ABC's of the Jesus Centered Life

  1. What is the over all purpose or goal of a follower of Jesus? (The purpose of life?)
    To love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:34-39, Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

  2. What is the gospel or the message of God?
    The gospel is a person- Jesus of Nazareth. The gospel is more than information about God, it is God expressing Himself in the person of Jesus. To preach the gospel is to preach Jesus. Jesus is the "Good News." (John 1:1,14; Colossians 1:15-20)

  3. What is the true work of God?
    "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one that He has sent." (John 6:28-29)

  4. What is the Kingdom of God?
    We are to seek, as a first priority, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. That means, we are to seek to yield to the rule and reign of God in Jesus- that is the Kingdom. (Matthew 6:33)

  5. What is the ministry?
    The ministry is love and reconciliation. Through His love, life, and sacrifice, Jesus reconciled us to God and then gave us the "ministry of reconciliation". (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)

  6. What is the method of discipleship?
    Servanthood. "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:42-45, John 13:1-17)

  7. How did Jesus describe His disciples? What characteristics did Jesus expect in His disciples?

    1. A disciple loves God and loves Jesus above all else. (Matthew 22:36-40)
    2. A disciple loves people and especially loves the family of Jesus- the brothers and sisters- and works for unity in the family. (John 13:34-35; 17:22-23)
    3. A disciple puts Jesus before self and follows Him regardless of the cost. (Luke 14:26-27)
    4. A disciple puts Jesus before others. (Luke 14:26-27)
    5. A disciple puts Jesus before possessions. (Luke 14:33)
    6. A disciple studies and learns the Scripture and obeys Jesus' commands. (Luke 6:46; John 8:31-32; John 14:15,21,23)
    7. A disciple is rooted in Jesus and reproduces- bears fruit / makes disciples. (John 15:5,7-10; Matthew 28:18-20)
    8. A disciple is a person of prayer. (Matthew 6:8-13, Matthew 18:19-20)
    9. A disciple is a person of faith (believes God) and a person of the Spirit. (John 3:16; John 5:24; John 6:29; John 14:16,17,26; Acts 1:8)
    10. A disciple cares for the lost and the poor and needy. (Matthew 25:31-46; James 1:26-27 — <not from Jesus>)