It is appropriate that this characteristic of a maturing Christian should come right in the middle of our series. In a sense, a commitment to discipleship is right at the centre of what being a Christian is all about. Everything that has come before and all that will come in the weeks to follow, revolves around our understanding of discipleship and how it applies to our lives. 

So what is discipleship? If we were living at the time of Jesus, we would not need to ask that question. Discipleship was a common phenomenon in the first century world. Greek philosophers had disciples.

In the New Testament we read of the Pharisees having disciples. (Matthew 22:15-16). Remember John the Baptist had disciples. (Mark 2:18). In these relationships, disciples were understood to be individuals committed to a particular person who was their teacher or master. This commitment was to learn that person's teaching or way of life and then to follow a particular pattern of life, whether by living in a certain way, passing on the teaching to others or engaging in political or religious activities. The concept of a master and his disciples was very common in the time of Jesus. 

From the beginning of Jesus' ministry, this concept of discipleship was established as the basis on which he would teach and pass on his message. Jesus initially called 12 to be his disciples. For three years Jesus instructed and encouraged these 12 men. At times it was a frustrating and painful process as he tried to build into these very ordinary men the principles and values of the Kingdom.

I love the following piece which has been titled "The Joy of Teaching"

 Then Jesus took his disciples up on the mountain and gathering them around him, he taught them saying:
 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 Blessed are the meek.
 Blessed are those that mourn.
 Blessed are the merciful.
 Blessed are they that thirst for justice.
 Blessed are you when persecuted.
 Blessed are you when you suffer.
 Be glad and rejoice for your reward is great in heaven.
 Then Simon Peter said, "Are we supposed to know this?"
 And Andrew said, "Do we have to write this down?"
 And James said, "Will we have a test on this?"
 And Bartholomew said, "Do we have to hand this in?"
 And John said, "The other disciples didn’t have to learn this!"

 And Matthew said, "May I go to the toilet?"
 Then one of the Pharisees who was present asked to see Jesus’ lesson plan and inquired of Jesus, "Where are your objectives in the cognitive domain, your assessment criteria for ‘working with others and in teams’ and your Level 5 outcome statements and exemplars?"

 And Jesus wept!

It is somewhat fanciful but it does reflect the reality that Jesus chose discipleship as his means of extending the Kingdom of God. In choosing discipleship he was taking a big risk in entrusting to ordinary people like the disciples and you and me, the responsibility of communicating the Good News.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus called people to be his disciples. At the close of his ministry, Jesus called his disciples to go and make disciples. And so discipleship is at the very heart of what it is to be a Christian - a follower of Jesus.

Again, our sixth sign of a maturing Christian is a Commitment to Discipleship. Today, I want to focus on two aspects of this commitment. Firstly a maturing Christian has a commitment to being a disciple. Secondly a maturing Christian has a commitment to the process of making disciples. 
 

A maturing Christian has a Commitment to being a disciple 

The simple truth is, you cannot be a Christian without being a disciple. A disciple is one who has chosen to follow Jesus. A disciple is one who chooses to believe what Jesus taught and do what Jesus did. That is the nature of a disciple. To be a disciple is to enter into a lifestyle that brings wholeness and fulfillment. It is to maximize our potential, fulfill our destinies and discover our true selves because it is to live in the way God has designed for us to live.
 

As you read the New Testament you discover there are three characteristics that define the disciples of Jesus. These same characteristics need to be part of the life of a disciple today.
 

1. They were called and they followed.

It was common in the first century for potential disciples to seek out a Rabbi with whom they wished to study. In contrast, Jesus sought out and called people to follow him. In Mark Chapter 1 we read of Jesus calling his disciples.

 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mark 1:16-17)

Jesus calls his disciples. The starting point of Christian commitment is to hear the call of Jesus Christ on your life. It is a call to follow him. It is a call to put aside those things that are important to you and to commit yourself to serving him as Lord. Can you remember the day you responded to the call of Jesus on your life? It was a great thrill for me last Sunday to baptize Yvette Oudman. Here is a young lady willing to respond to the call of Jesus on her life - a call to follow him. If you have not responded to the call of Jesus on your life then I encourage you to hear his voice as he calls your name and asks you to follow. 
 

2.  They needed to count the cost

The second characteristic that defined a disciple of Jesus was that they needed to count the cost. In Luke Chapter 9 we read,

 Then he said to them all: “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. (Luke 9:23-24)

Counting the cost was a very important part of what it meant to follow Jesus. It still is. In a few weeks time on Sunday evenings we will be commencing a series that looks at what it costs a person to become a Christian. I want the young people particularly to hear the message that following Jesus is costly. Over the six weeks of that series we will be seeing that following Jesus will cost you your career, your relationships, your lifestyle, your possessions, your life. Sound scary? That is what Jesus said following him would cost.

Juan Ortiz in his book titled, "Disciple", describes a conversation between Jesus and a person who wants to follow him. The man asks,
 

How much does it cost?" 
"It's too dear, too costly." 
"But how much?" 
"Well, it's very expensive." 
"Do you think I could buy it?" 
"Oh, of course.  Anybody can." 
"But you say it's too expensive.  How much is it?" 
"It costs everything you have -- no more, no less -- so anybody can buy it." 
"I'll buy it." 
"What do you have?  Let's write it down." 
"I have $10,000 in the bank." 
"Good, $10,000.  What else?" 
"I have nothing more.  That's all I have." 
"Have you nothing more?" 
"Well, I have some dollars here in my pocket." 
"How many?" 
"I'll see:  30, 40, 50, 80, 100, 120 -- 120 dollars." 
"That's fine.  What else do you have?" 
"I have nothing else.  That's all." 
"Where do you live?" 
"I live in my house." 
"The house too." 
"Then you mean I must live in the garage?" 
"Have you a garage, too?  That too.  What else?" 
"Do you mean that I must live in my car, then?" 
"Have you a car?" 
"I have two." 
"Both become mine.  Both cars.  What else?" 
"I have nothing else." 
"Are you alone in the world?" 
"No, I have a wife, two children.... " 
"Your wife and your children too.  What else?" 
"I have nothing else, I am left alone now." 
"Oh, you too. Everything. Everything becomes mine: wife, children, house, garage, cars, money, clothing, everything.  And you too.  Now you can use all those things here but don't forget they are mine, as you are.  When I need any of the things you are using you must give them to me because now I am the owner."

To be a disciple of Jesus you must be prepared to count the cost and the cost is a total commitment of yourself and all you possess to Jesus Christ. It is a willingness to go wherever if he calls you. It is a willingness to give whatever if he asks you.

 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. (Luke 9:24)

3. They were committed to Jesus

The third characteristic that defined a disciple of Jesus was their commitment to Jesus. At the core of discipleship is a relationship with Jesus. Jesus called his followers not just to his teaching but to himself. 

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  (John 15:4-5)

Relationship with Jesus is at the heart of discipleship. This is where a commitment to prayer, bible study and worship is so important. 
 

The importance of small (CELL) groups

Let me say here, that the best way I know for a Christian to grow in their understanding and experience of discipleship is to be part of a small group. To meet on a regular basis with a group of Christians to pray together, to study God's Word and encourage each other in faith is a dynamic, disciple building process.

As you look at the example of the ministry of Jesus, you see his model for discipling was to form a small group. He taught his disciples to pray and study the Scriptures. He showed them how to obey and serve God. They shared together the frustrations and joys of life. 

A maturing Christian has a commitment to being a disciple and unless you can find a better way, that commitment will be reflected in an involvement in a regular small (CELL) group.

A maturing Christian has a commitment to the process of making disciples. 

When Jesus was leaving this earth, he left his disciples with the challenge that they were to be disciple makers.

 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

The disciples had one primary task. That was to make disciples. We need to realize that had they failed in that task, we would not be Christians today. Have you ever thought that you could trace a direct line from yourself to one of the apostles? You were led to Christ by a person who themselves were led to Christ and so the line could be traced back to the apostles who took seriously the call on their life to make disciples. 

A maturing Christian is one who has a commitment to the process of making disciples. This is more than evangelism that we looked at two weeks ago. This is a process of taking a new Christian and bringing them to maturity as disciples. In our Bible reading today we see the Apostle Paul writing to his young friend Timothy. Paul had discipled Timothy. He had taken him under his wing and nurtured his faith and his leadership ability.

Listen to what Paul writes to this young disciple.

 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Tim 2:1-2).

Firstly, notice the affection that Paul has for his young Christian friend. His discipling of Timothy was based on a relationship just as the discipling of Jesus had been. 

Secondly, notice the model of discipleship that Paul was passing on to Timothy. It is a model of teaching and equipping new Christians and bringing them to maturity so that they to may teach. What you have learned from me, teach others so that they may also teach. It is a simple yet profound principle. 

Notice there are four generations of believers being talked about here. Firstly there is Paul who discipled Timothy. Timothy is to disciple reliable men. These men will be qualified to teach or disciple others.

If I were a mathematician I would point out that this is creating a pyramid effect with each generation of Christians increasing in size, provided each generation is faithful in passing on the good news.

A maturing Christian is committed to the process of making disciples. 

You might ask, "David how can I get involved in the disciple making process?" Let me close today by giving you some suggestions.