The Disciple’s Consecration

Disciple Series - Part 4

“And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.  36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?  37 For what can a man give in return for his life?  38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

- Mark 8:34-38

The Disciple’s Vital Connection

Disciple Series - Part 3

“And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach.”

- Mark 3:14 

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

- Acts 4:13

God’s Design for Church Leadership

Stand Alone Message

“Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them: 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.  29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;  30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.  31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.  32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

- Acts 20:17-18, 28-32

The Disciple’s Portrait

Disciple Series - Part 2

“He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them.  14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.  15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.”

- Mark 2:13-15

“And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.  14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach  15 and have authority to cast out demons.  16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);  17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);  18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean,  19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”

- Mark 3:13-19

The Gospel That Makes Disciples

Disciple Series - Part 1

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."  16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.  17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men."  18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.  19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.  20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.”

- Mark 1:14-20

Christ’s New Mission Foretold

Foretold Series - Part 4

“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.  17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."  20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.  21And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."  22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, "Is not this Joseph's son?"  23 And he said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Physician, heal yourself.' What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well."  24 And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.  25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land,  26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.  27 And there were many lepers1 in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian."  28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath.  29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.  30 But passing through their midst, he went away.”

- Luke 4:16-30

Christ’s Earthly Beginnings Foretold

Foretold Series - Part 3

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in thedays of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,  2 saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it roseand have come to worship him."  3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;  4and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:  6 "'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"  7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.  8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."  9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.  10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.  12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.  13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."  14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt  15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called my son."  16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.  17Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:  18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more."  19But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,  20 saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead."  21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.”

- Matthew 2:1-21

Christ’s Official Roles Foretold

Foretold Series - Part 2

“I will raise up for them a prophet like you [Moses] from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.”

- Deuteronomy 18:18

“The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."

- Psalm 110:4

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon1 his shoulder, and his name shall be called2 Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”

- Isaiah 9:6-7