Discipleship

Fan to Follower: Discipleship

The Great Commission calls us to make disciples and to teach them obey Jesus’ commandments. Matt 28:16-20

Salvation and discipleship are a journey.

A disciple walks with Jesus on the journey. 1 John 2:4-6

A disciple is willing to leave everything for Jesus. Matthew 16:24; Galatians 2:20; Hebrews 12:2

Jesus summarizes all the commandments into loving God and loving others. Matthew 22:34-40; Deut 6:4-9

We are called to love God with our mind.

Conform your mind to the pattern of Spirit. Romans 12:1-2; Romans 8:5-8

Rightly dividing God’s Word is part of loving God with our mind. 2 Tim 2:14-16

Training ourselves in godliness (discipleship) involves study and community (mentorship). 1 Tim 4:8-13; 2 Timothy 1:5; Proverbs 27:17

Principals for interpreting scripture
1.Our interpretation must be based on the author’s intention of meaning and not the readers
2.Context is key (historical, canonical, book/letter, chapter)
3.Use the Bible to interpret itself: scripture interprets scripture and the clear interpret the unclear
4.Interpret the Bible literally unless the genre or context calls for figurative language
5.Be aware of the genre you are reading

Resources that I recommend:
•Biblical Genre: How to read the Bible for all its worth (Gordon Fee)
•Context/historical background: Reading scripture with eastern eyes (Brandon O’Brian), Honor, Patronage, Kinship, and Purity (David deSilva), Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament (John Walton)
•Bible Project “How to read the Bible” video series and the Read Scripture app (Bible reading plan)
•Expedition 44 YouTube Channel

Tools:
•Multiple translations of the Bible (You Version Bible app)
•Study Bible (I recommend the cultural backgrounds study bible or the NET bible)
•Interlinear Bible
•Lexicon and/Concordance
•Commentaries (Basic: Bible for everyone commentaries by NT Wright and John Goldingay. More advanced: IVP Bible backgrounds commentary (John Walton & Craig Keener)

Action steps:
•Be a student of the Bible
•Be a mentor and/or get a mentor (duplicate yourself)