Beginners Discipleship
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Turn To The Second Chapter Of Acts
Reading a recipe does not equal baking a cake!
Key Scripture: Acts 11:26c And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
The word disciple(s) means: student; learner; pupil.
It comes from a root word meaning:
To learn and be appraised by use and practice
What makes a modern day disciple differ from a modern day student:
A Disciple Believes In His Teacher
A Disciple Adopts His Teacher’s Philosophies
A Disciple Serves His Teacher’s Cause
A Disciple Imitates His Teacher’s Example
A Disciple Does Not Expect To Be Better Than His Teacher
Matthew 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
Matthew 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.
The Four Gospels - 224 Times
The Book Of Acts - 28 Times
The Epistles & The Book Of Revelation - 0
Conversely
The Word ‘Church’
The Four Gospels - 3 Times
The Book Of Acts - 24 Times
The Epistles & The Book Of Revelation - 89 Times
It was in the book of Acts that The disciples became the church and the church became the discipleship center for Christians.
Key Scripture: Acts 11:26c And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore and ‘teach’ all nations …
Teach means to ‘make disciples of’
Immediately in the book of Acts, right after the great commission, the church is birthed and begins its task of making disciples of all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, continuing to Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world.
I. Beginning Discipleship
* Acts 2
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 ¶ And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
II. Three Identifiable Characteristics Of A Beginner Disciple
A. 42 ¶ And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
1. The Apostles’ Doctrine - The Word Of God
2. Fellowship & Breaking Of Bread - Church & Christian Friends
3. Prayers - Communication With God
B. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
