SW Discipleship 3 Message

Summary

The message encourages listeners to approach discipleship with gratitude, trust in Jesus, and a willingness to ask God honest questions.

Begin with gratitude

The speaker opens with a humorous story about a boy who wants Christmas moved before Thanksgiving so he will have something to be thankful for. The story illustrates how hardship can make people feel they have nothing to appreciate. The speaker hopes the message will help listeners see reasons for gratitude.

Discipleship is transformation for others

Discipleship is defined as “the process of being formed into the image of Christ for the sake of others.” The speaker connects this to following Jesus and staying engaged with Scripture and a Bible-reading plan.

Jesus reassures his disciples

In John 14, Jesus tells his followers not to be troubled and promises that he is preparing a place for them. When Thomas asks how they can know the way, Jesus answers, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

The message emphasizes that Jesus is not merely a source of directions or information. Knowing Jesus is how people come to know the Father.

Include Jesus in life’s problems

The speaker recalls Philip’s practical calculation during the feeding of the crowd: it would take a great deal of money to provide food. Philip assessed the problem but failed to include Jesus in the equation.

The speaker applies this to listeners’ concerns, such as family, health, school, stress, and difficult relationships. Bringing Jesus into the situation changes how it is faced.

Faith is not just a checklist

Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father, reflecting a desire for a clear set of instructions. The speaker contrasts this with the message that truth is found in a person—Jesus—not simply in information or a to-do list. Jesus points to his words and works as evidence of his relationship with the Father.

Ask questions and seek God

Thomas’s question prompts Jesus to explain who he is, making the question valuable rather than disruptive. The speaker challenges disciples to ask God questions instead of only making statements or demanding solutions.

Examples include asking what God may be doing in a difficult season, what one might need to change, and asking for help understanding Scripture.

Practical response

When facing a difficult moment, listeners are encouraged to pause and seek God rather than relying only on their phones or their own problem-solving. They can pray, reflect on Scripture, and invite God to speak through their community and throughout the day.

Invitation to prayer and faith

The closing invites listeners to commit to bringing Jesus into areas of their lives and to seek a relationship with God through Jesus. The speaker explains the Christian belief that Jesus lived without sin, died carrying people’s guilt and shame, and rose again, making reconciliation with God possible. A prayer of commitment follows.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Unnamed male speaker/pastor: Delivers the message, personal illustrations, reflections, and closing prayers.
• Biblical figures discussed: Jesus, Thomas, and Philip, as presented in the speaker’s reading and retelling.
• Scripture sources: John 14, especially Jesus’ words about being “the way and the truth and the life,” and John 6, including Philip’s response during the feeding of the crowd.
• Unidentified musical or spoken-word interlude: The subtitles include a poetic section and music, but do not identify its performer or source.