Sunday School (rought notes)

1. What three words do we use to describe a follower of Jesus today? (Christian, believer and disciple)

"Disciple" is the overwhelming favorite in the gospels. It means learner, student or follower. As learners, these men didn’t sit in on a class with Jesus, they didn’t subscribe to His newsletter. They lived with him, they literally followed Him. But he also “went in and out among us” (Acts 1:21) and sometimes sent them out. It was an active, growing apprenticeship, so they could manage the Kingdom he was going to establish. It took Discipline.

KJV:
DISCIPLE-27 DISCIPLES-233 =260
BELIEVER-0 BELIEVERS-2 =2
CHRISTIAN-2 CHRISTIANS-1 =3
NIV:
DISCIPLE-27 DISCIPLES-258 =285
BELIEVER-7 BELIEVERS-20 =27
CHRISTIAN-2 CHRISTIANS-1 =3

2. What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Read Mark 10:32-41; John didn’t record this embarrassing exchange, but Matt and Mark did. It is instructive to us about what Jesus meant when He said follow me.

Cup – Jesus’ agonizing cup of death

And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. (MARK 14:36)

Baptism – Jesus’ secret burial

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:12)

Cross – humiliating torture and death

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

An instrument of tourture and death, can’t be concealed, can’t be left behind. Consider it a yoke you share with Jesus.

3.Where does this dying lead?

To the New Kingdom. His first followers had to endure the cup and the baptism. If we endure to this same end, we will be saved and will enter into His kingdom.