Marks of a Disciple

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Love:

This is the new command from Jesus – John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 16:14

Love in the Bible:

  1. Parent-child relationship – Genesis 22:2
  2. In-law relationship – Ruth 4:15
  3. Servant for his master – Exodus 21:5
  4. Between friends – 2 Samuel 1:26
  5. God’s love for us – Exodus 20:6, Deuteronomy 7:13
  6. Hebrew hesed, h2617 – from H2616; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subjectively) beauty:—favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing – Psalm 17:7, 63:3, Genesis 24:49, 2 Samuel 2:5
  7. Greek phileo, g5368 – from G5384; to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while G25 is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as G2309 and G1014, or as G2372 and G3563 respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head); specially, to kiss (as a mark of tenderness):—kiss, love – Revelation 3:19, 1 Corinthians 16:22

Biblical Truths About Love:

  1. Love originates in God because he is love: 1 John 4:7-11
  2. The spiritual life is down to one word, love: Mark 12:28-31 (613 laws down to these two)
  3. Loving God and loving people are a package deal: 1 John 4:20-21
  4. Love is more a verb than a noun: 1 John 3:18
  5. Love is sacrificial and unconditional: John 3:16, Romans 8:31-39
  6. Love extends even to enemies: Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 10:25-37
  7. God’s love is astonishingly beautiful: 1 Corinthians 13
  8. Love makes room for those who are different: Romans 14
  9. Love can become displaced: 1 John 2:15
  10. We can’t love rightly apart from God’s enabling Spirit: Galatians 5:19-21, 22

Love THIS:

  1. Our neighbor: Leviticus 19:18
  2. Strangers/foreigners: Leviticus 19:34, Deuteronomy 10:19
  3. The Lord God: Deuteronomy 6:5, 10:12
  4. God’s salvation: Psalm 18:1-2
  5. Justice: Psalm 99:4
  6. Laws and commandments: Psalm 119:47, 97, 113, 127, 140, 167
  7. God’s name: Psalm 119:132
  8. Wisdom: Proverbs 4:5-6
  9. Discipline: Proverbs 12:1
  10. Those who reprove and correct: Proverbs 15:12
  11. Good: Amos 5:15
  12. Kindness/mercy: Micah 6:8
  13. Our enemies: Matthew 5:44
  14. Fellow disciples: John 13:34
  15. All God’s people: Ephesians 1:15
  16. Husbands love their wives: Ephesians 5:25, Colossians 3:19
  17. The Lord Jesus: Ephesians 6:24
  18. Brothers and sisters in Christ: 1 Thessalonians 4:9, Hebrews 13:1, 1 Peter 1:22
  19. The second coming: 2 Timothy 4:8
  20. Wives/mothers love husbands/children: Titus 2:4

Don’t Love THAT:

  1. Violence: Psalm 11:5
  2. Cursing others: Psalm 109:17
  3. Being simple-minded: Proverbs 1:22
  4. Transgression: Proverbs 17:19
  5. Sleep: Proverbs 20:13
  6. Pleasure: Proverbs 21:17
  7. Wine: Proverbs 21:17
  8. Money: Ecclesiastes 5:10, 1 Timothy 3:3, 6:10, Hebrews 13:5
  9. Evil: Amos 5:15
  10. Perjury: Zechariah 8:17
  11. approval of others: John 12:43
  12. This present world: 2 Timothy 4:10, 1 John 2:15

JOY AND PEACE:

Life as God Meant for it to Be – Romans 15:13

What is Joy? Greek g5479 – chará, from G5463; cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight:—gladness, × greatly, (X be exceeding) joy(-ful, -fully, -fulness, -ous) – C.S. Lewis, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.”

Where Does Joy Come From? – Nehemiah 8:10, John 15:11, 17:13, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, Luke 10:21, Zechariah 3:17, Psalm 16:11

How Do We Cultivate Joy? – 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Galatians 5:22, Psalm 32:11, 64:10, 104:34, 126:3

We Receive Joy When We:

  1. Receive an invitation from Jesus: Luke 19:6
  2. Hear the good news of salvation: Luke 2:10-11
  3. Discover the kingdom of heaven: Matthew 13:44
  4. Encounter the truth of the empty tomb: Matthew 28:8
  5. Hear the teachings of Jesus: John 15:11
  6. Experience answers to prayer: John 16:24
  7. Spend time with God’s people: Acts 2:46
  8. Understand and believe the gospel: Acts 8:39
  9. Get to be a part of spreading the truth of God: Acts 13:38-42
  10. Write about and remember our experience with Jesus: 1 John 1:4

Happiness or Joy? James 1:2

  1. Worldly happiness is…
    • More an emotion
    • A fickle feeling of giddiness
    • Determined by happenings
    • Gathered from worldly events
    • Destroyed by difficulties
    • Found on the surface of life
    • Something people hope to find
  2. Heavenly joy…
    • A virtue or character quality
    • A settle stance of gladness
    • Determined by God’s realities
    • Given ultimately by God
    • Shaken but not destroyed by difficulties
    • Stems from the depths of the heart
    • Resides in the hearts of disciples
    • Something people can cultivate

What Is Peace?

Greek g1515 eirḗnē; probably from a primary verb εἴρω eírō (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity:—one, peace, quietness, rest, set at one again. – Galatians 5:22

Hebrew h7965, shalom; from H7999; safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace:—do, familiar, fare, favour, friend, great, (good) health, (perfect, such as be at) peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty), salute, welfare, (all is, be) well, wholly. – Isaiah 26:3, John 10:10 (life to the full)

Eternal Peace: Luke 2:14, Ephesians 2:8-9

Interpersonal Peace: Romans 12:18

Internal Peace: Philippians 4:6-7

PATIENCE, KINDNESS, AND GOODNESS:

Enjoying Radical Relationships: Galatians 5:22-23

Patience: g3115, makrothymía; from the same as G3116; longanimity, i.e. (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude:—longsuffering, patience. – James 1:19, Nehemiah 9:17, 1 John 4:8, 1 Corinthians 13:4, 1 Timothy 1:16, 2 Peter 3:9, Colossians 3:12-13

Kindness: g5544, chrēstótēs; from G5543; usefulness, i.e. morally, excellence (in character or demeanor):—gentleness, good(-ness), kindness. – Acts 28:2, Romans 12:10, 2 Peter 1:7, Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 2:7, Romans 3:12, Psalm 17:7, 63:3, Genesis 29:49, 2 Samuel 2:5, Romans 2:4, Ephesians 2:4-7, Colossians 3:12-13

Goodness: g19, agathōsunē; from G18; goodness, i.e. virtue or beneficence:—goodness. – Psalm 145:9, Romans 15:14, Galatians 6:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:11, Matthew 5:16

FAITHFULNESS AND GENTLENESS:

Becoming God’s Humble Servant: – Matthew 11:29 – We become like those we pal around with – 1 Corinthians 15:33, Proverbs 13:20, Galatians 5:22-23

Faithfulness: g4102, pístis; from G3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:—assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. – Lamentations 3:22-23, Hebrews 3:6, 2 Timothy 2:13

When a person is faithful, it leads to a radically different life:

  1. Made for God’s glory… I will not live like life is all about me
  2. Called and sent by God… I will seek my place in God’s kingdom
  3. Blessed and gifted by God… I will use all that I am and have to serve and bless others
  4. My needs are met in Christ… I will seek to meet the needs of others
  5. Called to be a disciple… I will pour my life into others
  6. Jesus is Lord and will call to account for my life… I will live with that day in mind

Gentleness: g4240, prautēs; from G4239; mildness, i.e. (by implication) humility:—meekness (a tamed beast, power under control). – Proverbs 15:1, Galatians 5:23, Isaiah 42:3, John 17:4, Luke 22:42, 51

SELF-CONTROL:

Greek g1466, enkráteia; from G1468; self-control (especially continence):—temperance. Bridling ones appetites or passions, resisting temptation – 1 Peter 2:23, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Ephesians 5:16-18, Proverbs 25:28

Points to Ponder: Romans 8:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, 1 John 1:9, 2 Timothy 2:21, John 7:38-39

Verbal Self-control: Proverbs 10:19, 32, 11:9, 12:18, 22, 13:3, 16:23, 24, 17:28, 21:23, 29:20

FORGIVENESS:

Being a Conduit of God’s Mercy and Grace: Colossians 3:13.

A follower of Jesus knows two things about forgiveness: he understands being forgiven, and he understands being forgiving.

Concepts of Forgiveness: Matthew 18:21-35

  1. Meaning of Forgiveness: Luke 7:42-43, Ephesians 4:32
  2. Mechanics of Forgiveness: Matthew 6:15, 18:21-35, Colossians 2:13-14, Matthew 18:34-35, James 2:13
  3. Messiness of Forgiveness:
    • How can we forgive the unforgivable? Beware of resentment
    • What about vengeance? Is forgiveness unfair? – Hebrews 10:30, Romans 12:19
    • What about lingering negative feelings? – Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13, 3:12-16 – forgiveness may be a decision, an event, and an ongoing process
    • What about the person who continues to cause harm? – 1 Corinthians 5:11
    • What about reconciliation and restoration? – 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Romans 12:10 – forgiveness pardons the offender while reconciliation restores the harmony. It is okay to not reengage in the relationship, but avoid bitterness and holding a grudge.

From Jesus’ Parable on Forgiveness:

  1. To be unwilling to forgive… (lethal)
    • Disobey God’s command – Colossians 3:13
    • Ignore the infinite mercy God has shone us
    • Experience the torturous effects of bitterness
  2. To forgive is to… (life-giving)
    • Learn what it means to trust deeply
    • Incarnate the gospel
    • Vanquish the power of evil – Romans 12:21
    • Experience freedom and peace

Stories of Forgiveness:

  1. Jacob and Esau – Genesis 25, 27, 32, 33
  2. Joseph and his brothers – Genesis 37-50
  3. David and Mephibosheth – 1 Samuel 9
  4. The Prodigal Son – Luke 15
  5. Casting the First Stone – John 8

OVERCOMING:

The ongoing battle with sin and temptation: 1 Timothy 6:12

Spiritual Reality According to the Bible: Galatians 6:9, Romans 7:19, 5:3-4, 2 Timothy 3:12, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Ephesians 6:12, 1 Peter 5:8, John 16:33, 1 Peter 2:11

The Bottom Line: life is hard. Perfection will get closer but not in this life time. No Christian gets a pass from suffering. If you’re not bumping into Satan as you pass through life, you may be walking in the same direction. The closer you are at following Jesus, the more the enemy wants to take you out of the game.

Tips for Success:

  1. Walk this life with others – Ecclesiastes 4:12
  2. Don’t give up – 2 Timothy 4:7
  3. Perspective – 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, 11:23-28

PERSEVERANCE:

Dealing with Doubts, Trials, and Fears: James 1:12

What Does it Mean?

Greek: g5281, hupŏmŏnē, hoop-om-on-ay’; from G5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:—enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting). – Romans 5:4, Luke 8:15, 21:19, Romans 2:7, 5:3, 5:4, 8:25, 15:4, 5, Colossians 1:11, 2 Thessalonians 1:4, 2 Timothy 3:10, Hebrews 10:36, James 1:3, 4, 2 Peter 1:6Revelation 2:3. (endurance, patience, being steadfast, having to wait)

Greek: g4342, proskarteréō, pros-kar-ter-eh’-o; from G4314 and G2594; to be earnest towards, i.e. (to a thing) to persevere, be constantly diligent, or (in a place) to attend assiduously all the exercises, or (to a person) to adhere closely to (as a servitor):—attend (give self) continually (upon), continue (in, instant in, with), wait on (continually). – Mark 3:9 (be made ready), Acts 1:14, 2:42, 46, 6:4, 8:13, Romans 12:12, 13:6, Colossians 4:2 (endure, devoted, continually). (to adhere to, to cling to, be devoted to, to continue in something, be steadfast, be consistent).

Ways Disciples Persevere:

  1. Patient in affliction: Romans 12:12
  2. Reap a harvest if we don’t give up: Galatians 6:9
  3. Remain faithful: 2 Timothy 3:14
  4. Run with perseverance: Hebrews 12:1
  5. Stand firm in faith: 1 Corinthians 16:13
  6. Devote yourselves: Colossians 4:2
  7. Be alert and keep praying: Ephesians 6:18
  8. Stand firm and hold fast to teachings: 2 Thessalonians 2:15

Warnings About Falling Away: Hebrews 6:1-8, 10:26-31, Matthew 10:22, 2 Corinthians 6:1, Hebrews 3:12

How God Helps us Persevere: John 10:28-29, Romans 11:29, Philippians 1:6, 1 Peter 1:3-5

Encouraging Words to Suffering Christians: James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5

How Can We Develop Perseverance? Four Great Resources…

  1. God’s Word: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (His Word can be trust to strengthen faith)
  2. God’s Spirit: John 14:26-27 (His Spirit can give us the power to hold on)
  3. God’s People: Philippians 1:3-5 (His people gathered together give us strength to carry on)
  4. God’s Mission: 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (His mission is an eternally worthwhile task, bringing meaning)

This is an outline of the Rose Guide to Discipleship, c. 2016, Rose Publishing LLC, with some of my own additional notes. There is way more information, teaching, and clarification, so please purchase the book [on Amazon]

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