LIVING AS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS THE CHRIST

Lesson 4
Jesus Called, Made, and Developed His Disciples
I. Some Introductory Principles
Jesus by Jerry Jones)

(See Discipleship In The Ministry of

1. Jesus called men to follow Him

(Matthew 4:18-22)
2. He also stressed that the disciple, when trained, will become like his
Teacher (Luke 6:40)
3. The disciple should fix his eyes on Jesus
(Hebrews 12:2)
4. The purpose of the Lord is to present every man complete in Christ
(Colossians 1:28)
5. This means that church membership is not enough. Complete
commitment to the Lord and His teaching is essential.

II. Jesus Called Different Kinds Of People To Be His Disciples

1. Jesus called BUSY people to be His disciples
--- Peter, Andrew, James and John were busy in fishing
(Mark 1:17-20;
Matthew 4:18-22)
--- Matthew was busy collecting taxes
(Matthew 9:9)
--- In the Old Testament, Amos was a busy farmer and rancher
(Amos 7:14, 15)
2. Jesus called OPEN or transparent people to be His disciples
--- Nathanael was open, a man who had no guile (deceit)
--- Peter was very open, an honest man who spoke what he felt
(John 6:66-69)
3. Jesus called people who could reach other people
--- Paul was this kind of person called some time after Jesus ascension
(Acts 9:10-16)

III. To What Did Jesus Call His Disciples? (See Discipleship In The Ministry
of Jesus by Jones)
1.
2.
3.
4.

Jesus called them to Himself

(Matthew 4:19)
Jesus called them to a life of sacrifice
(Matthew 20:20-28)
Jesus called them to a life of evangelism (Acts 1:8)
Jesus called them to a transformed life. John became the apostle of love!

IV. Jesus Had Great Fellowship, Close Association, With His Disciples
1. An important principle --- They were with Jesus, and then, He would send them
out to teach and preach
(Mark 3:14)
2. The replacement for Judas to become an apostle with the eleven must be a
companion with Jesus during His ministry
(Acts 1:21)

3. The Jewish leaders were aware that Peter and John had been with Jesus
(Acts 4:13)
4. Jesus even spent much time with tax collectors and sinners (Luke 15:1, 2)

V. Jesus Showed Great Emotions In The Presence Of His Disciples

1. The wonderful COMPASSION and mercy of Jesus when people were suffering
(Mark 1:40-42)
2. The great LOVE that the Lord displayed (Mark 10:20-22; John 13:1)
Please notice the LOVE of Jesus for Lazarus, Mary, and Martha (John 11:3;
11:35, 36)
3. Jesus was deeply TROUBLED
(John 11:33)
4. Jesus was ANGRY over the wickedness of the Jews
(Mark 3:1-5)

VI. Jesus Constantly Challenged His Disciples

1.
2.
3.
4.

The first challenge He gave them was to be His followers (Matthew 4:18-22)
He challenged them to be fishers of men
(Matthew 4:19)
He challenged them to be like Him
(Luke 6:40)
He challenged them to obey
--- He said to the people, WHY DO YOU CALL ME LORD, LORD, AND
DO NOT DO WHAT I SAY?
(Luke 6:46)
--- A wise man HEARS AND DOES, but a foolish man HEARS AND DOES
NOT DO!
(Matthew 7:21-27)

5. He challenged them to be cross-bearers

(Mark 8:34)
They must be willing to surrender everything and be willing to die for Him
(See Luke 14:26-33)
6. He challenged His disciples to SEEK TRUTH!
(John 8:31, 32)
7. He challenged them to see the REAL PRIORITIES in life
(Matthew 6:19-34)
--- It is more important to have ones name written in heaven than to have the
power to cast out demons
(Luke 10:20)
8. He challenged them to see men IN NEED rather than to see men of a
different race
(Luke 10:25-37)
9. He challenged them to see the people of the world as sheep without a
shepherd who need spiritual help
(Matthew 9:36-38)