Introduction Have you ever wondered what a disciple really is? Jesus calls men and women to be His disciples, yet many times we have not really considered what He is asking or what He requires in order to answer His invitation. In this lesson, we will examine what being a disciple of Jesus is all about and show from the Bible what Jesus expects of those who desire to follow Him. Let's review your relationship with Christ so you will have a clear idea of where you are and what, if anything, you might do to improve this relationship. 1. Do you believe that Jesus is the Divine Son of God and that God raised Him from the dead?_______ 2. Are you now, or have you ever been saved?_____________ 3. If you answered yes, how were you saved (time, age, event, location, circumstances etc). Use the life-line below Your Life Line_______________________________________________________ 1. Have you ever been baptized?_______ (Write an "X" and give your age at the time) 2. If you answered yes, why were you baptized? (Put this by the "X") 3. Were you baptized by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion? I. The Call To Discipleship A. Romans 1:16 1. Is the Gospel message the power which God uses to save us?___________ B. John 20:30-31 1. Are we able to have eternal life by knowing and obeying the written word?_________ C. Luke 6:46 1. Can we call Jesus Lord if we are not willing to obey Him?_________ D. Matthew 7:21-23 1. Is simply calling Jesus Lord enough to save us?__________ 2. Did these believers prophesy in Jesus name?________ 3. Did these believers cast out demons in Jesus name?__________ 4. Did these believers do many works in Jesus name?____________ 5. What did Jesus say to these believers?___________ Why? 6. Is being religious or doing religious things in Jesus name enough to save you?_________ 7. Is it your understanding that you must do the Father's will in order to be saved?______ E. Hebrews 5:8-9 1. Jesus is the source of eternal life for those who ____________ Him. F. James 2:19 1. Does the devil believe in God?___________ Is the Devil saved?_________ G. Ephesians 2:8-9 1. "For by _____________ are you saved through _____________ 2. NOTE: Grace is God's part, Faith is man's part H. Hebrews 11:6 1. For without faith it is _______________________ to please God. I. James 2:14-17; 24-26 1. We are not saved by works of merit (we can't earn our salvation). However, we are saved by works of obedient faith. If fact, without works of obedient faith, our faith is dead and will not save us. 2. Verse 24: "You see that a man is justified by _______________ and not by _____________alone. 3. Is faith alone able to save you?_______________ 4. Faith without works (deeds, action) is ____________(:26) II. The Requirements Of Discipleship A. Luke 14:25-35 (see also Matthew 10:37-39) 1. Must you love Jesus more than you love your family or even your own life in order to be His follower?_____________ 2. Are you willing to make that commitment in order to follow Him?____________ B. Luke 14:27 1. Jesus said you must carry your own _________________ 2. What is cross bearing? Let's read on and see. C. John 19:17-18 1. When Jesus carried His own cross, did He go to die?____________ 2. Crosses (like electric chairs) are for dying. D. Galatians 2:20 1. Did Paul say that He had been crucified with Christ?_____________ 2. Was the old Paul (Saul of Tarsus) still alive?___________ 3. Who was now alive in him?___________ (In order to live for Christ, you have to die to self first ) 4. Are you willing to make the commitment to let your life be controlled by Jesus?_______ E. Romans 6:4-7 1. When you are crucified with Christ, two things die. What are they? ________ and _______ F. Luke 14:28-32 1. Is the consideration to follow Jesus very serious? ___________ 2. Does it require that you count the cost of your commitment?____________ G. Luke 14:33 1. If a person wants to follow Jesus, what must he give up?________________________ 2. Are you willing to relinquish ownership of everything you own to follow Jesus?________ H. Philippians 3:7-8 1. Did Paul view all things loss in order to gain Christ?______________ 2. Did he consider knowing Christ and being a disciple of far greater value than anything this earth could offer?________________ 3. Will you follow Christ and put Him first above friends, family, self, and possessions?___ I. Crucifying sin and self can be a challenge, Read Galatians 5:19-24; and Romans 1:28-32; and II. Ephesians 4:17- 5:5. What are some things that you must change in your life in order to follow Jesus?_________ III. Being United With Christ A. Romans 6:1-7; Colossians 2:12 1. Is baptism the act of obedient faith in which we are crucified with Christ?__________ 2. Is baptism an act of obedient faith in the working of God (Colossians 2:12)?______ 3. Is baptism a burial?_____________ Do you bury "live" people?______________ 4. Must you die to sin and self (repent) in order to be buried with Christ? _________ B. Acts 2:38 1. What two things do you receive when you are baptized according to this verse? _________________ and ______________________________ C. Acts 22:16 1. Why was Saul baptized according to this verse?________________________ 2. NOTE: Obeying God in baptism is "calling on the name of the Lord." Paul had seen the risen Christ and fasted for three days, yet his sins were not forgiven until he had them washed away by this obedient work of faith (Col 2:11-12). A person is not saved until forgiveness is received, therefore a person is saved when their sins are washed away in baptism. D. Mark 16:15-16 1. Must a person believe in Christ before being properly baptized?________________ 2. Can an infant believe in Christ?_________ Does an infant need to believe ?_____ Why? E. Acts 18:8 1. Were these Corinthians baptized after they believed?_____________ 2. Could a baby be properly baptized as these verses teach? F. Acts 2:38 1. Must a person repent (die to sin) before being properly baptized? ______________ 2. Can a baby repent?__________ Does a baby need to repent? __________ Why? G. Romans 10:9-10 1. Must we confess Jesus as Lord before being saved?_________________ 2. Is this a work of merit by which we earn our salvation or a work of faith?___________ 3. Can a baby confess Jesus as Lord?_________ Does a baby need to?_____________ H. Acts 8:34-39 1. Does Biblical baptism require one to go down into and come up out of the water?______ 2. NOTE: The Greek Word "Baptizo" means to immerse, plunge under, or submerge. Sprinkling and pouring are man made substitutions that were introduced only after the erroneous teaching about original sin and infant baptism began. I. Ephesians 4:4-5; Acts 19:1-5 1. Were these twelve people baptized incorrectly with the wrong baptism?___________ 2. What did they do when they discovered the truth?_________________ They were honest people, but had been taught incorrectly about the one baptism that God accepts. J. Galatians 3:26-27 1. Does baptism (immersion) put you "into" Christ?________ 2. There is only one baptism that puts a person into Christ. If a person was baptized with "another" baptism that the Bible does not command (like sprinkling, pouring, or immersion for the wrong reason like John's Baptism), would that person be in Christ?_______ K. 1 Peter 3:20-21 1. Does the Bible say that immersion (baptism) NOW saves you? ___________ NOTE: This is not simply taking a physical bath, but is the cleansing of the conscience by the resurrection . L. John 3:3-5 1. If a person is not born of water and the Spirit, can he enter the kingdom of God?______ M.The Biblical Life Line: Saved, forgiven, born again, and "in Christ" at the point of the "one" baptism ______________________________X____________________________________ N. Does your life line look differently than the Bible's life line. ____ Do you want to do the Father's will?____ Conclusion A.. From this lesson we've learned that you must believe in Jesus, be willing to die to sin and self (repent), confess Jesus as your Lord, and be immersed in water as an obedient act of faith in the working of God to remove your sin, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and be put "In Christ." This is how you are Born Again (John 3:1-5). If you haven't obeyed God's will as revealed in the Bible, you are not yet saved. There is only One Lord, One faith, One church, and One Baptism that God commands and accepts (Ephesians 4:4-5). He will accept no substitutions. B. The decision to accept Jesus' invitation is a serious one and you must count the cost of your commitment. The benefits are eternal life, forgiveness of all your sins, and peace with God. One hundred years from now, friends, family, and possessions will all be gone, however where you spend eternity will be fixed forever. C. Are you ready to be born again of the water and the Spirit?_________ Obeying The Gospel Call "Building Your Relationship With God" 1