUE DISCIPLE BRINGS GLORY TO HIS MASTER.
• John 17:10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them
• At this point- Jesus is praying to God- and the description that he gives to God is that Jesus is looking at the lives of the disciples and says “I am glorified in them”
• Jesus looks and sees himself in their lives
• Can Jesus see himself in you?
• Are you living a life that shows the life of Christ?
• Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven
• Galatians 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me
• The entire focus of our lives ought to be “giving God the Glory!”
• Why do people struggle to give God the Glory?
• 1. want recognition for themselves-
• 2. Need approval
• 3. Unsure how to give God glory
• 4. Don’t understand the need or calling to give God glory
• This is why you exist- this is why the church exists- our lives are to Give God the glory in all
• This is why it bothers me when people say the church isn’t doing enough-
• Every time we come together we are doing what God has called us to do- Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship
• The Job of the church is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry
• Last week, People going to feed homeless, people paying off cars, giving people cars, helping people move, sharing Christ at work, Paying for peoples groceries, THATS THE CHURCH DOING WORK- Its not on the 5 o’clock news and it shouldn’t be- We want people to know JESUS
• The good disciple is the one where the teacher is the one who gets the recognition
• This is why I don’t agree with Christian labels, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Calvinist, Arminian, Wesleyan, Baptist etc. We are supposed to be known by one name- CHRISTIAN
• If the world doesn’t understand what that means- they should get to know the teacher!
• If you want to be a disciple, be a disciple unto the LORD
• Be God’s Doctor, Business owner, Teacher, Firefighter, Factory worker, Sales person, Manager,
• Whatever you do do it unto the Lord and with all your might!!
• You see all that matters ultimately in this life is did I treat Jesus like a disciple should treat his master?
• That’s the real question: Is Jesus your master? Are you following HIM?
• DO THIS
• 1. Make a decision to FOLLOW CHRIST- receive him as your SAVIOR but then FOLLOW HIM
• 2. REad your Bible and DO WHAT IT SAYS
• 3. Center your life around following Jesus in everything you do-all day every day