From Believers to Disciples
Monday, January 8, 2007
From Believers to Disciples Calendar
Daily Bible Study Menu
A note about online study
“Study to show yourself approved by God …” 2 Timothy 2:15a KJV
Prayer Focus for Today
Pray that God will use the series “From Believers to Disciples” to transform each of us into more fully devoted followers of Jesus!”
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your desire to see me grow from a believer to a disciple. I pray that You will pour out Your Holy Spirit not only on me, but also on every person of New Life Christian Ministries that we will be transformed into more fully devoted followers of Jesus. Use the message series in the next couple of months to inspire us to that transformation, and each day set some person or circumstance before us that will challenge us to grow. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today: Luke 9:57-62
57As they were walking along someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you no matter where you go.”
58But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Son of Man, have no home of my own, not even a place to lay my head.”
59He said to another person, “Come, be my disciple.”
The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
60Jesus replied, “Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead. Your duty is to go and preach the coming of the Kingdom of God.”
61Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”
62But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
From Today’s Reading, a Believer …
What does a believer DO according to Luke 9:57?
How does Jesus respond when we tell Him that we will follow Him?
Let’s Go Deeper in Our Walk with Jesus
After reading today’s Scripture, what is one necessity for moving from believers to disciples?
From Today’s Reading, a Disciple of Jesus Will …
The man in Luke 9:57 was well-intentioned. He thought he wanted to be a disciple. After boldly telling Jesus he would follow Him anywhere, how do you think he felt when Jesus responded with the challenge of homelessness?
What does this say about the cost of being a disciple in practical terms?
Ministry, Mission, Outreach, Service Opportunities to Consider
One simple way we may move from believers to disciples is by noticing people around us, and addressing their needs. This may mean helping an elderly person to the car with groceries, or writing a missionary a note of encouragement, or listening to a friend who is discouraged. Simple serving shows the love of Jesus to others!
My Journal
Note any thoughts from Through the Bible or the Daily Reading here:
Growing and Going!
Does Jesus want disciples? It may not seem like it when we read his response to the man who said, “I will follow you no matter where you go!” Actually, Jesus just wants to make us aware of the cost of following Him. He doesn’t want anyone to think that being His disciple is easy. In our day we may not have to leave our homes in order to be disciples—although Jesus doesn’t say we won’t. What we will have to do is put Jesus first in everything we think, say and do. He will be foremost in our planning of each day, and His word will be the “marching orders” for our lives. How we use our time, spend our money, and everything else in the practical realm of life will be under His control. If that sounds tough, it is! But each of us is going to follow someone or something in our lives, and we will become whatever we are committed to in life, so let’s commit ourselves to Jesus!