Discipleship- The Road Less Taken Lesson One Notes

 Discipleship: The Road Less Taken Lesson One - Are you a Disciple?

In lesson one of Discipleship: The Road Less Taken, Pastor Greg Laurie asks us to examine where on the road of discipleship we are right now and emphasizes that in order to disciple other people, we need to be a disciple of Jesus. This post has the three questions that are asked at the end of session one and my ruminations on these questions.

Session One Discipleship Questions - Discipleship: The  Road Less Taken

Three study questions are asked at the end of session one.

1. Pastor Greg said that a hunger for spiritual truth is an indicator of spiritual health. What did he mean, and how could a lack of desire for spiritual truth be a sign of spiritual decline? 
2. While every disciple is a believer, not every believer is necessarily a disciple. How can you know if you’re a true disciple of Jesus? Are you a true disciple of Jesus? 
3. Jesus says in Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.” Pastor Greg explained that Jesus isn’t saying that we are to actually hate other people, but instead means what? Is there anyone or anything in your life right now that you’re loving more than Jesus?

Here are my ruminations on these questions.

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Session One- Discipleship: The Road Less Taken Question Reflections

Hungering For Spiritual Truth

I definitely hunger for spiritual truth, but I believe that the hunger has very little to do with me. It is the leading and coaxing of the Holy Spirit that whets my appetite for God's Word. How? The Holy Spirit prompts me with tidbits that increase my curiosity. I'll feel led to see a  scripture, a poem, or a saying at a point in my day. This makes me curious about what the Bible has to say about that topic, and what it says in the original languages. I also want to know about the cultural aspects of life at that time.

I was not always like this.

August 13, 2011, I was blessed to receive healing and to get a big influx of the Holy Spirit in my life. After August 13th, 2011 when I woke up, a book of the Bible, chapter and verse were in my heart. Now, I had taught Sunday School as a volunteer in the United Church and also volunteered at the Vacation Bible School session, but I have to admit I did not know if some of those books were even in the Bible until I looked them up. Then one morning I woke up with a scripture from Enoch in my heart. Enoch was not in my Bible! I went online and discovered the Apocrypha!  The scriptures I received in my heart each morning were amazing and had to do with what was to happen later that day. This whetted my appetite to really get into the Bible and learn more.

The more I read the Bible, the more I became curious about whether it had been properly translated. I found myself wanting to talk about the Bible everywhere and with everyone. 

The more I read, the more I realized I had so much more to learn. The leading of the Holy Spirit grew from morning verses to promptings to carry a Bible with me and at times during the day to "look in the book". Sure enough, there would be a scripture explaining what was going on in my life!

I downloaded the YouVersion of the Bible on the iPad that I won in a contest I had felt prompted to enter. I  "gamified" reading the Bible through the app, by trying to make sure it was the most used app on my iPad. 

There are times when I have been a little less on fire to explore and seek out spiritual truth over the past few years, however. Then something will happen and I am reignited again.

Is a lack of desire for spiritual truth indicative of spiritual decline?

Hmm..what is it that might cause someone to not be fervently pursuing spiritual truth? While many things in life can come between a person and God, I believe when a person is strengthened through Baptism in the Holy Spirit, they are less likely to succumb to spiritual attack. 

Christ explained how it is that some people grow in their desire of seeking spiritual truth while others do not in His parable of "The Sower" found in three of the Gospels - Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke:8:1-15. 

Three Types of People Who Lose Interest in Pursuing Spiritual Truth

In The Parable of the Sower, there are three different types of people who hear God's word, but some are prevented from pursuing it for different reasons. 

One group is like the seed that falls on the path, then ravens come immediately and gobble up the seed so it doesn't have a chance to take root. Some say the birds represent Satan, but to me, it could also be peers under the influence of Satan who cause the hearer to have doubts about what they have heard or read. 

Another group of people is like the seed that falls on stony ground that can't develop strong root systems and the sun scorches. To me, this shows the importance of watering the seed that is spread and constantly tending it. The word starts to take root in their hearts, but when things heat up, their interest in the word goes too. 

The third group of people are like the seed that fell among thorns - the cares of the world gradually swallow up the time they could use to pursue God's word. 

Being a True Disciple of Jesus

How do you know if you are a true disciple of Jesus? In John 8:31 Jesus says."If you abide in my word, then you are my disciples indeed."

Are you keeping plugged into Christ's teachings?

John 8:31 Plugged Into Christ

Keeping plugged into Christ's teachings is one thing that can help our hunger for spiritual knowledge grow. Those poor little seeds that fell on the stony ground might have survived if the sower had tended the garden by watering the plants and helping them develop a stronger root system. There are many ways of abiding in Christ's words. Reading the Bible and comparing different versions can be interesting, as can watching movies based on the Bible and comparing them to His words. I really enjoy taking part in the nightly Christian Twitter Chats that you can find under the hashtag #GodsLoveChats

How do you stay plugged into the teachings of Christ?

In Luke 14:27 Jesus makes another statement about being a disciple; "Whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."

Luke 14:27 Bearing Your Cross

Are you willing to go by God's will rather than your own? 

Do you long to serve God out of gratitude with all your heart, soul, mind and strength? Are you willing to give up all the comfortable trappings of your life to answer His call?

If the answer is yes, that you are willing to follow the leading of God through the teachings of Christ, then you too are a disciple of Jesus. 

Putting Christ First? No! God First!

 If there is anything I put before Christ, I guess it would be God.

Christ said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind. soul and strength and Love your neighbour as yourself." 

He did not say that we are to love Him more than His Father.

I am extremely grateful for Christ doing His Father's will even unto death so I may have eternal life. I cherish His incredible sacrifice and His words dearly. This is why I will do as He taught and put God first.

How would you have answered these questions?

I would love to hear about your ruminations on these topics. Please pop a note in the comments below before you go!

Thanks for dropping in!

Su