{ Blog 365 #169 - Sunday School - Discipleship Lesson 3 }

 

LESSON 3
MATTHEW BECOMES A DISCIPLE

Scripture Text: Luke 5:27-39

We can all relate to one word in our lesson today. That word is taxes. We would like to get rid of taxes and thus remove tax collectors. But taxes and tax collectors are here to stay, so we must get along with them. Christ knew taxes were necessary to support the government, so He instructed men to give to the government that which belongs to it and to give to God that which belongs to God. In today's lesson, Jesus converted a tax collector. He recognized Matthew's life as belonging to God. He called him to Christian
service. Christ extends to all men a threefold call.

MEMORY VERSE: They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. —Luke 5:31
 

 

Christ Calls Men to Be Something

For this reason, Christ calls men to repentance. Men cannot be what they ought to be without genuine repentance. Matthew's call to be something involved at least two things: transformation of character and reformation of conduct. Christ saw him as he was, and He saw him as he could become. By changing his character, or in giving him a new Spirit, He reformed his conduct. Christ deals with all men in this manner.
Each of us is two persons: the person we now are and the person we could become.

 

Christ Calls Men to Do Something

Matthew's first job was to arrange for his friends to meet Christ. He prepared a feast in his home, invited his friends, and brought Jesus to them. They saw and heard Him for themselves. The larger one's circle of society, the greater is one's opportunity and responsibility to introduce others to Christ. Compare the personal approach of Andrew to the mass evangelism of Matthew. Matthew lived and worked in a much larger social circle and had a feast for that purpose. Both methods are effective in helping others to
find Christ. Everyone does not have to work in the same way. Why?

Christ Calls Men to Suffer for His Cause

Matthew had to pay a price to have a relationship with Christ. What he did brought to both him and Christ the ridicule and criticism of the scribes and Pharisees, who were the religious sects of that day. It must have been extremely embarrassing and trying for Matthew to have these folks enter his home and criticize his Guest. Christ is always more than a match for His critics and can handle every situation, as He did here, if we will only allow Him. It is always much easier to face persecution when Christ is near. Are
we willing to answer Christ's call today to be something, to do something, to suffer something for His cause?

 

JUST A THOUGHT
The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.

{ Blog 365 #162 - Sunday School - Discipleship Lesson 2 }

 

LESSON 2
THE FISHERMEN ARE CALLED

Scripture Text: Luke 5:1-11

Last Sunday, we studied about Peter, Andrew, James, and John and their first meeting with Christ. Today, we study about their call to full-time service. Salvation is free, but discipleship costs. We pay the first payment when we are converted, and the remainder is paid in daily installments of one's property, time, and talent. What Christ required of the early disciples, He requires of us today. They forsook all.

 

MEMORY VERSE: Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers
of men. —Mark 1:17

 

Christ Demands the Use of Our Property 

Verse 3 reads, "And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's."  Christ took command of Simon's ship. Christ always takes command of all that He enters, whether it be ships, men, homes, or workplaces. What would you do if Christ suddenly entered your car or place of business? Would He
be able to take it and use it as a place to preach to others? The value of your property is determined largely by the use to which it is put. Christ's choosing Simon's ship for a pulpit caused its value to go up. By getting Simon, Christ was able to get Simon's ship as well. Find out what a man has his property dedicated to, and you will find what he is most interested in.

 

Christ Demands the Use of Our Time

"Launch out into the deep." After Christ had Simon's boat, He asked for Simon's time and energy; He asked him to man the oars. Fishing was an honorable job in Jesus' day. Jesus noticed they were busy. They showed no sign of laziness. They were robust, skillful, and courageous, but they were humiliated by failure. Thus, Jesus found them at their work and immediately called them to follow Him. He could see what they could be for Him. 

Peter had no desire to launch out again. His feelings said, "No," but his faith in Christ said, "Yes." The result was a great "draught" of "fishes."  Many men who have failed in their own strength have succeeded greatly after taking Christ as a partner.

Christ Desires the Use of Our Talents

Christ knew what He was doing when He took over Peter's ship. He came to Peter at a time of failure, and He turned failure into success. He helped Peter to see his talent to catch fish was going to be used to catch men and not fish. This brought to Peter a sense of purpose. He transformed Peter from a fisherman to a "fisher of men" (Matthew 4:19). Christ is still calling for men and women to dedicate their time, talent, and property to Him today. Who can deny Him these things?

 

JUST A THOUGHT
There is no reaching Heaven except by treading the only path that leads there.

 

 

 

{ Blog 365 #155 - Sunday School - Discipleship Lesson 1 }

 

I recently started attending my church Sunday school.  I didn't know how I would feel about it at first, but I am actually loving it, and most of the time, feel like I get more out that lesson, than I do the actual sermon.

I guess that is normal for some of us.  Although I appreciate the Pastor's word, I am a person that loves learning, and learning more in depth.  

With that in mind, I thought that I would start doing a blog Sunday School, to help me study more, and to also help keep my blog post count up during this year's Blog 365.  I came across a wonderful resource for Sunday school lessons, online, and will be following that.

If you want to read, and come back every Sunday to discuss your thoughts, that would be wonderful.  You can leave your comments below and I'll surely enjoy reading through them.  If not, that is ok too, I am doing this for myself, but of course, if I feel led to do it, it must mean someone, even just one of you out there, will benefit from it.  When God pushes us to do something, even if, and especially if, we never thought of doing it before......it means there is a purpose for it.  

So, beginning today, every Sunday I will post the lesson.  I am actually quite excited about this, hope you are too.  

LESSON 1
 

SEEKING CHRIST

Scripture Text: John 1:35-51

This is a thirteen-week course of study of how Jesus Christ influences the
lives of men and women who seek and find Him. We will study the different
forms of response and varied experiences of early disciples of Christ so that
we may more easily understand ways in which He reveals Himself to those
who seek Him.

MEMORY VERSE: We have found the Messias. —John 1:41

 

Straight Gospel Preaching Causes Men to Seek Christ

 

The reason for preaching the Gospel is to cause a hunger in people for Christ. It was John the Baptist who said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).  John and Andrew left following John the Baptist and began to follow Christ. The sermons we hear in church must be put into action before they will help us find Christ. The way we respond to a message determines what we receive from it. A message, like a road map, only points the way we should go; it does not force us to go.
When we obey a Holy Spirit anointed message, it always leads us to Christ, the Lamb of God.
 

The lamb held an important place in Jewish worship, both in daily temple worship and in feast days.  

 

Personal Faith Helps People Find Christ

 

Andrew and John found Jesus because they believed and acted on what they had heard. After finding Him, they were convinced He was the Christ.  This one message led to the change in their lives.  This incident shows the great value of church attendance and listening to the Gospel message. What might have been if these men had gone fishing, or anywhere else, instead of going to hear John the Baptist preach?  

John and Andrew, as have many others, found Christ was easy to find when they sought Him honestly and sincerely in faith. Christ makes definite changes in the inner man, and that causes a change in the outer man. 

If Christ were to ask you, "What seek ye?" what would be your answer?  

 

Personal Evangelism Helps People Find Christ

 

What was it that caused Andrew to go to Peter and bring him to Jesus?  Was it his love for Christ? Was it his love for Peter? Was it not his love for both? This is the secret to the success of personal evangelism. After men find Christ, it is natural that they want to help others find Him as well.  

 

We Become Like the People Whom We Follow

When we follow Christ, we become like Him. If we follow the world, we will become like it. The greatest challenge in life is to seek and find Jesus.
Have you found Him?

 

JUST A THOUGHT
The lazy man aims at nothing
and usually hits it.