Becoming a Disciple of Jesus

Equipped to Do Works of Faith

John Sandoz

• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781641401494
• eBook ISBN: 9781641401500
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

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.

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...

Table of contents

• Lesson 1
• Lesson 2
• Lesson 3
• Lesson 4
• Lesson 5
• Lesson 6
• Lesson 7
• Lesson 8
• Lesson 9
• Lesson 10
• Lesson 11
• Lesson 12
• Lesson 13
• Lesson 14
• Lesson 15
• Lesson 16
• Lesson 17
• Lesson 18
• Lesson 19
• Lesson 20
• Lesson 21
• Lesson 22
• Lesson 23
• Lesson 24
• Lesson 25
• Lesson 26
• Lesson 27
• Lesson 28
• Lesson 29
• Lesson 30
• Lesson 31
• Lesson 32
• Lesson 33
• Lesson 34
• Lesson 35
• Lesson 36
• Lesson 37
• Lesson 38
• Lesson 39
• Lesson 40
• Lesson 41
• Lesson 42
• Lesson 43
• Lesson 44
• Lesson 45
• Lesson 46
• Lesson 47
• Lesson 48
• Lesson 49
• Lesson 50
• Lesson 51
• Lesson 52