Becoming a Disciple of Jesus: Equipped to Do Works of Faith

By John Sandoz

Christian growth is a deeply personal and spiritual choice that recognizes our unending need for Jesus not only as Savior but also as LORD over our lives. That recognition sometimes comes after losing the things that seemed to matter most and humbly acknowledging before God that we need a new life and not just a better version of the old life, which produced little of lasting value. Discipleship is not and never can be a self-improvement program, because self is actually a big part of the problem. Transforming our lives is not something we can do; because even on our best days, our sin nature opposes such transformation. As the Apostle Paul said, "For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish" (Rom. 7: 19). Our only hope for real change resides in Jesus' assurance that "what is impossible for man is possible for God." Becoming a Disciple of Jesus provides a year in Christian growth composed of fifty-two weekly lessons that develop both our vertical relationship with God and our horizontal relationships with others through the works of faith which God has prepared for us. Each work of faith is accomplished by our belief in the Holy Spirit's ability to transform us into instruments of God's peace and love. Over time, this truth becomes both our heart's desire and a glorious reward as we gain freedom from the negative thought patterns and behaviors that previously governed our lives. Paradoxically, admitting the things we struggled with to God unleashes His healing presence at a deep heart level. As beings created in His image, we all resemble partially completed sculptures. God, the Master Sculptor, removes our undesirable traits so we can become complete as the persons He made us to be, able to use our God-given gifts to glorify Him as shining examples of His love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781641401500

Book preview

Lesson 1

What Is Your Story?

His delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. (Ps. 1:2–3)

Introduction. We all have a story that consists of the experiences and relationships that have shaped who we are. It is less about our history and more about our hopes and fears that define us as individuals. But sometimes our story seems lost in a world that operates beyond our understanding or control. Stories reveal the priority we’ve given to meeting or avoiding challenges in our lives. This teaching is designed to make us more aware of how and why we live the way we do and to introduce us to the possibility of becoming part of God’s greater and richer story.

Pray: LORD, I live with a limited understanding of my life and my role in this world. Grant me the wisdom to understand how I am part of Your greater story of creation, separation, redemption, and restoration. Draw me close to You that I may discover my real identity in You.

When did your story begin?

When you were conceived or born? When you first walked, spoke, or chose something for yourself?

When your parents or grandparents or great grandparents lived their lives?

Where are you in that story today?

Are you a young man with possibilities, in middle age with responsibilities or growing old with limited opportunities or regrets?

A father, husband, brother, son, worker, immigrant, sportsman? (What two words best describe who you are today?)

Part of something greater than yourself or feeling separated or alone?

How complete is your story?

How much do you have, and how do you measure what you have? What matters most to you?

What is missing? What do you most want in this life?

What do you expect to leave when you die? What would you most want to leave?

When does your story end?

When you die?

Is there life after death? If so, where do you want to spend eternity?

What is God’s greater story and how does mankind fit into it?

Creation. In the beginning, God created all that is seen and unseen. He made man in His image to have fellowship with Him and relationship with each other. And it was good!

The Fall (separation). Satan tempted man to be his own god, and through man’s disobedience, sin and death entered into the world. Since then, man’s sin nature has separated him from God because a Holy God can’t have fellowship with that which is sinful. Yet man strives through religions to be good enough to have fellowship with God.

Redemption (God’s act of reconciliation). In His love for mankind, God provided Jesus, His only begotten Son (i.e., not created but of one being with God) as the necessary and perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, that whoever receives Him as Savior and LORD might receive eternal salvation and an abundant life now.

Restoration. God will restore His creation and restore us to eternal life with Him.

Those who receive Jesus as Savior and LORD are redeemed and will be restored in the new earth.

Living a redeemed life in a fallen world challenges us daily. It is not easy, but it is possible because we live new lives in Christ by faith.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for … (Heb. 11:1, 13–16).

What story do you want your life to be about? Do you want to be part of God’s greater story?

Questions for discussion or further study

Where are you today in terms of what you believe about God?

What do you need God to show you?

Insights/Prayer Issues

Lesson 2

The Fall and Its Effect on You

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our LORD! (Rom. 7:18–25)

Introduction. Becoming more aware that we inherited our spiritual condition from past generations is the first step in a journey of faith. Although we had no choice in the matter, we were all born into a fallen world, and, consequently, we possess a sin nature that separates us from God. Although we are made in the image of God to have fellowship with Him and each other, our sin nature gets in the way of these important relationships. This lesson explores the problem of our separation from the Creator, a Holy God who earnestly desires but cannot have fellowship with that which is sinful.

Pray: Holy LORD, as I struggle to live in a fallen world, help me to draw close to Jesus that I may know Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and let me grow in understanding of Your love each day.

How can something that happened long ago effect you today? We are all descended from past generations, and we share their likeness and spiritual nature in many respects.

We share both physical similarities and a common spiritual condition resulting from the Fall of mankind in relationship with God.

We live under the same curse as Adam and Eve and not only share a fear of death but also the desire to be connected to something or someone more permanent than ourselves.

Like our ancestors, we have a sin nature no self-improvement program can overcome.

How is our sin nature evident and how does it shape who we are?

Self-centeredness separates us from God, but it is more than a survival instinct; it is our human response to the fear of being eternally alone.

Self-centered living often proceeds from the lie that we must be self-sufficient because no one cares about us.

While we imagine pursuing what we want can bring happiness and peace, instead it brings a greater sense of isolation and a progressively smaller, impoverished existence.

How does God show us His mercy? Like a loving father, He never gives up on us and yearns for us to be reconciled to Him. He wants us to find completeness in Him. (Read Luke 15:11–32.) "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world." (Jn. 16:33)

What does being reconciled to God give us?

Freedom. Freedom from the fear of death, which motivates much of our self-directed living, and through the promise of eternal life, freedom from death itself!

True fellowship with a loving God, peace, and an abundant life. Through Jesus we have the possibility of experiencing the abundant life God intends for us. We become more than friends of God; we become adopted sons who share in all He has given Jesus!

Peace. While we continue our earthly lives in a fallen world, we can live in the peace that surpasses understanding, knowing that God is sovereign over all things and that we are secure in His love. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6–7)

True purpose. When we abide in God, He abides in us and we become useful to a purpose greater than ourselves. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." (Jn. 14:12)

Receiving Jesus as Savior and LORD gives us a new life, not just a better version of the old life.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:17–18)

Questions for discussion or further study

How do you deal with the frustrations of living in a fallen world?

How could a real relationship with God help you deal with the challenges in life?

What trust issues do you have, and are you willing to trust