Top Ten Reasons to Become A Disciple!

10. It gives meaning and purpose to your life
John 4:29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" (story of the woman at the well)

Have you ever asked yourself “What is my purpose in life?” or “Why am I here?” or “what should I be doing with my life?”

God has a unique purpose for each person.

Eph 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

To understand your purpose, you must become a disciple first

Matthew 6:31-33 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' (32) For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

9. Accounts in the Bible can be verified
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

One of the biggest complaints against Christianity is that the Bible is:
• A bunch of myths
• Has been corrupted of changed
• Is not relevant for today
• Hard to understand

Those who make this claim fail to look at the evidence or any evidence.
The New Testament was written by eye witnesses of the Resurrected Christ.
Original manuscripts can be verified against what we have today.
Love, forgiveness, compassion and righteous judgment are timeless principles that are always relevant.
No historical event has yet been found to contradict the Bible. Archelological finds have oly supported the biblical narratives.

8. You will understand the difference between what the culture has to offer and what Christ has to offer.
1Co 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. (17) The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

The culture says:
It’s cool to worry only about yourself and to "get yours"!
It’s okay to explore your sexuality
Abortion is your choice

The Bible tells us to “not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

God's laws and His ways are not designed to defraud us of any joy, but rather to enhance or happiness and fulfilment! God created us and He knows what is best for us!

7. If you want to understand relationships become a disciple of Christ.

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' (38) This is the first and greatest commandment. (39) And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

The author says “Men are from Mars, Women from Venus”, but actually we all started on planet earth in the Garden of Eden. We fell into sin and disobedience. This is the key to understanding people.

Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (4) Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The Bible speaks to us of sacrificial love, as in Chirst's sacrifice for all of us. This is how we should model our relationships with each other. In addition, no realtionship can stand with out forgiveness being at the core. we continually sin against each other, but if we learn to continually forgive each other, as Christ forgives us, we can make our relationships work and honor God!

6. If you truly want to help people, become a disciple.

Today we have some great people who are willing to help others by donating time, money and effort. This will address physical needs which is cool, but what people really need is a spiritual transformation.

Romans 12:2-5 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (3) For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (4) Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, (5) so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

A Disciple is concerned with the whole person, mentally, physically but most of all spiritually because he or she knows that a right relationship with God is the most important thing.

5. It’s cooler than you think!

Romans 14:17-18 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, (18) because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

Romans 14:17-18 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, (18) because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

Being a disciple isn’t being judgmental. It’s having a certainty that what you believe is true and acting in accordance with the knowledge and ability God has given you to stand for truth.

The everyday life of a Christian involves:
Standing up for truth
Fighting evil
Learning how to fight (spiritually that is)
Learning about yourself and your shortcomings
Learning Discipline
Being in constant contact with God (prayer)
Proclaiming the Gospel of Christ
Denying ones self and be ready to suffer for Christ’s sake

If this doesn't sound great to you then think of spending eternity in heaven with Christ (or the unfortunate alternative)

4. It’s the exact opposite of what most people would expect you to do!

Matthew 4:19-20 “Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." (20) At once they left their nets and followed him.

These were family men, men with careers. The left it all to follow Him! I’m sure people thought they were crazy.

When you become a disciple people WILL think you are crazy. But:

Matthew 19:28-30 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (29) And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. (30) But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

This does not mean you will get 100 times everything you give up here on earth. But like anything that’s worth something, there is a price:

Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (25) For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

3. As a disciple you will never have to be concerned with pleasing anyone except God!

You are working for an audience of One!

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Use the bible and prayer to know what is right. You can listen to and learn from Godly teachers, but you must determine what God’s will for your life is and seek to please God with your life by doing what He has you to do.

2. There are no special qualifications you need to meet to become a disciple (except faith).

God even gives you the faith to believe in Him:

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Faith is not blind! It involves believe the true account of the Gospel as recorded in the Bible and putting your trust in Jesus Christ, just as the original 12 disciples did.

No pre-qualifications, no pre-approval..come as you are

1 Because being a disciple is the ONLY way to have your sins forgiven, have a relationship with God and insure your future will be great!

Act 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Eph 1:7 In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

1Corinthians 2:9-10 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"— (10) but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (Quoted from Isaiah 64:40)

John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Jesus Christ is the only way to God. Without Jesus, there is no salvation, no forgiveness of sins, no connection to God. You cannot be a true disciple except by having faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God! But if you do have faith in Christ the following applies:

Your future is never in question
God will given you the power and ability to do what He has you to do
Your will be conformed to His image day by day
Nothing can happen to you unless God says so and if He says so then it’s time to go to heaven
You may suffer, but you will also live and reign with Christ forever!

S. T. Woods

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