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Welcome to Equipped for Purpose. I'm your host, Vincent Ream, and this is the podcast
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where discipleship meets impactful leadership. Whether you're new to faith or a seasoned
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follower of Christ, this podcast is designed to help you deepen your relationship with
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Jesus, grow as a leader, and make a difference in every area of your life. Together we'll
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explore practical tools, biblical insights, and real-life strategies to equip you for
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the purpose God has called you to. Let's dive in.
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What is meant by discipleship, and what does it truly mean to be a disciple?
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How does this journey shape our lives, our values, and our communities?
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Welcome to another episode of Equipped for Purpose where we are on a journey of discovery
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and transformation together. Today we'll delve into the profound and often misunderstood concept
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of discipleship. Whether you're just beginning your journey or are well on your way, this episode
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promises to offer insights and reflections that resonate deeply. Let's walk this path of learning
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and growth together, seeking to understand what it truly means to be a disciple.
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The main question for this episode is, what is discipleship?
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Secondly, we'll look at the question, what is a disciple? I want to be able to articulate
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answers to these questions because I see them as two sides of the same coin. We have to seek
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answers to both. Then I want you to start thinking about what discipleship looks like in action.
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This is a gap that I am seeing. The action is all looking inward. Where is the external thinking
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about expanding the Kingdom of God through making disciples? We are going to get into this here in
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just a moment. In asking these, I'm always thinking about the transformation. Where do we end up at
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the end of the episode? I don't want you simply left with a good feeling. I want you empowered
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with an understanding that leads to seizing the initiative. I don't want you in passivity waiting
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to react to the next crisis. Okay, to the first question, what is discipleship? Well, one of my
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main priorities of focus is leadership, but it's also on being and making disciples of Jesus
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Christ. We have to look at this question right up front here. As I surveyed the discipleship
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landscape of the Christian world, I ran into many common items in the definition of discipleship.
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Someone who believes in Jesus as the Messiah is in a relationship with him and is seeking to be
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more like Jesus every day. I think we can all agree that this is an accurate definition that
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we can find within most congregations. However, many of the definitions I observed are focused
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inward on the disciple without regard for external actions. Even when there is talk of going out to
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fulfill the call Jesus left to make disciples of the nations, there's not much in the way of
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putting action to the words. And that leaves us with the question, what does this look like in
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practice? Sure, I can control how I relate to and interact with people as a follower of Christ,
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but how do I lead someone in becoming a disciple? This is another one of the questions we are left
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with. This is where the definitions that I've found stop short, or it's the point where
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a system is put in place that is designed to reach a certain demographic of people.
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The problem is that these systems are taking people through a program that likely isn't
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flexible enough to take into account the different spiritual gifts people have,
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or the stage of life they're in, or how mature they are in their faith. I found a couple of good
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systems that ground people in the disciplines of discipleship and move them toward becoming
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disciple makers. However, they are narrowly focused on a certain demographic. I know there are
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different approaches to making disciples, but the message of the gospel is the same. We were
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mandated by Christ to make disciples of the nations. How are we translating the navel gazing in
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our current definition of discipleship into fulfillment of the Great Commission? I believe
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what we do in becoming disciples and making disciples doesn't need to be designed with
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a specific demographic in mind. We can come together as image bearers and see transformation.
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The specificity comes in how you share the gospel so your audience, however large or small,
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will understand the good news offered in Christ. In thinking through this, here is a way to define
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discipleship. It's one who is first a disciple of Jesus Christ and second is seeking replication
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of disciples. This is done through one, daily prayer of relationship building and petition.
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Two, deep study of scripture. Three, engaging in community by encouraging one another in the
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faith, challenging one another to grow in spiritual maturity, and holding one another accountable
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to the collective calling of the Great Commission and the individual assignments we each carry,
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and four, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in such a way that it's inviting and conveying good
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news. That is a way to define discipleship. The definition of a disciple, which we'll look at
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shortly, is about the individual. The definition of discipleship is about the actions taken
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that are intended to grow the community, both spiritually and physically.
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You can see there is a delineation that I'm making between discipleship and disciple.
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Before we get there, though, I believe an honest assessment is needed,
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and we can do that by answering this question. How are we doing in fulfilling the Great Commission?
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If you're honest with yourself and with Holy Spirit in your time in prayer,
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what are you hearing? I know that what I'm hearing is that we aren't doing great.
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The biggest voices out there imaging Yahweh to the world, they're imaging Yahweh to the world in
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such a way that followers of Jesus are seen in a very negative way. That makes our mission difficult
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to accomplish. What's truly difficult here is within us, and that's the strength and courage
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required to be bold in standing up for truth, even when he is an unpopular decision,
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even when the message is difficult to say because we aren't in control of how it's received.
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That gets to the heart of the matter. Whose opinion is it that we regard?
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In the honest moment we are having with ourselves, we have to ask,
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do I fear man or Yahweh? Whichever way you answer, you will see it borne out in your actions.
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Your actions will tell the message of who you regard more. This is no trivial matter as it
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relates to discipleship because this is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 1.7 says the fear
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of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 9.10 says
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the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
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The fear of Yahweh is where we need to begin. If we are starting from a place of the fear of man,
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we are despising wisdom and instruction. Also in this honest moment of assessment we are having,
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we must answer, what does our pursuit of holiness look like? I'm somewhat reluctant to answer this
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question because as a body of believers, we are compromised, and we'll talk more about
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compromise in a minute. Again, we only have to look at what's plastered all over social media to
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see actions borne out of something other than discipleship. These are unholy actions taken
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with unholy motivations, and this doesn't represent someone who is a disciple of Jesus
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in a daily relationship with Yahweh and a community of faithful believers seeking holiness.
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And this is why definitions matter, and defining things in such a manner as to set expectations of
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behavior. Generalizations leave us open to behaviors done in the name of Jesus that when
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tested by Kingdom standards will not make it through the refining fire. In this honest moment
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of assessment we need to look within the body of Christ for compromise. Where are we compromised
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against the ways of Yahweh? How do we get into a compromised state, and where do we go from here?
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And this is something I started to look at in 2023, and I believe the Holy Spirit revealed to me
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what I call a path of compromise. It starts with tolerance, moves to affirmation, then to acceptance,
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and finally adoption. And let's look at that a little more closely here. You can look at these
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as levels of compromise, but make no mistake, even the lowest level is still compromised.
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The distinction lies in the work required to shift one's self and society in a different
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direction to seek Kingdom fruit. So that first step or first level is tolerance.
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This is passive action where you aren't coming out in support of some behavior,
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but you aren't actively opposing it either. You are simply tolerating the behavior taking
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place around you. The second is affirmation. This is somewhat passive because you have made
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this step of participation, but you are communicating in some manner that the behavior is okay if that's
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what one is choosing to do. It's like you're saying, I'm not going to take part because I
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don't think it's okay for me, but you go ahead because it's okay for you. Again, if that's your
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choice. See, you can see how this is progressing in society at large and in the culture all around you.
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And now the third step or third level is acceptance. This is the point where you accept the behavior
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as okay for yourself. It doesn't necessitate participation, but if you make that choice,
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it's okay. Whatever the behavior is that you have been saying is okay for others is now acceptable
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for you too. And we're still somewhat passive here. However, there is conditioning taking place
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in the mind that makes the step of action so much easier. This is where we find ourselves at the
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point of adoption. And this is the fourth step or level of compromise. We move from toleration
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to affirmation to acceptance to now adopting the behavior into our lives. This becomes active
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participation in the very behavior that goes against the kingdom of Yahweh and his purposes.
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It is taking actions that are in direct and active conflict with holiness. This is where
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we are in open hostilities with the kingdom of Yahweh. You can look at this as though
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you have taken up arms in combat against your creator. And whoa, that sounds intense and harsh,
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but it's true. You're either with Yahweh or fighting against him. Now I'm not talking about,
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oh, I sinned, I recognized it and then repented. No, we're talking about compromise and moving
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willingly down that path without repentance and a change in direction. There has to be a recognition
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here of what is taking place. An honest assessment of our actions is needed. And
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I think those three areas need to be addressed, the fear of Yahweh, holiness, and compromise.
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The answers will lead to actions on the side of Yahweh's kingdom.
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Okay, let's transition to answering the question, what is a disciple?
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We know that definitions are significant, so that necessitates a deeper definition beyond
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a follower of Jesus. And so here's a definition that I'm currently working with.
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One who has faith to intentionally place believing trust and loyalty in Jesus Christ as the Messiah.
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One who is taking intentional and focused daily action to see the fruit of transformation to be
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more like Christ. And one who is taking intentional and purposeful action to share the gospel of Jesus
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Christ. That's the current definition I'm working with. I say current because we can't hold too
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tightly to the way we define things. The Holy Spirit may bring about greater revelation of
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Yahweh that forces us to change. You can't be afraid of change because it will happen
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as you grow in spiritual maturity. It's guaranteed. And we can see the attributes or
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characteristics of a disciple in that definition and the definition of discipleship.
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We are looking to take action to grow personally in spiritual maturity as well as to grow the
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body of believers. These characteristics lead to the visible fruit of transformed people
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who are seeking to replicate that transformation in others. That is the goal. Transforming
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to be more like Christ each day. The motivation carried behind that goal is
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in response to what Jesus has done for us. Disciples are motivated by Christ's sacrifice
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on the cross. Disciples are motivated to see transformational replication in others for the
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pure joy of kingdom expansion. Another characteristic of disciples is that they will
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seize the initiative to take expansive action. Discipleship is not a passive endeavor where
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one waits to respond. It's a journey of leading. Yes, we should be slaves of Christ, the same as
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Paul describes himself in the first line of his Letter to the Roman Believers. That means
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we are good followers, but we also have to look at our role as leaders. When you are
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replicating or taking on the role of making disciples, you are leading. Disciples are
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simultaneously both continuous followers and leaders. This means that you will never reach some
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mythical point of arrival where you no longer have anything to learn.
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That place exists only in the imagination of those with impure motives. Discipleship is a
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lifelong journey of learning, discovery, and replication. Being a disciple is a call to live
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like Jesus. I'm not talking about living like a first century Jew from Galilee. I'm talking about
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the disciplines he observed and those he taught to his disciples in the first century.
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Those lessons are still applicable to us today. Why live like Jesus? Because there is no greater
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representation of what it looks like to be here on earth in relationship with our Father and those
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in community, as well as to replicate that relationship in others. We need to be thinking
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clearly and critically about how we apply anything to discipleship, disciplines, relationships, or
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even responsibilities. This level of thinking is going to bring us back to motivations.
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What are our motivations as disciples of Christ? That's a question we'll continually come back to.
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And thinking clearly about discipleship, there are a couple of specific areas of interest we
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need to examine. There is a thing called an achievement trap or a performance trap.
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My preference is using the word achievement because when we're talking about salvation,
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if you are trying to earn it or maintain it, that is done through achieving something.
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Our achievements that result from the performance of good works, they don't earn us anything.
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Again, we're thinking about salvation and not the accolades of people.
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These good works that we do ought to be done in response to what was done for us through the work
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of Jesus. This immediately takes us back to motivations. We should not be motivated by
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earthly recognition of good works, but rather by the sacrifice made by the Son of Yahweh that
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brought us into right standing. The work of the cross that grafted us into the family of Yahweh
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and the resurrection that birthed new creations ought to be the driving force behind our good
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works. We can't fall into the trap of achievement because our performance isn't necessary in the
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genuine reality of Yahweh's kingdom. But we do hold responsibility as family members,
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and we are going to get into this more in the future.
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I want to take a moment to say that the Church hasn't done a great job of displaying the life
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of a disciple here in the modern day. We're feeding promises of some glorious life where
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everything goes our way because we are believers, and if anything does go wrong, we can somehow
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press the easy button and like magic our problems will vanish. Or we're simply fed the lie that
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because we're believers we don't have any problems. This is getting into the good, the bad,
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and the ugly of discipleship. Yes, the works you do as a disciple of Christ in pursuit of
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making disciples of the nations and expanding the kingdom of Yahweh, those are good. However,
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the bad and the ugly are in the way we are selling the life of a disciple. We aren't taking the time
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to sit together and count the cost of following Jesus. What's it going to cost you to pick up
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your cross and follow Jesus day after day? What is it going to cost you to lay your life down as a
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living sacrifice? What are you risking to be a slave to the King of Kings? And I don't highlight
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these questions to scare or deter anyone. Rather, I bring them up so you are making an informed
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decision to chase after transformation. If you don't count the cost, what happens when things
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don't turn out the way you expected? What happens if you experience complete failure? What's your
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plan then? Who will you turn to? We can't paint a picture of discipleship that is free of hardship.
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Jesus didn't. Otherwise, we would have heard very different things from him.
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We are going to get into the weeds of counting the cost in a future episode, but I want to
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point this out here as we are discussing what discipleship is and what a disciple is.
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Now a minute ago, I mentioned failure in one of those questions, and I believe
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it is a facet of thinking clearly about discipleship that must be discussed further.
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Failing at something is never fun. However, it does not mean that your journey should be put aside.
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I've seen time and again where people will fail at something and then completely dismiss
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what they've set out to accomplish. In the case of discipleship, I've seen someone fail
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and then believe they are outside of Yahweh's will because of the failure.
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I would suggest to you that one failure doesn't mean you're outside of his will.
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For me, it would take a string of failures to even entertain that conversation.
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I'm fallible, meaning I will make mistakes. Therefore, I will from time to time fail.
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What I do on the backside of that failure is what's significant.
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I love the idea of failing forward. This isn't my revelation and I can't even remember where
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I picked this up, but it was years ago and I've held onto it ever since. I use it though and I
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teach it and I have embraced the idea so much so that I will turn failure into success.
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On the back end, failure is an opportunity. It's an opportunity to understand what went wrong
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and how you can do things differently moving forward. The opportunity is for you to grow.
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Am I saying that Yahweh is going to cause you to fail? No, I'm not saying that. I am saying that
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the Holy Spirit will walk you through failure and cause you to grow or mature. Romans 8.28 says,
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And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are
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called according to his purpose. Okay, we've talked about a lot and here are the things I want you to
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hold onto. First, think about the definition of discipleship. As a refresher, here is how I am
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defining discipleship. One who is first a disciple of Jesus Christ and second is seeking replication
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of disciples. This is done through one daily prayer of relationship building and petition.
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Two, deep study of scripture. Three, engaging in community by encouraging one another in the faith,
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challenging one another to grow in spiritual maturity, and holding one another accountable
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to the collective calling of the Great Commission and the individual assignments we each carry.
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And four, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in such a way that it's inviting and conveying good
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news. Second thing I want you to think about is about the definition of a disciple of Jesus Christ.
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And again, here is the definition I'm currently using.
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One who has faith to intentionally place believing trust and loyalty in Jesus Christ as the Messiah.
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One who is taking intentional and focused daily action to see the fruit of transformation to be
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more like Christ. And one who is taking intentional and purposeful action to share
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the gospel of Jesus Christ. I will have both of these definitions in the show notes so you
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can review them and take from them what you can. Okay, the third thing I want you to
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keep in mind from this and to take it away is that discipleship isn't about achievement through our
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works. It's about responding to what was done for us through the work of Jesus Christ. And before
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embarking on that journey, take the time to count the cost of following Jesus. Not as a deterrent,
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but as a tool to help you build a plan when hardships arise. What action can you take right
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now? Well, this week, your challenge is to ask yourself if you truly want to be a disciple.
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Taking in everything discussed here, are you willing to answer the call? If your answer is yes,
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send me an email that says, I'm in. I look forward to hearing from you.
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Thank you for tuning into Equipped for Purpose. I hope today's episode gave you tools and
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inspiration to deepen your discipleship and strengthen your leadership. Don't forget to
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subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you found value in today's content,
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share it with someone who could benefit. Let's connect on social media and through my website.
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And remember, you are being equipped for a purpose. Go make an impact.