Follow Me: Learning to Be a Disciple of Jesus

By Bill Kasper

"Follow Me." Two of the most powerful and life-changing words to come from Jesus. Those who would accept this invitation would be known as His disciples. Today, Christians still place a lot of emphasis on the importance of becoming a disciple. But what is a disciple? What does a disciple do? What does discipleship look like in real life? Too often, the answers to these questions are assumed to be understood. As a result, although we make the choice to be a disciple, whether recently or years ago, we may not have a clue about what we are supposed to be doing. It doesn't have to be this way. God's Word is very clear and open about discipleship. Maybe you need to start with the basics—Discipleship 101. Perhaps you would like a refresher course. In this book, using Jesus' teachings and stories from the Bible, Pastor Bill leads you to a better understanding of what it means to be a disciple and how you can live as a follower of Jesus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bill Kasper
• Release date: May 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463367551

Bill Kasper

Bill Kasper has been a pastor in the Seventh-day Adventist Church for over 20 years and is currently serving as a senior pastor in Spokane, WA.

Book preview

Follow Me

Learning to be a Disciple of Jesus

Bill Kasper

Copyright 2018 by Bill Kasper

Smashwords edition

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The author assumes full responsibility for the accuracy of all facts and quotations cited in this book.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Table of Contents

Why: Discipleship in Principle

1 • The Art of Following

2 • A Sacrifice of Self

3 • Fishing and Farming

4 • Proof in the Fruit

5 • Strong and Dependent

6 • Like a Child

7 • In One Accord

8 • Finally Home

How: Discipleship in Practice

9 • Growing in Jesus

10 • Walking with Jesus

11 • Talking with Jesus

12 • Experiencing Jesus

13 • Depending on Jesus

14 • Sharing Jesus

15 • Forgiving Like Jesus

16 • Living for Jesus

About the Author

Other books by Bill Kasper

Why?

Discipleship in Principle

Chapter 1

The Art of Following

The Definition of Discipleship

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

– John 10:27

Follow Me. A simple sentence of two words. Two words that might be heard coming from a parent, a friend, or a tour guide. However, these two words hold more significance when coming from Jesus. Coming from Jesus, they are a challenge to change, an invitation to a better life, and a gentle command from Someone truly worth following. In any case, these two words require a response from the recipient.

Levi was such a recipient. He had been sitting by his booth all day, taking care of his business, when these two words were spoken to him. You see, Jesus had recently come to the area beside the Sea of Galilee (Mark 2:13, 14). And typically, wherever He was, a crowd would form. People would come from all over to see this unorthodox, new Rabbi. Some came because they hoped for healing. Yet many would come just to hear Him speak. However, He was a hard man to keep still—He was always on the move. Often, He would keep walking while He talked! This day seemed no different, until He came up to Levi’s booth. Most in the crowd would have known the man seated at the booth: he was a tax collector—both the profession and the man would have been mutually hated by all. No one would have been caught dead talking with him. He was worse than a Gentile. They would have expected Jesus to keep on walking. They surely wouldn’t have imagined that Jesus would speak to him.

But Jesus stopped. He looked at Levi and said, Follow me. Two words. He didn’t say much, but those words changed Levi’s life forever. It changed his life because of his response: he got up, left his booth, and immediately began following Jesus.

This is pretty significant. Can you imagine Jesus walking into your work (or school) and saying these words to you? And then, without hesitation, you get up, shout to your boss (or teacher), I’m leaving to follow this guy, then leave? I can imagine that if you didn’t like your job, this invitation would be easy to accept, but what about leaving a job (or career) or life you enjoyed? It doesn’t say whether or not Levi enjoyed his profession, it only tells us that he left his booth and followed Jesus.

This scenario was not unique to Levi. In fact, Jesus had said these same two words to other individuals before He invited Levi. Levi wouldn’t be the last person to hear these words either; Jesus would say this to many more during His ministry. Some would drop everything and follow while some would not. Those who did follow Him were known as His disciples.

Of course, Jesus wasn’t the only person to have disciples. It is well known that John the Baptist had disciples (Matthew 11:2). In fact, many of John’s disciples left John to follow Jesus. The Pharisees also had disciples (Luke 5:33). Buddha and Muhammed had disciples. Even modern-day preachers and evangelists can have disciples. Disciple is merely the label given to someone who is a follower and student of a mentor, teacher, or other figure. So anyone, or anything, can have disciples.

Since you could be a disciple of anyone, what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Before we look at what a disciple is, I want to first clear up what a disciple is not.

First, a disciple is not a groupie. A disciple is not just someone in the right crowd. We sometimes have this idea that if we belong to the right group, we are disciples. As if being in the same general vicinity as Jesus makes you a disciple. Yet, this is not the case. The Bible tells us that many were found hanging around Jesus who were not His disciples. Some in the crowd may have been on the fence about how they felt about Jesus while others hid among the crowd with ulterior motives. For instance, in Matthew 22:15, 16, we are told that the Pharisees would often send their own disciples to follow Jesus around. There’s little doubt why they were sent. It wasn’t so they could learn more about Jesus and soon follow Him themselves, but it was with the purpose of spying on Him so they could find some way to bring Him down. Regardless of the reason for being there, those who were a part of this group (following but not as disciples) were simply labeled as the crowd. Today, the same could be said of being a member of a church. Many mistakenly equate church membership to discipleship. However, having your name on a church’s membership book does not mean you are automatically a disciple. You can hang around disciples and go to the same seminars and socials they go to, but it doesn’t make you a disciple. To be Jesus’ disciple is much more than simply being present in the crowd around Him—it is more than just regular attendance in a pew at a church—because a disciple is not a groupie.

Second, a disciple is not perfect. We have somehow accepted this strange idea that once people become disciples they become morally perfect, as if sin is eradicated from their lives and they shine three shades brighter than everyone else. This could not be further from the truth. Actually, the Bible describes the disciples as being far from perfect. They rebuked children for interrupting the program to be near Jesus (Mark 10:13). They didn’t always understand all of Jesus’ teachings (Luke 18:34). Even when they thought they understood what He taught, some came to the conclusion that His teachings were too difficult to keep and stopped following Him altogether (John 6:60, 66). The disciples could also be found arguing amongst themselves about doctrine (John 3:25) and even about which of them was the better disciple (Luke 9:46). Some of His disciples were known to be embarrassed about their discipleship and kept it a secret (John 19:38). Others even had a kind of road-rage: when one Samaritan town did not welcome them, two of His disciples asked if Jesus wanted them to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them (Luke 9:54)! This is the Bible’s description of Jesus’ disciples. No, they were not spotless, but that’s not what made them disciples anyway. Being perfect doesn’t make you a disciple.

What makes you a disciple is following. This is the foundation of discipleship. A Master leads and a disciple follows. One thing the Gospels make clear is that the disciples were rarely away from Jesus’ side. When He left a city, they left the city. When He stopped, they stopped. They spent a lot of time together. Any disciple of Jesus today will do the same thing. Sadly, many today think they can be a disciples by following Jesus only once a week for a couple of hours. However, the description of God’s end-time disciples in Revelation 14:4 are those who, follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Jesus’ disciples will always follow Him—this is what makes us His disciples. Every disciple follows for a reason though, and two of the central reasons can be seen in the two main titles Jesus’ disciples called Him.

One title they frequently called Jesus was teacher (Mark 4:38), because a disciple is a student. A disciple follows in order to learn. In other words, they followed Jesus because He could teach them something. Jesus said, I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12). Furthermore, we’re told in Mark 4:34 that He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything. They may not have understood everything He taught at the time, but they listened carefully. He taught them to pray. He taught them signs of the end. He taught them what to do and how to live. They soaked it all in. They held on to everything He said. Of course, Jesus said this would be an identifier: If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples (John 8:31).

Here’s a clue to know whose disciple you are: to whose teachings do you hold? Are you holding onto Jesus’ teachings or do you cling to the teachings of a favorite pastor, evangelist, or author? We can fool ourselves into thinking we are disciples of Jesus when we are not. One would think that the Pharisees would be disciples of God, yet when pressed, they declared themselves to be disciples of Moses (John 9:28). They were telling the truth too; they held on very tightly to Moses teachings. Likewise, a disciple of Jesus will hold on tightly to His teachings.

Consider an example of this in practice: as I mentioned earlier, one time when Jesus was teaching a particularly difficult idea concerning His sacrifice for us (with language that sounded a lot like cannibalism), many of those who were following Him found it too difficult and stopped following (John 6:60, 66). After they left, Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, ‘Do you want to go away as well?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God’ (John 6:67–69). Even though the Twelve did not necessarily understand what Jesus was teaching, they knew His teachings led to eternal life, so they held on. Disciples of Jesus will always hold on to His teachings—even when they do not completely understand, and even when others leave. Because a disciple of Jesus is a student of Jesus.

The other title they called Jesus was Master (Luke 8:24), because a disciple is also a servant. A disciple works for the one leading. Jesus said, If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be (John 12:26). Following and serving go hand in hand. If we want to serve Him, we must follow Him; if we follow