DISCIPLESHIP CLASS: LEVEL 2 WEEK 3
Lesson 7: First love for Christ [Matthew 10:34-39 and Luke 14:25-26]
1. The first________ The first demand of discipleship has to do with the deep area of
our _______ or ______. It touches the area of strongest human affection the love
and loyalty we have towards those of our own families. Jesus made it quite clear to
His followers what discipleship would mean. He said, "If anyone comes to Me and
does not hate his father... mother... wife... children... brothers... sisters..., and even
himself, he cannot be my disciple" (v.26). Such a demand seems very hard. Must a
person really 'hate' those of his own family before he can become a disciple? Other
teaching of Jesus calls us to love others, not hate them (Matthew 5:43-44, 15:5).
What then did Jesus really mean by these words in Luke 14:26?
2. The _________ Jesus is using a vivid ______ here. A hyperbole is an extreme
________ made to emphasize a point, but not meant to be taken literally. Many
people have never become true disciples of Jesus because their love for their family
and friends has pulled them more strongly than their love for Jesus. So Jesus was
saying, "If you want to be my disciple, your love and loyalty for me must come above
even those of your own family who are nearest and dearest to you! If it ever comes
to a choice between what I want and what they want, then love and obey me first,
even if it means your loved ones interpret your action as not loving or caring for
them or even hating them. Your love for me must be willing to go that far if
necessary".
Of course, not all of us will find our love for Jesus coming into such conflict with
those we truly do love. Not all of us will find that obedience to Christ will cause us to
go against what our loved ones want. But some Christians have had to face such a
choice. (Think of those who become Christians in Muslim families!) I may never have
to face a choice between Christ or family, but if I do, what then? If I would be Christ's
disciple, my first loyalty must be to Jesus. I love Him above all else because He has
first loved me and He is my life (1 John 4:19). His love has planned the best for me.
So I must be willing to trust myself to His love and follow no matter what the cost..
This is the first demand Jesus made on all those who would be his true disciples.
Lesson 8: Denial of Self [Luke 14:25-27]
1. The second ________ Jesus said, "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after
me, cannot be my disciple." Taking up the cross has nothing to do with enduring
sickness, suffering or hardships in life. People who do not follow Jesus have to face these
things as well. No, taking up the cross is a ______ we must make in following Jesus. It
simply means whenever Christ's way cuts across my way, then I must choose to
surrender to His way. This may mean __________ my will to His in the choices I want to
make (work, career, marriage). It also means dying to my self- life which wants to rise up
and react, letting Christ have His way instead. In Gethsemane, when Jesus wanted to
escape the awful suffering of the cross, did He choose what He wanted? No! He said
'Father, not my will, but yours be done! When He was despised, rejected, falsely accused
and wrongly treated, did He become bitter and resentful and fight back with words or
fists? No! He still reached out in love and forgiveness and committed His case to God (1
Peter 2:23). Well, if I am to be a disciple of Jesus, I must respond the same way. I must
take up my cross like He did. My personal choices and the natural reactions of my old,
proud, self-centered nature must die. Christ who is within me must be allowed to rule
instead and have His way in me..
2. The _______ of self. Nothing can spoil me from becoming a disciple more than my old
______. This is one area that is the hardest to ________. Many Christians will work hard,
make sacrifices, leave their loved ones, give up money, food or comforts, but still be
unwilling to deny the self-life that rules within. Their old nature is still in control. They
still react to problems with anger, resentment, jealousy, criticism, bitterness,
complaining and self-pity. But this is not the way of Jesus. It is the way of human nature.
And those who live this way can never please God (Romans 8:8). Many Christians have
never moved forwards in discipleship because of this very thing. Self is still in control. As
a result they remain immature, self-centred, carnal Christians (1 Corinthians 3:1-4).
________ of self is no once-for-all thing. It does not happen by one act of the will or
through one special experience. It must be a daily denying of self and surrendering to
Christ's control in all the little pressures and problems of every-day life (Luke 9:23). This
is the second demand of discipleship. This is the price that I must pay if I would walk
closely with Jesus.
