Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Radical Discipleship (Part 1)

December 29, 2025 | 27:29

Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Radical Discipleship (Part 1) | December 29, 2025

♪ music ♪
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From the pulpit of the first baptist church
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Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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With dr. robert jeffress.
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Hi, i'm robert jeffress.
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And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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What does it truly mean to follow jesus christ?
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Most people are drawn to the message of salvation,
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But many aren't prepared for what comes next.
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Well, jesus never sugarcoated
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The requirements of discipleship.
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And today i'll show you the difference
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Between simply believing in jesus
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And becoming his fully devoted disciple.
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The choice is yours to make.
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My message is titled radical discipleship
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On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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♪ music ♪
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Start the new year
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With daily encouragement when you request
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The 2026 pathway to victory daily devotional,
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Featuring 260 brand new devotional readings
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From dr. robert jeffress.
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This beautiful leather-bound volume
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Includes larger print and a gorgeous hand cover
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With brown and gold accents.
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Plus, right now, your gift will be doubled in impact
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Through the now is the time matching challenge.
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♪ music ♪
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♪ music ♪
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As alexander the great was making his way,
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With his massive army, toward the east
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In his effort to conquer the world,
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He and his army came upon a fortified city
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With huge walls surrounding it.
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Alexander called for the king to come out
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And surrender immediately.
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When the king heard the proposition,
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He laughed at alexander,
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And he pointed to these walls and said,
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"with these walls, why should i surrender to you?"
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And so alexander decided to give the king an illustration.
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Near the city walls was a sheer cliff.
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And alexander ordered his men to line up in a single column
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And start marching toward the edge of the cliff.
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The citizens of the city climbed up on top of the city wall
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To watch this amazing sight.
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The army got closer and closer to the cliff
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Until the first man fell over, plunging to his death.
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Then a second man plunged to his death,
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A third, a fourth.
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And then alexander commanded the men to stop.
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He told them to face the citizens on top of the wall.
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And these citizens, as they looked at that sight,
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Their amazement turned to sheer terror
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As they realized there were no walls high enough
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To protect themselves
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Against that kind of commitment and determination.
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Without saying a word,
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The citizens climbed down from the city wall,
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Went out the gates,
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Fell down at alexander's feet and surrendered.
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The same kind
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Of unconditional, radical commitment
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That alexander the great demanded from his soldiers
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Is the same kind of commitment jesus christ demands
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From everyone ho would seek to follow him.
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And it's that kind of radical commitment
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That we're going to talk about this morning.
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If you have your bibles,
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I want you to turn to luke chapter 14.
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Let me set the context.
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Jesus is now on the way to jerusalem
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To be crucified and to rise again from the dead.
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We saw last time that the crowds were diminishing
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As jesus' teaching became harder and harder,
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As people became disillusioned with him
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Because he wasn't doing
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What they thought a messiah should do.
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But then in verse 25, we find the curious words,
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"now, great multitudes were going along with him,"
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That is, the crowd began to swell again.
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We don't know why.
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Perhaps it was because of a miracle he did in chapter 13,
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Of healing the woman
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Who had been bent over double for years and years.
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Perhaps they were curious about some of his teaching.
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Whatever the reason, the crowds were getting larger,
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So jesus decided it was once again
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Time to thin out the ranks.
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And he did it by reminding his would-be followers
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Of what it meant to follow him.
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Look at verses 26 and 27.
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"if anyone comes to me
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And does not hate his own father and mother,
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And wife and children, and brothers and sisters,
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Yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
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Whoever does not carry his own cross
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And come after me cannot be my disciple."
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Verse 33, "so therefore no one of you can be my disciple,
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Who does not give up all of his own possessions."
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Do you see the repetition here?
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He's not trying to attract a crowd.
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He's saying, you can't be my disciple
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If you don't hate your other relationships
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In comparison to me.
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You can't be my disciple if you're not willing to die
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To everything important to you.
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You cannot be my disciple if you're unwilling
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To give up all of your possessions.
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That's the way to thin out a crowd real quickly.
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Now, some of you may be confused at this point.
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You may say, "now, wait a minute, pastor.
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I don't understand this.
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Just last time, you were talking about the door of salvation
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And how easy it is to walk through it.
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And all you must do is receive the gift of forgiveness
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To become a christian.
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And now you're talking about all of this dying stuff,
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And giving up stuff, and these hard things.
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Is it easy or is it hard to become a christian?"
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Well, you need to understand the difference
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Between the two doors we're talking about.
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There's a door that leads you to become a christian,
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There's a door that leads to discipleship.
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I was reading in "leadership magazine"
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A true story about a couple, doug and sylvia whitt.
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After their wedding ceremony,
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In the wee hours of the morning,
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They went to a nearby hotel to begin their honeymoon.
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They were registered in the bridal suite.
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When they arrived at the hotel,
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And in front of the door, doug picked up new wife sylvia,
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He unlocked the door, he opened it,
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And they walked over the threshold.
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And they walked into this nice
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But smaller than they thought would be room.
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And they looked around and they saw some chairs,
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A table, a lamp, and a sofa, but no bed.
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They were a little bit confused until they realized
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It was a hideaway bed in the sofa.
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So they pulled out the sofa
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And they endured the night on a lumpy mattress
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In sagging springs.
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Pretty big disappointment.
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The next morning, doug whitt was so disappointed
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He went down to the manager
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And gave him a piece of his mind.
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He said, "why in the world do you call this a bridal suite
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When it's such a little room?"
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And the manager asked the question, he said,
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"did you go through the door?"
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And doug said, "well, of course i went through the door.
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I carried my bride over the threshold."
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He said, "no, did you go through that second door?"
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And doug went back up to the room,
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And the door that he thought was a door to a closet,
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He opened up, and it was the door into the bridal suite,
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Full with a king size bed, fruit, chocolate,
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Everything that he had missed out on the night before.
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You know, it's the same way with becoming a christian
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And becoming a disciple.
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The door that leads to be a christian is an easy door.
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All it requires is faith.
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But there's a second door that leads to discipleship.
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Now, remember this forever.
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Becoming a christian is easy.
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Becoming a disciple is difficult.
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Becoming a christian is free.
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It costs you nothing.
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Becoming a disciple is costly.
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It costs you everything.
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And the passage we're talking about today
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Is about what it means to be a disciple of jesus christ.
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Now, today, in the few minutes that we have left,
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We're going to do four things.
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First of all, we're going to talk
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About a definition of discipleship.
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What does it mean to be a disciple?
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Secondly, we're going to look
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At the two demands of discipleship.
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Third, we're going to look at two descriptions jesus uses
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To explain what discipleship is.
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And finally, we're going to look
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At a demonstration of discipleship.
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Now, first of all,
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Let's talk about a definition of disciple.
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What does it mean when jesus says,
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"you are to be my disciple?"
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The word disciple comes from a greek word mathetes.
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And in jesus' day, that word, mathetes, disciple,
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Referred to an individual who might be enamored
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With a particular rabbi, and so he sought
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To learn everything he could from that rabbi,
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Not just by his words, but by his actions.
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The disciple of a particular rabbi
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Would study the rabbi's teachings,
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But he would also try to emulate
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The rabbi's actions and attitude
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As a part of his everyday life.
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Now, that's what it means to be a disciple of jesus.
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It means you not only study his teachings,
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You try to duplicate his life in your life as well.
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Now, the bible says there are four marks of a disciple.
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I want you to write down.
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First of all, and most foundational,
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A discipleship is a christian.
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You say, "well, now, duh to that.
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Tell me something i don't know, pastor."
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I mean, of course a disciple is a christian.
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But did you know there are a lot of people
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Who are trying to be a disciple of christ
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Without ever making that foundational decision
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To trust in christ?
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You can't follow jesus christ unless you are in christ,
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Unless you are a believer in christ.
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Why is that?
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Well, a non-christian, with all his good intentions,
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Lacks a proper relationship with god.
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That keeps him from being a disciple.
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We've looked at this many times in matthew chapter 7.
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Jesus said, "on the judgment day,
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Many people will try to get into heaven,
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Claiming to be followers of christ."
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And jesus will say, "depart from me you workers of iniquity.
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I never knew you."
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No, there has to be that moment
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When you personally trust in christ
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For the forgiveness of your sins.
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A non-christian lacks a proper relationship with god.
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Secondly, not only that, a non-christian
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Lacks the resources to live the christian life.
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And that resource primarily
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Is the resource of the holy spirit of god.
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If you're not a christian,
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As much as you want to emulate christ's life in yours,
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You can't do it.
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You don't have that supernatural power of the holy spirit.
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A second mark of a disciple is a disciple
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Has a growing relationship with christ.
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A disciple has a growing relationship with christ.
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What would you think if somebody who said to you,
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A married person, "you know, my relationship
00:11:31.347 --> 00:11:34.517
With my mate just isn't what it used to be.
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I feel like there's a distance between us.
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I find it increasingly hard to talk with.
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Things aren't as exciting
00:11:44.093 --> 00:11:45.561
As they used to be in our marriage.
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Sometimes i don't even feel
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Like i know this person any longer."
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What would you say about that person's marriage?
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You would say that marriage
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Is in the process of disintegrating, wouldn't you?
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I mean, if you have a vibrant marriage,
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It means you love your mate more today
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Than you did a year ago or 10 years ago.
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It means you enjoy being with them more today
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Than you ever had before.
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It means you know them better.
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Well, it's the same in our relationship with christ.
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If we are truly a disciple,
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We are growing in our relationship with christ.
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It means we know more about christ and his word today
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Than we knew a year ago.
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It means we are more obedient to jesus today
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Than we were a decade ago.
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It means we are more intent
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On following everything he asked us to do today
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Than we've ever been.
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That's the mark of a growing relationship with christ
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And it's the mark of a disciple.
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Thirdly, a disciple is one who obeys christ
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In every area of his life.
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A disciple is one who obeys christ
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In every area of his life.
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Now, this is where even church people get confused.
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In fact, some within our church may be confused about this.
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Many people confuse the method
00:13:03.706 --> 00:13:07.810
With the end result of being a disciple.
00:13:07.810 --> 00:13:11.680
You know, if you ask the average person today in a church,
00:13:11.680 --> 00:13:14.216
Well, what does it mean to be a disciple?
00:13:14.216 --> 00:13:17.453
They think, well, it means you get up at 5:00 in the morning
00:13:17.453 --> 00:13:20.522
And pray for an hour,
00:13:20.522 --> 00:13:22.024
Or it means you memorize these 200 scripture verses
00:13:22.024 --> 00:13:24.627
On index cards, or it means you get involved
00:13:24.627 --> 00:13:27.696
In a one-on-one mentoring program
00:13:27.696 --> 00:13:29.832
With a more mature christian or in a small group.
00:13:29.832 --> 00:13:32.835
That's what it means to be a disciple.
00:13:32.835 --> 00:13:34.336
No.
00:13:34.336 --> 00:13:35.671
Those are means to become a disciple,
00:13:35.671 --> 00:13:38.774
But they're not what a disciple is.
00:13:38.774 --> 00:13:41.010
I mean, you can pray, you can read the bible,
00:13:41.010 --> 00:13:42.878
You can get involved in small groups
00:13:42.878 --> 00:13:44.813
And never be a disciple.
00:13:44.813 --> 00:13:46.715
A disciple is somebody who obeys jesus christ
00:13:46.715 --> 00:13:51.687
In every part of his life.
00:13:51.687 --> 00:13:53.889
And to the extent that those activities
00:13:53.889 --> 00:13:55.691
Help you do that, great, they will help strengthen
00:13:55.691 --> 00:13:58.127
Your resolve to do that.
00:13:58.127 --> 00:13:59.895
But the end result of being a disciple
00:13:59.895 --> 00:14:02.131
Is that you are obedient to christ
00:14:02.131 --> 00:14:04.166
In every part of your life.
00:14:04.166 --> 00:14:05.534
Isn't that what jesus said in the great commission,
00:14:05.534 --> 00:14:07.636
Matthew 28:19-20?
00:14:07.636 --> 00:14:09.438
Go into all the world and do what?
00:14:09.438 --> 00:14:11.307
Make disciples.
00:14:11.307 --> 00:14:13.976
What is a disciple?
00:14:13.976 --> 00:14:15.277
"they are baptized in the name of the father,
00:14:15.277 --> 00:14:16.845
Son, and holy spirit,
00:14:16.845 --> 00:14:18.080
And teaching them to observe all things
00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:22.618
Whatsoever i've commanded you."
00:14:22.618 --> 00:14:24.887
That's the end result.
00:14:24.887 --> 00:14:26.655
How do you know if you're a disciple?
00:14:26.655 --> 00:14:28.757
Are you obeying all things that jesus has commanded you?
00:14:28.757 --> 00:14:34.196
All things about your moral life,
00:14:34.863 --> 00:14:37.633
All things about your relationships,
00:14:37.633 --> 00:14:41.236
All things regarding how you handle your money.
00:14:41.236 --> 00:14:44.506
That's the test of whether or not
00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:47.943
You are a true disciple of jesus christ.
00:14:47.943 --> 00:14:52.448
That is the goal of discipleship.
00:14:52.448 --> 00:14:54.616
You know, i used to be confused about this.
00:14:54.616 --> 00:14:57.486
I had the idea, because of some books
00:14:57.486 --> 00:14:59.321
I read early in my christian life,
00:14:59.321 --> 00:15:01.590
That, you know, being a disciple meant going back
00:15:01.590 --> 00:15:05.294
And looking at the life that jesus led 2,000 years ago
00:15:05.294 --> 00:15:09.398
And trying to live his life today.
00:15:09.398 --> 00:15:12.334
There's even a great book, "in his steps."
00:15:12.334 --> 00:15:14.336
Remember that book?
00:15:14.336 --> 00:15:15.637
"in his steps."
00:15:15.637 --> 00:15:17.006
And the idea was you look at the life of jesus
00:15:17.006 --> 00:15:19.575
And you say, okay, if i were jesus,
00:15:19.575 --> 00:15:23.078
How would i have lived back then?
00:15:23.078 --> 00:15:25.748
But dallas willard, in his book "the divine conspiracy,"
00:15:25.748 --> 00:15:29.351
Helped clear that misconception up for me.
00:15:29.351 --> 00:15:32.621
He said none of us is called to live the life jesus lived.
00:15:32.621 --> 00:15:37.226
You know why?
00:15:37.226 --> 00:15:38.193
He lived it perfectly already.
00:15:38.193 --> 00:15:40.429
You and i have not been called
00:15:40.429 --> 00:15:41.797
To live the life that jesus lived.
00:15:41.797 --> 00:15:43.999
We have not been called to live in israel
00:15:43.999 --> 00:15:46.335
In, you know, 0 ad, the first century.
00:15:46.335 --> 00:15:50.305
We haven't been called to go to the cross
00:15:50.305 --> 00:15:52.374
And sacrifice our lives for the sins of the world.
00:15:52.374 --> 00:15:55.310
God had a unique call on the life of jesus.
00:15:55.310 --> 00:15:58.547
We're not called to live his life.
00:15:58.547 --> 00:16:00.416
That's not what it means to be a disciple.
00:16:00.416 --> 00:16:02.551
Here's a great definition of a disciple.
00:16:02.551 --> 00:16:05.521
To be a disciple means for you to live your life
00:16:05.521 --> 00:16:10.826
As jesus would live your life if he were you.
00:16:11.727 --> 00:16:15.130
That's what a disciple is.
00:16:15.697 --> 00:16:17.499
A disciple is somebody who lives his life
00:16:17.499 --> 00:16:19.468
As jesus would live his life if he were i.
00:16:19.468 --> 00:16:21.870
And i think about that myself.
00:16:21.870 --> 00:16:23.072
Okay, if jesus had my responsibility,
00:16:23.072 --> 00:16:27.443
If jesus were the pastor
00:16:27.443 --> 00:16:29.044
Of the first baptist church of dallas,
00:16:29.044 --> 00:16:31.680
What sermons would he preach?
00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:33.782
What would be his priorities?
00:16:33.782 --> 00:16:35.751
How would he lead the congregation?
00:16:35.751 --> 00:16:38.187
If jesus were the husband of amy, how would he treat her?
00:16:39.321 --> 00:16:44.226
If jesus were the father of dorothy and julia,
00:16:45.160 --> 00:16:46.662
What priorities would he have for them?
00:16:46.662 --> 00:16:49.898
That's what it means for me to be a disciple,
00:16:49.898 --> 00:16:52.234
To live my life as jesus would live my life if he were i.
00:16:52.234 --> 00:16:57.506
That's what a disciple is.
00:16:58.073 --> 00:16:59.575
A disciple is somebody who obeys christ
00:16:59.575 --> 00:17:02.211
In every part of his life.
00:17:02.211 --> 00:17:03.679
And then finally, a disciple makes new disciples.
00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:08.183
A disciple takes seriously jesus' final marching orders
00:17:08.183 --> 00:17:12.087
To go into all the world and make disciples.
00:17:12.087 --> 00:17:15.491
That is a disciple's priority,
00:17:15.491 --> 00:17:17.626
To lead people to faith in christ
00:17:17.626 --> 00:17:19.528
And then help them to grow in every area of their life
00:17:19.528 --> 00:17:22.998
As they seek to obey christ.
00:17:22.998 --> 00:17:25.234
Do you, by the way, if you claim to be a disciple,
00:17:25.234 --> 00:17:28.604
Have a strategy for doing that?
00:17:28.604 --> 00:17:30.672
You know, the fact is no one of us in this room
00:17:31.607 --> 00:17:33.609
Or watching this broadcast,
00:17:33.609 --> 00:17:35.010
No one of us has the ability in and of ourselves
00:17:35.010 --> 00:17:37.679
To go into all the world and make disciples.
00:17:37.679 --> 00:17:40.916
You know, in jesus' day,
00:17:40.916 --> 00:17:43.018
You couldn't go any further than your feet would take you.
00:17:43.018 --> 00:17:46.255
And then there were boats,
00:17:46.255 --> 00:17:48.090
And then there were airplanes,
00:17:48.090 --> 00:17:49.958
And then automobiles.
00:17:49.958 --> 00:17:52.294
And even today, we're limited
00:17:52.294 --> 00:17:54.530
In how far we can go individually.
00:17:54.530 --> 00:17:57.266
That's why we need to be a part of a church.
00:17:57.266 --> 00:17:59.835
The church is god's organization
00:17:59.835 --> 00:18:02.171
For christians to band together
00:18:02.171 --> 00:18:03.939
And fulfill the great commission to go into all the world.
00:18:03.939 --> 00:18:07.876
And that's why if you're serious about obeying this command,
00:18:07.876 --> 00:18:11.079
You need to be linked with a disciple-making church
00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:14.683
That truly has a worldwide vision
00:18:14.683 --> 00:18:17.653
For helping people become devoted followers of christ.
00:18:17.653 --> 00:18:21.290
You can be in the church without being a disciple,
00:18:21.290 --> 00:18:25.460
But you can't be a disciple without being in the church.
00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:28.564
Did you know that?
00:18:28.564 --> 00:18:30.032
It is absolutely impossible for anyone
00:18:30.032 --> 00:18:33.035
To become a fully devoted follower of jesus christ
00:18:33.035 --> 00:18:36.205
Apart from involvement in a local church,
00:18:36.205 --> 00:18:39.374
Because the local church is god's mechanism
00:18:39.374 --> 00:18:42.611
For making disciples.
00:18:42.611 --> 00:18:44.580
He's the one who designed it.
00:18:44.580 --> 00:18:46.415
So what we're trying to do
00:18:46.415 --> 00:18:47.749
Is first of all get as many people as we can
00:18:47.749 --> 00:18:50.519
Through this front door of our church,
00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:52.354
Literally or electronically.
00:18:52.354 --> 00:18:54.523
We realize they're not all
00:18:54.523 --> 00:18:55.958
Going to become fully devoted followers of christ,
00:18:55.958 --> 00:18:58.327
But some will.
00:18:58.327 --> 00:18:59.695
People wonder, why do you advertise?
00:18:59.695 --> 00:19:01.396
Why do you put up billboards?
00:19:01.396 --> 00:19:02.931
'cause we're trying to round up as many people as we can
00:19:02.931 --> 00:19:05.434
To get them into the front door of the church.
00:19:05.434 --> 00:19:07.236
The first job is,
00:19:07.236 --> 00:19:08.704
The first step of discipleship is salvation.
00:19:08.704 --> 00:19:11.907
We want them saved.
00:19:11.907 --> 00:19:13.008
We invite them to come to church
00:19:13.008 --> 00:19:14.676
So that they can hear the gospel and be saved.
00:19:14.676 --> 00:19:16.878
In almost every service,
00:19:16.878 --> 00:19:18.080
We have people walking down the aisle
00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:19.581
Who are making that initial decision to trust christ.
00:19:19.581 --> 00:19:22.517
But that's just the first step.
00:19:22.517 --> 00:19:23.986
The second step is baptism.
00:19:23.986 --> 00:19:25.821
You can't be a disciple without being baptized
00:19:25.821 --> 00:19:29.024
As a demonstration of your faith.
00:19:29.024 --> 00:19:30.859
Then instruction, teaching people what god's word
00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:33.528
Says about every area of their life.
00:19:33.528 --> 00:19:35.664
We do that through the preaching,
00:19:35.664 --> 00:19:37.232
Through the teaching in sunday school,
00:19:37.232 --> 00:19:38.700
Through midweek bible studies,
00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:40.302
Through a number of different ways.
00:19:40.302 --> 00:19:42.371
Worship, that's important.
00:19:42.371 --> 00:19:43.939
You can't be a disciple unless you know how to worship god.
00:19:43.939 --> 00:19:48.110
Giving, we teach people what god's word says about giving.
00:19:48.110 --> 00:19:51.913
You can't be a disciple
00:19:51.913 --> 00:19:53.615
If you're holding on existentially the money in your hands
00:19:53.615 --> 00:19:55.917
Without letting go and investing in god's work.
00:19:55.917 --> 00:19:58.754
Service, that's one way to become a disciple,
00:19:58.754 --> 00:20:01.823
Using the spiritual gift god has given you in ministry.
00:20:01.823 --> 00:20:04.726
And then evangelism, learning to share your faith.
00:20:04.726 --> 00:20:07.262
We go through this process of discipleship
00:20:07.262 --> 00:20:09.931
And the end result
00:20:09.931 --> 00:20:11.266
Is a fully devoted follower of jesus christ.
00:20:11.266 --> 00:20:14.936
Now, we've talked about the definition of a disciple.
00:20:14.936 --> 00:20:18.206
Let's look at the two demands of discipleship,
00:20:18.206 --> 00:20:22.044
The demands of discipleship.
00:20:22.044 --> 00:20:24.146
First of all,
00:20:24.146 --> 00:20:25.814
"discipleship demands unconditional allegiance," jesus said.
00:20:25.814 --> 00:20:30.319
Look at verse 26.
00:20:30.752 --> 00:20:32.487
"if anyone comes to me
00:20:32.487 --> 00:20:34.256
And does not hate his own father and mother,
00:20:34.256 --> 00:20:37.559
His wife and children, and brothers and sisters,
00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:40.762
Yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple."
00:20:40.762 --> 00:20:46.335
Some of you may say, "well, i'm a disciple.
00:20:47.235 --> 00:20:48.904
I hate my husband."
00:20:48.904 --> 00:20:50.872
No.
00:20:50.872 --> 00:20:51.740
(congregation laughing)
00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:53.375
That's not what he's talking about.
00:20:53.375 --> 00:20:58.747
It does sound strange, doesn't it?
00:20:56.111 --> 00:21:01.016
Be a disciple and hate your family?
00:21:01.016 --> 00:21:02.951
Doesn't the bible say to love your family?
00:21:02.951 --> 00:21:06.555
The kind of hatred jesus is talking about here
00:21:06.555 --> 00:21:09.057
Is not an emotional hatred.
00:21:09.057 --> 00:21:11.827
It's not a feeling of ill will toward another person.
00:21:11.827 --> 00:21:15.630
Instead, the hatred he's talking about
00:21:15.630 --> 00:21:18.066
Is the same word we find in romans 9:13,
00:21:18.066 --> 00:21:21.436
Where paul is explaining god's sovereign purpose
00:21:21.436 --> 00:21:25.607
In choosing people and electing people
00:21:25.607 --> 00:21:27.843
For certain purposes in life.
00:21:27.843 --> 00:21:29.644
And he said, "just as it is written:
00:21:29.644 --> 00:21:31.780
'jacob i loved, but esau i hated.'"
00:21:31.780 --> 00:21:35.584
Remember these were the two sons of isaac?
00:21:35.584 --> 00:21:37.753
The promise should have gone to esau,
00:21:37.753 --> 00:21:40.355
But instead god made a decision.
00:21:40.355 --> 00:21:42.190
He said, i'm choosing to give the promise to jacob.
00:21:42.190 --> 00:21:45.494
I'm choosing jacob over esau to give the blessing,
00:21:46.495 --> 00:21:48.997
Not because i have emotional hatred toward esau.
00:21:48.997 --> 00:21:52.167
God loved esau, he blessed esau.
00:21:52.167 --> 00:21:54.002
But he said, i am making a choice of jacob over esau.
00:21:54.002 --> 00:21:59.241
And what jesus is saying is if there ever comes a choice
00:22:00.375 --> 00:22:03.111
Between pleasing your family and pleasing god,
00:22:03.111 --> 00:22:06.848
Then it really is no choice for a disciple.
00:22:06.848 --> 00:22:09.551
We choose to follow jesus even over our own family.
00:22:09.551 --> 00:22:14.856
Do you remember the name francis schaeffer,
00:22:15.757 --> 00:22:17.759
The christian apologist who's now in heaven?
00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:21.363
Francis schaeffer came from a non-christian home.
00:22:21.363 --> 00:22:24.900
He was saved when he was in high school.
00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:26.802
And he knew almost immediately after that
00:22:26.802 --> 00:22:29.070
That god had called him into ministry.
00:22:29.070 --> 00:22:31.807
So he went home to his non-christian dad
00:22:31.807 --> 00:22:33.909
And announced that when he went to college,
00:22:33.909 --> 00:22:35.644
He wanted to prepare for the ministry.
00:22:35.644 --> 00:22:37.846
♪ music ♪
00:22:37.846 --> 00:22:42.617
Becoming a christian is free,
00:22:43.251 --> 00:22:45.454
But becoming a disciple is costly.
00:22:45.454 --> 00:22:48.523
It requires unconditional allegiance to christ
00:22:48.523 --> 00:22:51.760
And a willingness to surrender everything you hold dear.
00:22:51.760 --> 00:22:55.764
Are you willing to pay that cost?
00:22:55.764 --> 00:22:58.433
Well, with only three days remaining until december 31st,
00:22:58.433 --> 00:23:01.903
I need to remind you
00:23:01.903 --> 00:23:03.505
That the now is the time matching challenge is still active,
00:23:03.505 --> 00:23:06.475
But only for a short while longer.
00:23:06.475 --> 00:23:08.844
Your gift before the deadline will be doubled in impact,
00:23:08.844 --> 00:23:12.147
Helping us reach the $1.7 million goal.
00:23:12.147 --> 00:23:15.717
Now is the time for us to press forward in faith
00:23:15.717 --> 00:23:18.820
And stand for biblical truth.
00:23:18.820 --> 00:23:21.122
Now is the time for us to deliver strong, dependable,
00:23:21.122 --> 00:23:24.159
Life-transforming biblical truth on the radio,
00:23:24.159 --> 00:23:27.496
On television, online, and in print.
00:23:27.496 --> 00:23:30.499
Together we're on a rescue mission
00:23:30.499 --> 00:23:32.634
To draw people out of the darkness
00:23:32.634 --> 00:23:34.903
And into the light through our ministry.
00:23:34.903 --> 00:23:37.439
So thank you for standing with "pathway to victory"
00:23:37.439 --> 00:23:40.041
During this critical moment
00:23:40.041 --> 00:23:41.676
And giving us a generous gift toward the matching challenge.
00:23:41.676 --> 00:23:45.447
Now, please stay right there.
00:23:45.447 --> 00:23:47.015
I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
00:23:47.015 --> 00:23:49.317
In just a moment.
00:23:49.317 --> 00:23:50.886
Nearly three decades ago,
00:23:51.453 --> 00:23:53.021
Dr. jeffress prayed that god would use "pathway to victory"
00:23:53.021 --> 00:23:56.324
To pierce the darkness with the light of god's word.
00:23:56.324 --> 00:23:59.361
And what god has done is miraculous.
00:23:59.361 --> 00:24:01.730
We need to share the gospel while there's still time.
00:24:01.730 --> 00:24:04.900
Through the now is the time matching challenge,
00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:07.102
Your gift will be doubled in ministry impact,
00:24:07.102 --> 00:24:09.871
Up to $1.7 million.
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Listen to what's happening right now
00:24:12.507 --> 00:24:14.075
Because of partners like you.
00:24:14.075 --> 00:24:16.177
Thank you for calling "pathway to victory."
00:24:16.177 --> 00:24:18.179
I lost my mom this past year.
00:24:18.179 --> 00:24:21.416
I'm an only child.
00:24:21.416 --> 00:24:23.218
I have no children.
00:24:23.218 --> 00:24:24.719
He helps me feel so loved by the lord,
00:24:24.719 --> 00:24:29.257
And that i'm not alone,
00:24:29.257 --> 00:24:31.159
And that he's going to see us through.
00:24:31.159 --> 00:24:36.064
I'm a truck driver.
00:24:36.531 --> 00:24:37.632
I'm divorced and i don't have kids.
00:24:37.632 --> 00:24:40.168
I don't ever go home, i stay out here.
00:24:40.168 --> 00:24:42.604
And i listen to you all every day on radio.
00:24:42.604 --> 00:24:45.540
You all were abuzz and i was out here listening.
00:24:45.540 --> 00:24:48.677
After my wife died last september,
00:24:48.677 --> 00:24:51.346
I started drinking and got involved
00:24:51.346 --> 00:24:54.049
With the influences of the world.
00:24:54.049 --> 00:24:56.117
God sent me a wake up call,
00:24:56.117 --> 00:24:58.620
And i waked up, and i quit drinking.
00:24:58.620 --> 00:25:01.756
I will not turn my back on god again.
00:25:02.557 --> 00:25:05.193
When you give today, we'll send you
00:25:05.961 --> 00:25:07.529
The brand new 2026 pathway to victory daily devotional
00:25:07.529 --> 00:25:11.199
As our way of saying thanks.
00:25:11.199 --> 00:25:13.134
Don't wait.
00:25:13.134 --> 00:25:14.669
Now is the time to double your impact and transform lives
00:25:14.669 --> 00:25:17.539
By supporting the ministry of "pathway to victory."
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♪ music ♪
00:25:21.276 --> 00:25:22.544
True discipleship requires
00:25:22.544 --> 00:25:24.179
More than just learning jesus' teachings.
00:25:24.179 --> 00:25:27.082
Whether it's in our relationships,
00:25:27.082 --> 00:25:28.917
Finances, or priorities,
00:25:28.917 --> 00:25:31.052
Discipleship demands complete surrender.
00:25:31.052 --> 00:25:34.856
Next time, we'll examine the two demands
00:25:34.856 --> 00:25:36.992
Jesus places on his disciples.
00:25:36.992 --> 00:25:39.427
We'll also discover why half-hearted christianity
00:25:39.427 --> 00:25:42.831
Is like tasteless salt,
00:25:42.831 --> 00:25:44.799
Useless to those on earth and in heaven.
00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:47.869
Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
00:25:47.869 --> 00:25:50.405
On "pathway to victory."
00:25:50.405 --> 00:25:53.308
When you try to live with one foot in the world
00:25:53.308 --> 00:25:55.710
And one foot in heaven,
00:25:55.710 --> 00:25:57.445
You're of no good to those on earth
00:25:58.246 --> 00:26:00.582
Or those in heaven either.
00:26:00.582 --> 00:26:02.584
God hates lukewarm christianity.
00:26:03.218 --> 00:26:07.188
The kind of commitment that god demands from every follower
00:26:07.188 --> 00:26:12.494
Is a total unconditional commitment.
00:26:13.261 --> 00:26:16.431
Set your dvr and join us next time
00:26:16.431 --> 00:26:18.767
For part two of the message radical discipleship
00:26:18.767 --> 00:26:22.437
Here on "pathway to victory."
00:26:22.437 --> 00:26:23.972
♪ music ♪
00:26:23.972 --> 00:26:28.343
Experience the beauty of alaska
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With the "pathway to victory" family,
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June 13th through 20, 2026.
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Sail through the calm waters of the legendary inside passage
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With dr. robert jeffress
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Aboard holland america's magnificent koningsdam.
00:26:40.321 --> 00:26:43.692
Be inspired by award-winning musician
00:26:43.692 --> 00:26:45.727
Michael o'brien's powerful worship,
00:26:45.727 --> 00:26:47.929
Share laughter with dennis swanberg,
00:26:47.929 --> 00:26:49.964
America's minister of encouragement,
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All while exploring frontier towns
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Like juneau, skagway, and ketchikan.
00:26:54.502 --> 00:26:57.172
There's something powerful
00:26:57.172 --> 00:26:58.640
About connecting with god and fellow believers
00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:01.443
In the majesty of his untamed wilderness.
00:27:01.443 --> 00:27:04.512
From the majestic glaciers to soaring eagles,
00:27:04.512 --> 00:27:07.682
These moments in god's creation
00:27:07.682 --> 00:27:09.617
Will deepen your faith in powerful ways.
00:27:09.617 --> 00:27:12.487
Join us for a spiritual journey
00:27:12.487 --> 00:27:14.289
Through some of creation's most spectacular displays.
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Don't wait.
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Our best cabins are going fast.
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Secure your alaska adventure now.
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Call 888-280-6747
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Or visit ptv.org.
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Robert Jeffress - Radical Discipleship (Part 1)

December 29, 2025 | 27:29

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