Mar. 01 2017 | Key to Discipleship

Hey all you adventurers out there! So it's pretty obvious that it's been a while since I last posted here--and I'm sorry for that! A lot has happened since the last post. It has been my goal to post all of my notes from sermons that I attend at First Baptist Atlanta, and I have been blessed to be able to do so for some time, however this semester has posed a new difficulty for this since my classes happen at the same time as the weeknight sermons. Working two part time jobs while being a full time graduate student and an intern has really limited my time to develop a habit of writing blog posts. I'm very grateful that my class ended early today and I was able to hear most of this sermon today! Happy adventuring! :)


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The key to discipleship: soul-winning.
Matthew 10: 1-40 NASB

1. Are you ready to follow Jesus? Find the lost.
• What's next in the great commission? It doesn't just start in Matthew; it is the moment that Jesus calls you to be disciple, a follower of Christ, that you are called to share. The calling to a missionary is the second calling for us to share the love of Christ. If we are not soul-winners, we are not fully followers. 
• Does our light shine so before men--that those next to us who wish us harm see the love of Christ within you? Is your light so bright that darkness yourself wants to become light?
• There is a plan to share your faith as much as there is a purpose to share your faith. 
• Americans have a hoarding problem; we have a lot of stuff. We like to take our stuff with us everywhere. 
• Yet for mission trips, we are asked not to bring any money--bring only what you need and then let your host families take care of you to be blessed. 
• Christianity is not a crutch; it is a wheelchair. Take a seat. 
2.  Are you ready to suffer for Jesus?
• Southern Baptists are used to being sheep with sheep, not with sheep among wolves.
• we are not called to be among sheep, but among wolves--those who don't like us and want to do us harm; even so we are to be harmless as a dove. 
• cunning, not deceptive; harmless, not naive = integrity
• Many Christians don't share about Jesus because we aren't prepared to talk about Jesus
• You have to walk with Jesus before you talk about Jesus. 
• It's not about the education you have, but the time you have with Christ. 
• Matthew 10:27-29 NASB
• This generation knows two things:
• Joys of Jesus
• Scars of Life
• They have the joys of Jesus, but they can't get over the scars of life. The biggest scars of life they feel is the feeling of worthlessness--I know Jesus loves me, but do I even love myself?
• Self-esteem vs Self-worth
• Self-esteem: You are enough by yourself.
• Self-worth: God made me in His image for His purpose to be His.
• We will have difficulty sharing the love of Christ until we believe in our self-worth; we cannot be evangelists until we see that God has made us for a purpose
• Make this your blueprint: Matthew 10:31 NASB
• Those who cast their eyes on material things, they won't share about Jesus.
• Those who cast their eyes on eternity, they will share Jesus. 
• Matthew 20:20-28 NASB Third baptism
• The way closer to the seat next to the throne, the more suffering it will require. 
• First disciple of the twelve to lose his life