It’s what we It’s what we areare that is important, that is important, notnot what we what we callcall ourselves. Daniel 1:7 ourselves. Daniel 1:7

What does it mean to What does it mean to bebe a disciple? a disciple?

A disciple loves, John 13:34-35A disciple loves, John 13:34-35A disciple learns, John 8:31-32A disciple learns, John 8:31-32

31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32John 8:31-32

IfIf------A word of qualification: “only when you do this”A word of qualification: “only when you do this”

You continueYou continue------Dependent upon constancy in a thingDependent upon constancy in a thing

In my wordIn my word------Not traditionsNot traditions

Then are you truly disciples of MineThen are you truly disciples of Mine------Only if these conditions are metOnly if these conditions are met

The first “name” that was attached to believers in Christ The first “name” that was attached to believers in Christ was not “Christian”was not “Christian”

And for an entire year they met with the church and taught And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and considerable numbers; and the disciples the disciples were first called Christians in were first called Christians in

Antioch. Antioch. Acts 11:26Acts 11:26

DISCIPLEDISCIPLE

"a learner" (from manthano, "to "a learner" (from manthano, "to learn," from a root math--, indicating learn," from a root math--, indicating thought accompanied by endeavor), thought accompanied by endeavor), in contrast to didaskalos, "a teacher"; in contrast to didaskalos, "a teacher"; hence it denotes "one who follows hence it denotes "one who follows one's teaching,"one's teaching,"

A A 1st1st century problem century problem

11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, 11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Heb. 5:11-14Heb. 5:11-14

A A 1st1st century problem century problem

11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, 11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Heb. 5:11-14Heb. 5:11-14

Difficult to teachDifficult to teach

Dull of hearingDull of hearing

They should have been teachersThey should have been teachers

But, they needed to be taught again some basic principlesBut, they needed to be taught again some basic principles

They were infantsThey were infants

Unable to discern between good and evilUnable to discern between good and evil

1 And I, brethren, could not 1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, speak to you as to spiritual men,

but as to men of flesh, as to but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you infants in Christ. 2 I gave you

milk to drink, not solid food; for milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not it. Indeed, even now you are not

yet able, 3 for you are still yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly.fleshly.

1 Cor. 3:1-31 Cor. 3:1-3

A A 21st21st century problem century problem

11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, 11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Heb. 5:11-14Heb. 5:11-14

Difficult to teachDifficult to teach

Dull of hearingDull of hearing

They should have been teachersThey should have been teachers

But, they needed to be taught again some basic principlesBut, they needed to be taught again some basic principles

They were infantsThey were infants

Unable to discern between good and evilUnable to discern between good and evil

1 And I, brethren, could not 1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, speak to you as to spiritual men,

but as to men of flesh, as to but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you infants in Christ. 2 I gave you

milk to drink, not solid food; for milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not it. Indeed, even now you are not

yet able, 3 for you are still yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly.fleshly.

1 Cor. 3:1-31 Cor. 3:1-3

11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, 11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the elementary principles of the oracles of Godthe oracles of God, and you have come to , and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Heb. 5:11-14Heb. 5:11-14

Why be disciples?Why be disciples?

Origin of God’s word (1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:21)Origin of God’s word (1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:21)

11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, 11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this timesince you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you you ought to be teachersought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you , you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Heb. 5:11-14Heb. 5:11-14

Why be disciples?Why be disciples?

Origin of God’s word (1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:21)Origin of God’s word (1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:21)

Knowledge is not to be superficial (Col 1:9-10)Knowledge is not to be superficial (Col 1:9-10)

11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, 11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their have their senses trained to discern good and evilsenses trained to discern good and evil.. Heb. 5:11-14Heb. 5:11-14

Why be disciples?Why be disciples?

Origin of God’s word (1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:21)Origin of God’s word (1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:21)

Knowledge is not to be superficial (Col 1:9-10)Knowledge is not to be superficial (Col 1:9-10)

Intended impact on lives (Ps. 19:7-11, 119:11, 28, 105, 130 )Intended impact on lives (Ps. 19:7-11, 119:11, 28, 105, 130 )

11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, 11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since since you have become dull of hearingyou have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you . 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid foodneed milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of . 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an he is an infantinfant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice . 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Heb. 5:11-14Heb. 5:11-14

Hindrances to being disciplesHindrances to being disciples

Traditional interpretations, not thinking for ourselves, relying on others, listening to others preach & teach, reading commentaries, magazines published by brethren, etc. (Acts 17:11; Matt. 15:2,3,6)