The Every Day Disciple: Twenty One Questions for Twenty First Century Disciples

By Dr. Randy Christian

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638851158

Book preview

1

How Do I Practice Discipleship?

Disciples of Jesus have to practice the Christian life.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

(Matthew 7:21 NIV)

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

(Romans 7:15 NIV)

I know.

I’ve been trying to get this right for nearly half a century. It isn’t that I fear for my salvation if I don’t live the right way—this isn’t what Jesus is saying. I am quite sure of Jesus’ forgiveness. Instead, it is a drive within me that says, "Jesus loved me so much, He died to offer me forgiveness. I want to show my gratitude, my faith in Him by living the way He wants me to.

That’s where things get interesting. How do I do that? I try to be faithful. I repent of my sin. Then I find myself having to repent and ask forgiveness for that same sin again! When I commit to doing the things I know He wants me to do, I find myself having to admit I failed in that too.

As I said in the Introduction, essential to the Christian life are the practices I discuss in The Essentials of Spiritual Health. However, living the Christian life isn’t just about being healthy. It is about worshipping God who became flesh—Jesus, our King—by living the way He taught us to live (Matthew 28:18–20). It goes without saying that we will not be perfect in this pursuit.

If we could live without sin—without failure—Jesus would not have needed to come in the first place!

Jesus’ reference to doing the will of the Father can perhaps better be translated as practicing the will of the Father. The word practice assumes an absence of perfection. We don’t need to practice if we are perfect!

Many of us were exposed to music as children, often in the form of taking lessons on a specific instrument. When I was in elementary school, I was encouraged to play an instrument. I wanted to play the trumpet, maybe the saxophone, or, better yet, the guitar or drums.

My parents bought me a clarinet.

As an adult, I can appreciate the clarinet. I have listened to master clarinetists playing jazz or swing music, like the great Benny Goodman. (If you haven’t listened to his music, you need to!) As I listen to this music, I have a great appreciation for the musician.

My clarinet never produced appreciation. My clarinet was painful to me and to anyone who heard me play! The difference between me and Benny Goodman wasn’t just native talent (though that was a large part of it). The difference was practice. The great musicians don’t quit playing when the screeching, squeaky tones jump out of the instrument. They keep practicing. They get better and better and better. Eventually, instead of the deadly sounds that escaped my instrument, they produce music.

Jesus’ expectation of us is not perfection, but a dedication to practice living in the will of the Father to the best of our ability and doing better and better at this as we mature! Disciples of Jesus practice being like Jesus!

Processing

What does it mean to practice the will of the Father?

What is the difference between practicing the will of the Father and doing good things to earn God’s forgiveness?

What is most difficult about practicing the will of the Father for you?

Do you ever feel like giving up?

If you answered yes above, what can you do about it?

What do people who practice a lot have in common?

2

Who Is Jesus to a Disciple?

Disciples of Jesus submit to Jesus daily as Lord and King.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

(John 1:1–4 NIV)

Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.

(Acts 2:36 NIV)

They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."

(Revelation 17:14 NIV)

There are many words we use to describe and address Jesus. He is our Savior, though we don’t normally address Him that way. He is God the Son, though again, we don’t pray, Dear God the Son. More often than not, we refer to Him by His name, Jesus, and His title, Christ (which is Greek for anointed one). But when we talk to Him, we usually call Him Lord. We don’t like lords. Our forefathers fought a war to get rid of them. And our success in that war left us without a good frame of reference to understand that