“A Disciple’s Commitment to the Rabbi’s Service”   7/01/07

 

“Dust of the Rabbi” www.followtherabbi.com

 

Rabbi- my great teacher; Talmid- completely committed disciple or “learner”

 

Review- 1) Jesus was Rabbi with Smikah (authority); 2) Disciples are consumed to be like their Rabbis; 3) Jesus was a Rabbi who knew the text

 

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1 John 2:6

 

GOING CAMPING ILLUSTRATION- doesn’t look like camping anymore (w/huge RVs, etc.).

 

POINT 1- A disciple’s commitment to serve includes counting the COST

 

Do you have the commitment to read Matthew this week?

 

A.   The cost to be a disciple of Rabbi Jesus is very DIFFICULT

(Matthew 7:13-14)

 

B.    The cost to be a disciple of Rabbi Jesus involves disproportionate LOVE

(Luke 14:25-26, Matthew 10:37 – “love”)

 

C.   The cost to be a disciple of Rabbi Jesus requires a CROSS

(Luke 14:27)

 

D.   The cost to be a disciple of Rabbi Jesus entails careful CONTEMPLATION

          (Luke 14:28-32)

 

E.    The cost to be a disciple of Rabbi Jesus demands total COMMITMENT

(Luke 14:33, 9:62)  ILLUSTRATION- “The light church” (see below)

 

F.    The cost to be a disciple of Rabbi Jesus is similar to that of SALT

(Luke 14:34-35)

 

Going           Have you counted the cost and are you PAYING IT?

Deeper

 

John 6:60-66  (Peter stumbled and was restored)

Acts 1:8  “filled with power”

Commitment to Jesus- Prayer, Bible study, Holiness, on time to church, reaching out to others, giving up rights…

 

POINT 2- A disciple’s commitment to serve includes making DISCIPLES

 

A.   Our Rabbi has all authority and has commanded us to DUPLICATE

(Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Corinthians 4:16, 11:1)

 

Going           Will you commit to finding one person you can Disciple?

Deeper

 

“ARE YOU WORTHY OF BEING IMITATED?”

 

Jesus is looking for some disciples who will commit to His Actions, Teachings, Text, and Service.  Will you come?   (Matthew 11:28-30)

 

ILLUSTRATION- Leadership magazine once ran a cartoon that showed a church building with a billboard in front that said: "The LITE CHURCH":

Source: Leadership Summer, 1983, p. 81