Weekly Reflection 10/8/24

Characteristics of a Disciple of Jesus

On Sunday we gathered together to hear Phil Swartzentruber give us three characteristics of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. I will list those three characteristics along with a couple passages of scripture, and then suggest a few practical ways you as an individual and we as a church body can continue to grow and go in these characteristics.

We are to love the Word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Matthew 7:24-27 – “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. [26] And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. [27] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

1. Read Psalm 119 once every week for the next 6 months. Think and meditate on the value and importance of God’s Word.
2. There are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs, read one chapter of Proverbs each day for a month; then repeat 11 more time. After that repeat the entire process until you can no longer read. And obey what you read.
3. Pray before you read the Word of God: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” (Psalms 119:18)
4. Find two or three others, and together, study and apply (obey) the Word of God.

We love Jesus.

John 1:14 – And the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 1:1-4 – Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son (Jesus), whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. [3] He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, [4] having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

1. We grow in our love for Jesus by getting to know Him more.  We get to know Jesus more by spending intentional time with Him. Here are a few practical ways to spend time with Jesus:
   1. Read through the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John on a regular basis.
   2. The Holy Spirit desires to glorify and make Jesus known; spend time in prayer asking to see and hear Jesus, seeking by silencing your life and mind to hear His voice and see Him, and knocking by writing down and being obedient to what He speaks and illuminates to you. (Matthew 7:7-11)
   3. Spend time with other disciples of Jesus on a regular basis; Sunday morning worship; Gather, Grow, and Go every other Wednesday; and with a couple other disciples of Jesus on a regular basis. We discover a lot about who Jesus is by spending time with the body of Christ.
2. Display your love for Jesus by joyfully being obedient to the Word of God. “John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will (want to) keep my commandments.” If it feels like a dreadful obligation to be obedient repeat points A and B. There’s a real sense where obedience is the love language of Jesus.
3. Help other people know how amazing and beautiful Jesus is by being His hands and feet AND MOUTH to the people around you each day.

We love people.

Acts 12:1-19

1 Corinthians 12:26-27 – If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. [27] Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

1. Spend time with other disciples of Jesus on a regular basis; Sunday morning worship; Gather, Grow, and Go every other Wednesday; and with a couple other disciples of Jesus on a regular basis. It’s pretty hard to love other people when we are not intentionally spending time with them.
2. Make encouraging phone calls, send encouraging text messages, invite people to your house to encourage them, look in the community for practical ways to “share the Good News of our Living Hope from hearts of love and lives of service.” 
3. Around fifty times in the New Testament, Jesus and the Apostles tell us to feel, say, or do something to “one another.”  Search the New Testament for these “one another” statements and see how many you can intentionally implement each and every day.

Jesus uses people and relationships to do His work. If you need help, ask, and Jesus is waiting to take you by the hand and help you make disciples who make disciples.