WWJD Part 2
Message Summary: Be a DISCIPLE of Christ by meeting practical needs of those around us.
Jesus talks with his disciples regularly about how being a disciple is love in action by meeting the needs of people around you. We often say we will pray for someone who is in need, which is necessary, but praying doesn’t release us from taking action to help those in need.
While good deeds don’t save us, our deeds do exemplify our faith in Christ. It is our responsibility as disciples of Christ to take action and do good deeds in love. The term “Christian” is rarely used in the New Testament, and developed because non-Christians began using that term after Christ’s resurrection. Jesus referred to his followers as disciples which means student. One who follows the example of the teacher and learns to mimic the way the teacher acts, lives, eats, rests, loves, and does good is a disciple.
Following Jesus is to sacrifice just as he did. Doing good requires us to sacrifice our time, energy, and money. Being a Christian doesn’t require much, but being a DISCIPLE requires sacrifice and costs us something.
The good news is that if we are living as Christians today, we can learn to live as disciples. All we need is a little faith, a desire to be a disciple of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will do the rest as we open our hearts to His leading. God will transform us into a body that utilizes our individual gifts and talents for the collective good of our community as we learn to live our faith where we mimic the example of Jesus.
What evidence do you have in your life that you are a disciple of Christ?
How can you focus daily on doing what Jesus would do as you interact with the people in your path?
How can CT make Argyle and Denton County a better place to be? How can we use our individual gifts and calling to bring heaven to earth collectively?
What does it mean to take up our cross daily? Share an example of how you do this regularly.
Read Matthew 25:31-46 As you read about the sheep and the goats, what convicts your heart? What will you begin doing to live in a way to help the least of these?
James 2:14-17 – What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Prov 3:27-28 – Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—when you already have it with you.
Ephesians 2:8-9 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Phil 2:13 – For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Matthew 10:38 – Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.