FULL SERVICE: See SERMON ONLY below
SERMON ONLY:
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Questions Sermon 35 Authentic Discipleship
- “Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has.” What is cheap grace then?
- What do you think would be the main characteristics of a person believing in Christ like discovering hidden treasure?
- “Everyone will go through a Gate.” I said that the analogy of “a gate,” “a way” and a “destination,” is an inseparable journey. Jesus makes no real distinction from the beginning, the middle and the end of that journey. What does that tell you about authentic discipleship?
- I said that in today’s language, Jesus is emphasizing “the difference between an authentic discipleship and nominal Christianity.” Line up the characteristics into two columns. what are the main differences, in your opinion?
- Jesus, the Master teacher tells us that there is “Two different kinds of gate – Wide & Small. Which one are you on? And how do you know?
- For the disciple who has been commanded by Jesus to enter, there is the Cross for our forgiveness and our daily living. That would mean that daily repentance is part of the narrow way, right? How would that look like in your daily life?
- “One path leads to hell and destruction, the other leads to Heaven and eternal life. There is no slip road!” what do you think I mean by the last comment? No one likes to think about ultimate destinies in terms of destruction and life. All we seem to be able to hear is the destruction element. Why is that?
- There are “Two different pathways – Broad & Narrow.” These are two different kinds of life. I said that the analogy is not that “one is easy and the other hard.” They are both hard in some ways, and both easy in some ways. But with the focus of Jesus on the narrow way, the picture is about the cost of discipleship outlined in the Sermon on the Mount. Why does this narrow way absolutely need to be lived by the gospel?
- Jesus, again, will say that “the issue, as always, is what rules our hearts.” Can you answer that for yourself honestly?
- The “Two Different Mindsets – Entered & Sought,” shows me that the first is blindly entered, but the life of discipleship is different. What is implied by the word “sought”?
- “The disciple’s life, the Kingdom Life, is subversive, bewildering, romantic, brave, colorful, frustrating, demanding, infuriating at times, sublime at others, bewildering on occasions, enlightening at other times.” Why would anyone want this kind of life, in your opinion?
- “Two Different Destinies – Destruction & Life” brings us, finally, to ultimate questions. One is ruled by justice, and the other by grace. Romans 3:3-4 is central to the discussion about the absolute goodness of God. Essentially it says, everything that God does it good, right and justified. In the light of these ultimate destinies, how is that seen?
- The experience of Hades for the eternal existence of those on the broad road, I summed up in the following words. Does that change your perception of what hades is like? Look at each word. Summarize it in a single sentence…
Perceive:
Reason:
Experience:
Reflect:
The Anguish of Futility:
Eternal Regret:
- Lastly, paint a picture of the disciple’s eternal destiny, but reversing the last two elements. In the light of this exercise, why is authentic discipleship so essential?
