Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins

What Does It Take To Be Jesus' "Diciple"? The life of Jesus takes on many different shades. He came to be the sacrifice for sin, and He paid that awful price, Hebrews 9:26, 10:12. He came to be King of His kingdom, Matthew 25:34. The most far-reaching demand of His earthly sojourn was that He called men and women to be His disciples. He chose twelve men to be His apostles and their names are well known to us. The qualifications set forth for apostles (see Acts 2:21-22) preclude any today being an apostle, but Jesus has many disciples today, and He wants all to be His disciples. But what is a disciple of Jesus? And what does a disciple of Jesus do? And where do you and I fit in this picture? The word, “disciple”, has its roots in a term that means “a learner; pupil; disciple.” It is also seen in its verb form in Matthew 28:18 where the meaning is to “make a disciple; to teach.” A “disciple” of Jesus Christ is one who has submitted his life and his ways to follow in “His steps,” 1 Peter 2:21. Each of us can be His disciple, but we must be willing to do certain things to be like Him. Note the following things the Bible says a disciple of Jesus will be and do: A disciple of Jesus must want to be like Jesus, Matthew 10:24-25.  As a child often imitates his father, it should be common for a child of God to imitate Christ. No one is “drafted” into His army, His kingdom. “It is enough for the disciple to be as His master.” A disciple must put His master above all else, Luke 14:26. He/she cannot waver between allegiance to Christ and family or friends, or even a government. A faithful son or daughter? Of course! Obedient to parents? Yes. But for Jesus’ disciple, our most powerful, our greatest allegiance is to Christ and His kingdom. He must come first. Jesus’ disciples must be generous and helpful to others. In Matthew 10:42 we read that a disciple is someone who gives a  “cup of cold water unto one of these little ones…shall in no wise lose his reward.” Note also Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25:31-46. Selfishness is not characteristic of one who is Jesus’ disciple. A disciple of Jesus must be willing to be a “learner”; to enroll and be a diligent student of Jesus’ word. It should be obvious from the first – I need to sit at the feet of the Master Teacher. A study of what Jesus said and did should be an obvious part of a disciple’s time and energy. Jesus’ disciples must be willing to stand with and honor their Master, John 18:15-16. When Jesus hung from the cross, John, His disciple, was there, John 19:26. Others may have been hiding, fearful of those in power among the Jews. Today, we must be willing to speak out for the word of God, the gospel of the Christ, our Master. A disciple of Jesus must also be willing and anxious to “bear his cross and follow” Christ, Luke 14:27. Being a disciple will bring opposition and persecution. The apostle Paul was inspired to write the following warning: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” 2 Timothy 3:12. The method of persecution may not be the same as in the New Testament era, but it will come. It goes with being Jesus’ disciple. The issue for you and for me is: Will we be willing to be a faithful Christian even if it means facing the opposition of our friends and neighbors? If I am to be His disciple, I must be willing to “bear” my cross. Some may be overcome, but you and I must not give in to the ministers of Satan who seek our destruction. Becoming a “disciple” of Jesus Christ is not difficult, but living as a disciple takes all of my courage and determination. Be aware of Satan’s “devices”, 2 Corinthians 2:11.  Satan wants you…and me. But we don’t want to be his disciple! Carl B Garner

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”   1 Corinthians 16:13 ““Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

DO DIETS WORK? Do you want the truth? Can you handle the truth? Diets don’t work! You have to work at a diet! Exercise doesn’t work. You have to work at exercise. Being a Christian doesn’t work. You have to work at being a Christian! We have become a people at ease; we want something done for us. Give us a pill; handle my child, take care of my problems…. Don’t pick up that hoe; you might have to work in the garden. Christianity is a way of living. It is a method of having and dealing with everything that life may bring. It isn’t putting our life in neutral and hoping it all works out for the best. It is working on being good. The key is working! Jesus gave us a clue in this statement, “Do unto others.” Paul gave another, “Work out your own salvation…” (Matthew 7:12; Philippians 2:12). What did Jesus mean when He said, “Take up your cross and follow me,” (Luke 9:23)? Doesn’t that entail sacrifice and great effort? Paul said, “We strive toward the mark of the high calling…” (Philippians 3:14). We have become a nation of quitters. If it isn’t easy, I don’t want to do it. Family life hard? Just quit! Marriage getting rough? Just quit! People at church not treating you right? Just quit! Folks, the crown comes at the end of the race; not when you quit! Floyd C. Johnson (Huntington Park church of Christ, Shreveport, LA.)