Text: John 1:35—51 and John 6

Topic: How to be a disciple

Introduction:

• It is impossible to be a teacher without a pupil, or a pupil without a teacher.
• Illustration: Historically, the Greeks made heavy use of discipleship
• Illustration: The Jews produced schools of discipleship around Moses, the rabbis, and the Pharisees.
• Illustration: John the Baptist had his disciples.
• Jesus has all these examples of discipleship, and does something completely different.

It Is Fundamental to Discipleship that We Be in Relationship with Christ.

• Jesus offered his disciples a relationship with himself.
• Discipleship is not about a relationship with procedure, only with Christ.

It Is Fundamental to Discipleship that We Move from Curious to Convinced.

• John 6
• Jesus did miracles to establish his credentials but also to get people's attention.
• Never confuse the mass of the curious with the disciples Jesus wants to make.
• Jesus wants to bring us out of the realm of the curious into the glorious company of the convinced.

It Is Fundamental to Discipleship that We Move from Convinced to Committed.

• Many of the curious turned away at Jesus' hard words about his body and blood.
• We need to come to the point of feeding only on Christ for salvation.

Conclusion:

• The measure of discipleship is the reality of the relationship I have with Christ.
• A disciple is not perfect but cannot live in blatant disobedience.
• Discipleship is an exclusive, exhaustive relationship of mutual commitment.