The Discipleship Test
“The Litmus Test of Discipleship”
1 John 2:3-5
- The litmus test of knowing Jesus is obeying Jesus.
- Three motivations for obedience
- Obedience out of fear
- Obedience out of obligation
- Obedience out of love
- We obey Jesus out of love not to earn His love.
- The litmus test of discipleship is obedience to Jesus.
- Disciples of Jesus obey
- Obedience doesn’t save us, it proves we’re saved.
- The commandments of Jesus are for disciples of Jesus.
- Make Disciples
- Follow Jesus__
- Love like Jesus
Love one another
Love God
- Surrender like Jesus
Obedience that comes from the heart starts with surrender.
LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Lives
- When you were in high school, do you remember the litmus test in a science class? What do you remember about that experience?
- In the sermon, three motivations for obeying Jesus were given: obeying out of fear, out of obligation, and out of love. Which one do you lean towards? Why do you think that is?
- Many people who would agree with the sentence: “we obey Jesus out of love not to earn his love” find themselves falling back into trying to earn God’s love by what they do. Does this ever describe you? Why is this such a big struggle?
- What would you say to a person who says “If we’re really saved by grace and not by works, then what difference does it make whether we obey God or not?”
- Give an example of someone you know who you don’t obey. Now give an example of someone you know who you obey. How does strength of relationship affect obedience?
- When Pastor Jim asked in the sermon for each person to test themselves (Pass/Fail) with the three commands of Jesus given under point 3 (make disciples, follow Jesus, love like Jesus) how did you do? If you failed in one or more of these commands of Jesus, what do you need to do to flip your score to “Pass”?
Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Relates with Other-centered Love/Loving People