Bill Hull

To Read Part One 

Last time we looked at the growing movement within the church to choose “the life” that Christ offers us but so few are experiencing. In this segment I want to look at what it meant for the disciples in Jesus’ day and the implications for each of us.

First, let's consider that there were several characteristics that defined a disciple in Jesus’ day.

1. They made an intentional choice to follow a teacher. Luke 6:39-40
2. The student chose his own Rabbi. (Jesus was unique in that He chose His disciples.) John 15:16
3. The disciple would submit to his Rabbi’s interpretation of scripture and way of life. 1 Corin-thians 4:14-16
4. The teacher would teach the student everything he knew. Luke 6:40
5. The student would eventually graduate as a Rabbi  from servant/slave to friend. This would then require the new Rabbi to repeat the process with others. John 15:15

Choosing the life of discipleship was no trivial undertaking. Very much like joining a special order, there were rites of passage into this life of submission to spiritual authority. Contrast this to our own superficial, low commitment discipleship programs and you can see why our way isn’t nearly as effective. The new movement is attempting to restore the original intent to the Church’s work by beginning with its leaders.

So how would this look in today’s world, what distinctive would be a follower of Jesus have? Let’s begin with the definition of a disciple: “A disciple is a follower of a person or cause, who has decided to attach himself to another person in mutual submission, in order to become capable of doing what that person does or what that person is.

It is the intention to join
with at least one other kindred spirit
to break through obedience barriers,
to learn everything you can
and experience transformation.”

This is radical in that it makes it impossible for a person to keep an arms length relationship to Christ and others. The majority of church people today become genuine believers, yet the only transformation they experience is forgiveness of sins and membership in the body of Christ. They know Christ as Savior, but they miss out on experiencing Him as teacher or leader. Therefore, their lives are tragically stalled out and they don’t reach the pinnacle of a high-impact life that comes from spiritual depth ― a soul that has been custom crafted by the disciplines of the Spirit of God.

The Church’s cardiovascular system is clogged with immature disciples who agree with all we’ve said but don’t act on it. Where in New Testament can we find this prevailing belief that being baptized and attending church will make you a full-throttle disciple of Jesus? A. W. Tozer says that "forgiveness of sin" and "taking His yoke upon us and learning of him" are not two things, but one . . . they can't be separated.*

The Church
is up to its eyeballs in agreement,
but ankle deep
in behavioral change.

This is primarily a leadership issue; leaders are not modeling spiritual formation as the first and most important task of the Church. Again, spiritual greatness in our culture is all about size ― the size of the churches, the size of book sales, the size of the crowds at our special events. It’s time to say what everyone is whispering: the church is drunk on the wine of success and the only thing that will save it is an intervention. We must gather strength and accountability from each other to challenge our addiction and, by God’s power, do the right thing.

1. The Call to “The Life”

The need is obvious, and so is the call.  Ponder it a moment.

“If anyone would come after me,
he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily
and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life
will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for me
will save it.
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world
and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:23-25)

Some, based on the fact that Jesus was talking to the twelve, have contended Jesus did not intend this call for everyone. It may well be true that He was speaking only to a few, but that His statement is unequivocal and applies to everyone is made clear by His use of the words “if anyone.”

Jesus, in His great commission for the church to make disciples, makes it clear He was not elitist. In Luke 14:25-35 His invitation is even more inclusive while His language is stronger when he addresses commitment level. The call to follow Jesus as our leader is to be normative.

The abnormal
is the halfhearted disciple
who limits his commitment
because of a lack of trust
in God’s ability to lead.

Concluding next month.

*Willard, Dallas  Renovation of the Heart , NavPress,  2002 p. 242.

Luke 6:39-40 (NIV)

³⁹ He also told them this parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰ A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.  Back

John 15:16 (NIV)

¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  Back

1 Corinthians 4:14-16 (NIV)

¹⁴ I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. ¹⁵ Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. ¹⁶ Therefore I urge you to imitate me.  Back

Luke 6:40 (NIV)

⁴⁰ A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. Back

John 15:15 (NIV)

¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  Back