The Every Day Disciple

Twenty One Questions for Twenty First Century Disciples

Dr. Randy Christian

• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN: 9781638851141
• eBook ISBN: 9781638851158

Even spiritually healthy Christians run into difficulties as they follow Jesus on a day-to-day basis. We often think we are alone as we wrestle with these issues. But all disciples of Jesus wrestle with these issues. The Everyday Disciple presents responses to twenty-one questions disciples of Jesus wrestle with in the twenty-first century, providing clear guidance for dealing with these issues as a faithful disciple of Jesus.

The Every Day Disciple

Twenty One Questions for Twenty First Century Disciples

Dr. Randy Christian

ISBN 978-1-63885-114-1 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63885-115-8 (Digital)

Copyright © 2022 Dr. Randy Christian

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

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www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

How Do I Practice Discipleship?

Who Is Jesus to a Disciple?

What If My Faith Isn’t Strong Enough?

How Do I Just Give It to Jesus?

What Does God Want Me to Do?

What Is Worship?

How Do I Love?

How Can I Forgive?

Are Christians Better?

Can I Disagree and Still Love You?

Is Marriage Still Relevant?

Is It Okay to Grieve?

Can I Be a Christian and Still Sin?

Can I Fight Temptation?

Do I Have to Repent?

What If I Still Feel Guilty?

Do I Deserve It?

Should I Be Patriotic?

Do I Have to Serve Everyone?

Why Do Bad Things Happen?

What Is My Testimony?

Introduction

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”

(Matthew 6:24a NIV, emphasis in bold added)

I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

(1 Corinthians 7:35 NIV, emphasis in bold added)

This is love for God: to obey his commands.

(1 John 5:3a NIV)

In a previous book, The Essentials of Spiritual Health (Covenant Books, 2020), I discussed the biblical teaching on how to be spiritually healthy—those aspects of the Christian life that are essential to spiritual health. These are foundational and, as the title suggests, essential. They are not optional or even optimal. We cannot be healthy disciples of Jesus without these essentials.

When I wrote that book, I made it clear that practicing these essentials cannot be done effectively with the wrong motives. Too many of us attempt to live legalistically (if I do the right things, I will earn God’s favor) or mechanistically (God created us to thrive on these essentials, so regardless of our heart’s motivation, if we practice them, we will automatically thrive—like supplying gasoline to an engine makes it run).

But discipleship and spiritual health are not found in legalism or a mechanistic approach to faith. They are rooted in devotion to the person of Jesus.

Since The Essentials of Spiritual Health was published, I have received some very encouraging feedback. However, a few have commented on their concerns about how easily what I wrote could be seen as an invitation to live a legalistic life. Even though the very first words in the book are a repudiation of that legalism!

As I discussed this with Christian friends, I came to a realization. Those of my friends who grew up in the church—particularly in traditions that emphasize obedience to the Lord while taking for granted an understanding of His grace and mercy—are more likely to be tempted to legalism or a mechanistic approach to the Christian life. They are also more inclined to interpret what others say as suggesting these approaches. This can lead to a reaction against “doing,” emphasizing that our standing before the Lord is based on what He did, not what we do. Unfortunately, this can lead Jesus’ disciples to ignore His commands or to see them as optional to our faith.

I did not grow up in the church. When I came to the Lord, not only was I a stranger to the traditions and practices of the church, I was a stranger to faith itself. I didn’t know about legalism, and I certainly didn’t fear it. The reason is simple. I came to the Lord as an alcoholic, drug-using, violent, self-centered young man. Jesus not only forgave me, but He also cleansed me from the stain of the sins I had practiced and gave me the promise of eternal life. In fact, He actually saved my physical life. I came to the Lord out of a suicide attempt in high school, and I have always experienced a very personal commitment to Him for saving me. Because of my experience, I could not conceive of a faith that wasn’t rooted in a profound devotion to Jesus. My friends who grew up in the faith and struggle with the shadow of legalism have this devotion as well. That is why they are so concerned that we don’t slip back into legalism.

As you read this book, it is extremely important that you understand the difference between these motivations and are aware which of them drives you. I cannot overemphasize the importance of responding to the King out of gratitude and personal devotion. This doesn’t mean obedience is either unimportant or unnecessary. John ties our obedience to our love of Jesus, not a legalistic effort to gain His approval (1 John 5:3).

My dictionary app defines devotion as “profound dedication.”

I like that.

Dedication is the commitment of a person or resources to another person or a cause. Disciples are committed to the person, Jesus, the Christ. But devotion is not just dedication. It is profound dedication. It is dedication that goes beyond the norm to a level so intense that it comes from the depths of our being. It is a personal loyalty that supersedes any other commitments and constantly and consistently drives us.

Discipleship can never be simply a lifestyle or set of behaviors based on beliefs regarding right and wrong. Christian discipleship is about Jesus and our response to Him from the depths of our soul that says, “My Lord, my King, my God, I belong to You! Let whatever I think, whatever I say, and whatever I do honor You today!” This devotion expresses itself in faithful livin...

Table of contents

• How Do I Practice Discipleship?
• Who Is Jesus to a Disciple?
• What If My Faith Isn’t Strong Enough?
• How Do I Just Give It to Jesus?
• What Does God Want Me to Do?
• What Is Worship?
• How Do I Love?
• How Can I Forgive?
• Are Christians Better?
• Can I Disagree and Still Love You?
• Is Marriage Still Relevant?
• Is It Okay to Grieve?
• Can I Be a Christian and Still Sin?
• Can I Fight Temptation?
• Do I Have to Repent?
• What If I Still Feel Guilty?
• Do I Deserve It?
• Should I Be Patriotic?
• Do I Have to Serve Everyone?
• Why Do Bad Things Happen?
• What Is My Testimony?