Discipleship Training, Jesus’ Style

Bible reading: Mark 6: 7-13

 

The disciples had been spending much time with Jesus, being … discipled. J  He taught them in many ways, by preaching and teaching, through parables, by healings and other miracles, and most of all, by means of example.  He revealed truths about Himself and the Kingdom of Heaven, as this band of men moved around together from place to place.

 

Now it was time for the 12 disciples’ first practicum of their on-the-job training! They were deemed ready enough to share and serve, as they had observed Jesus doing. He sent them out two-by-two (for mutual support perhaps?) with a list of instructions:

1)      Take nothing with you except the clothes on your backs, sandals, and a staff

2)      Choose only one house per town as your base headquarters during your stay (find people of peace to rest your peace on)

3)      Don’t stick around any place that does not welcome you or listen to you

4)      Remember that I am sending you out in my authority and power

 

What life lessons did Jesus want His disciples to learn through this experience?

1)      Depend on the hospitality of those you minister to (Matt 10:10 – for a worker is worthy of his support); My Father will provide what you need through them.

2)      Work only with those who are open to learning – look for people who want to hear, learn and be discipled. Stay with them for a period of time to give opportunity for them to both observe your life in Me as well as help provide your needs. Allow a give and take relationship to develop between you.

3)      Don’t waste your time trying to convince someone to be a disciple who isn’t ready for commitment to discipleship. Move on to help those eager to grow.

4)      Know that in My power and authority you can do anything: preach such that people repent and turn to Me; cast out demons; heal sick people everywhere you go.

 

This is Discipleship Training at its best, taught by the Master Trainer Himself! We would do well to study more about how Jesus chose, taught, and sent out His disciples – that we may learn to be and to make disciples more effectively.

Prayer is Working

Psalm 114:7 (NIV)  "Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob..."

We are brought to our knees when finally we recognize the power and majesty of our God.  Reading the jaw-dropping stories of creation and deliverance from the books of Genesis and Exodus, we come face to face with a great big God. But a God whose moves not only peppers the sky with billions of stars and parts formidable seas, but a loving God who also removes small roadblocks we encounter.

When we turn to God daily for our needs, He cares and will respond.  When we are watching for Him, it doesn't take long before we recognize His hand in our lives.  He is not like a puppeteer, pulling our strings and moving us along the path he has selected.  He is like a parent who wants us to choose, who has been preparing us for the day we can take off our training wheels and navigate the road, keeping our balance with only a hand here and there, extended for support.

What is waiting in the wings this week?  We don't know our future, we don't have a clue what might take us by surprise, but God does.  But also, there is nothing we can't overcome with God's help.  These are easy words to say but they are true.

To tremble at God's presence means to recognize God's complete power and authority and our frailty by comparison.                                                               Life Application Study Bible.

Read/Listen to Psalm 114,115,116