Part 02 Serving As A Disciple

SERVING AS A DISCIPLE

Text- John 13:1-17

Introduction

This morning I am going to continue with my series of sermons on the subject of "discipleship".

For those who were not here last Sunday, I spoke on the subject of, "Becoming a Disciple". In that study we learned that the Bible teaches that in order to become a disciple of Jesus Christ one must:

    a.    Be willing to come to Jesus for salvation.
    b.    Be willing to come to Jesus and follow him as Lord and master.
    c.    Be willing to hear his teachings.
    d.    Be willing to obey his teachings,
    e.    Be willing to sacrifice for Jesus,
    f.    Be willing to make a commitment to Jesus.

This morning our text is found in John 13:1-17 and the title of my sermon is, "Serving as a Disciple".

A young woman wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, "Are you a leader?" Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, "No," and returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: "Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower."

That’s what serving as a disciple is all about; following. Here in this chapter we find Jesus with his disciples within a large upper room where they had come to observe the Passover Supper. In Matthew 26:19,20 we are told that it was at nighttime.

From John 13-John 17 Jesus taught his disciples many great and wonderful lessons. It was also here that Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper and commanded his disciples to observe it in remembrance of him until he returns again.

When Jesus taught his disciples he employed various methods. Sometimes he would use parables, types, and symbols. Here in our text though we find Jesus teaching his disciples by means of an example or object lesson. The object lesson was a towel, the mark of a servant.

What does it take to be a servant? What is the example that Jesus taught his disciples about discipleship, that you and I can learn from this passage and apply to our lives today?