Discipleship Essentials*
Friday, October 22, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for always being there to listen whatever it is that I may have to share with You. I know that many times I need to listen more to what You have to say to me in Your written word, or in my times of prayer, or through the circumstances of my life, or through other believers. Yet, I take great comfort in knowing that You will never leave me nor forsake me, that You are more eager to hear what I have to share with You than I am to share it. Glorify Yourself in my life today by filling me anew with Your Holy Spirit that my thoughts, words and deeds, may be brought into conformity with Your will. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today
Luke 6:12-16; 9:1-6, 10
12One day soon afterward Jesus went to a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. 13At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:
14Simon (he also called him Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), 16Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
1One day Jesus called together his twelve apostles and gave them power and authority to cast out demons and to heal all diseases. 2Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the coming of the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3“Don’t even take along a walking stick,” he instructed them, “nor a traveler’s bag, nor food, nor money. Not even an extra coat. 4When you enter each village, be a guest in only one home. 5If the people of the village won’t receive your message when you enter it, shake off its dust from your feet as you leave. It is a sign that you have abandoned that village to its fate.” 6So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick….10When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida
Background on the Text – Who Wrote It? Why Was It Written? Who Was the Audience?
As we near the close of our consideration of making disciples, consider what an impact the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John have had on Jesus’ disciples down through the ages! After all, when they were first written, the Gospels opened the doorway to faith for many folks who never had the opportunity to meet Jesus personally. The accounts allowed for the message of Jesus to be shared—slowly to be sure, since there were no printing presses in that day, and the entire gospels had to be transmitted by hand. Even so, to have a copy of a gospel for a village, would open the door to salvation for that whole village. Take a moment right now to thank Luke and the other gospel writers for their obedience in recording Jesus’ life and ministry for the ages!
Observation – What Does the Text Say?
Interpretation – What Does the Text Mean?
Application – How Can I Respond to the Text’s Insights and Teachings?
Each Week’s Check List.
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
Growth Point |
How |
Encouraged and strengthened me by |
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Fallen short areas |
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What will I do with these insights? |
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What did God say to me today? |
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Share insights and growth points |
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Changed/transformed how? |
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Thoughts...They Told Jesus!
Have you ever stopped to consider what a blessing it is to be able to tell the Lord of the universe EVERYTHING that you have done? Jesus sent the disciples out to make disciples. They were to do that through preaching, healing and delivering. What happened through the disciples amazed them. When they came back they just had to tell Jesus—and Jesus was eager to hear what they had to say. That’s something we need to remember: Jesus is always ready to hear whatever it is that we have to say. Maybe everyone else is to busy to listen, but not Jesus. Jesus is always ready, always waiting, always willing. The disciples must have had a lot to tell Jesus. After all, they had the same kind of abilities that Jesus had after He sent them out. As they relied on Him, they were empowered with His power. They healed the sick, cast out demons and taught with incredible authority. Remember this: we have that same ability – THROUGH Jesus. He is waiting to hear our accounts of what we have done THROUGH Him. Let’s make sure that whatever happens today that we tell Jesus, especially when He uses us to bring His Good News of life and salvation to others—when He lets us make disciples who will make disciples!