Discipleship 7Stages of Discipleship

35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”*). 42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”*).

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown. 45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses* and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

“Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied. 47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” 48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” 49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.*”

Come and See

• There is the Lamb of God

• Listen to other peoples encounters with God

• God draws people to himself

• Feeling disappointed or disillusioned is not because of Jesus

• Are you interested in only your needs being met?God doesn’t call the

qualified he qualifies the called

Mark 1:16-18

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon* and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 17 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 18 And they left their nets at once and followed him.

Come and follow!Following Jesus becomes personal

Jesus made the invitation to these men to follow him, but he didn't demand that they follow.

How did the disciples view themselves?

How do we view ourselves?

Jesus called them by name, he had great plans for them and they followed!  

In following Christ what do you need to leave behind you?

What new attitude do you need to embrace?

"One of the most compelling aspects of Jesus' invitation was that the disciples could continue to be with him. And when we allow the person of Jesus to be formed within us, we provide the reason for others to follow us. Following Jesus is personal, which is why God designed discipleship as one person helping another person to follow Jesus together.”

Bill Hull

13 Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. 14 Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, 15 giving them authority to cast out demons.

Come and Be:

• Jesus spent time with Papa God

• He prayed.

• Jesus calls us to pray/to be.

• It is our ‘being’ with God that will sustain us in our doing.

• There is a place high on the mountain that takes above and beyond the ‘snake line’.

John 15:5-8

 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

Remain in me:

Learning to live with and be empowered by the Holy Spirit. The baton of Gods rescue mission has been passed on.

"The Church or something like it must be cherished, criticised, nourished and reformed.  The church of Jesus Christ, with all its blemishes, it divisions and its failures, remains our best hope of spiritual vitality, however poor it is, life without it is worse.” Elton Trueblood

As part of the vine of Christ we have a legacy that goes back to the first disciples and the first church.  

We create a heavenly kingdom atmosphere that allows people to thrive in their inheritance. We demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit as we gather in community expectant that the living God will be here with us.

Kneel before the living God on level ground and declare your praise.