{"id":1670,"date":"2011-05-01T13:06:58","date_gmt":"2011-05-01T12:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/68.183.22.105\/?p=1670"},"modified":"2023-08-02T11:19:25","modified_gmt":"2023-08-02T11:19:25","slug":"the-mark-of-a-true-disciple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-sites.ccci.org\/agapeuk-old\/the-mark-of-a-true-disciple\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mark of a True Disciple"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Home<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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By Lesley Cheesman<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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This article first appeared in the Summer 2011 edition of MOVE Magazine.<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Jesus\u2019 last words on earth were carefully chosen.<\/span> They needed to be.<\/span> His action plan for changing the whole world needed to be clearly understood by his disciples.<\/span> Reaching their generation and every subsequent generation depended on it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>

Jesus\u2019 disciples had spent the previous three years with Jesus, living with him, following him, learning from him, devoting themselves to him.<\/span> And now, as he was leaving, he was telling them how they should continue to live:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cTherefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”<\/span><\/i> (Matthew 28:19-20<\/span><\/i> NIV<\/span><\/i>)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"timon-studler-ABGaVhJxwDQ-unsplash\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Tough questions<\/h2>

In the face of such clear instructions, it\u2019s difficult to delegate the work of disciple-making to the faithful few.<\/span> It\u2019s the work of every believer and is Jesus\u2019 plan A for reaching the whole world.<\/span> In fact, there is no plan B.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Jesus\u2019 call to action may make you uncomfortable. As you read this you may even be shifting around in your seat asking yourself the big question:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cIf this is what Jesus requires, am I really a disciple of Jesus?\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

If so, you are certainly not alone. But why is such a clear and fundamental teaching of Jesus such a struggle for many of those who claim to want to follow him?<\/span><\/p>

Total surrender<\/h2>

We live in a society that values independence, self-reliance and personal comfort.<\/span> But the call to discipleship in response to the incredible love and sovereignty of God is one of surrender.<\/span> Jesus said, \u201cI have come that they may have life and have it to the full<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d (John 10:10)<\/span> We long for that full life in Jesus but we can often feel like our lives as Christians are missing the mark.<\/span> Why?<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Read: Luke 14:25-34<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>