When Jesus Christ began His ministry, He sought specific qualities in His disciples, choosing men who could deny themselves and bear a cross, as He declares in Matthew 16:24, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." A Christian must take a firm stand against personal urges that oppose God's righteousness, walking Christ's path and enduring the trials of living in an ungodly world. In Mark 10:21, Jesus tests the rich young ruler with the command to sell all he has, give to the poor, and follow Him, revealing the depth of commitment required. As He states in Luke 14:33, "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." Some of His chosen disciples, like Matthew and Peter, had wealth or families, yet they faced the decision to leave everything behind to follow Him. In today's context, while Christ no longer physically walks with us, God still seeks an attitude of willingness to give up everything for the Kingdom, even if total abandonment may not be required. The proof of this willingness lies in our good works, as highlighted in Matthew 25:35-36, 40, where Jesus emphasizes helping others through acts like providing food, drink, clothing, temporary housing, care during sickness, and visiting the imprisoned. Additionally, a disciple must be sensitive to the weaker consciences of others, as Paul warns in I Corinthians 8:10-13, urging restraint in actions that might cause a brother to stumble. This principle of looking out for others' interests, even at the cost of personal rights, embodies the essence of godly love, as expressed in Philippians 2:4.

Jesus Christ did not select just anyone to be a disciple; He sought those who would meet specific conditions of true discipleship. He emphasized denying oneself, bearing one's cross, and doing good works as essential traits. He taught that loving Him must surpass all earthly ties, stating that if anyone does not reject their father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even their own life in favor of Him, they cannot be His disciple. This rejection is not about malice but about choosing loyalty to Him over human bonds. His twelve disciples exemplified this by leaving everything behind to follow Him, including their careers and family businesses, as seen when Levi, a tax collector, abandoned all to join Him. Steadfastness is another vital requirement Jesus placed on discipleship. He declared that those who abide in His word are truly His disciples, meaning they must remain stable and committed to His teachings. This abiding is not mere obedience but a determined and disciplined effort to grow and produce spiritual fruit. Jesus warned that looking back after starting on this path renders one unfit for the kingdom of God, urging disciples to keep their focus on the goal and bear much fruit to glorify the Father. Without such fruit, one cannot be considered His disciple. A disciple's life should overflow with new discoveries, insights, increasing wisdom, and improved relationships through living God's way, ensuring they shine forth as the righteous in the kingdom of their Father.

Self-renunciation is an indispensable condition of following Christ, requiring full and selfless service to God with our hearts and minds, not just our bodies. True discipleship demands that we forsake all we have as a mandatory condition to becoming Christ's disciples. Loyalty to Jesus Christ and God the Father must surpass even the highest earthly loves, placing God first in our lives. The cost of discipleship means a life of surrender to God's will and sacrifice for His cause, a journey that costs disciples their lives. Christ requires nothing of us that He Himself has not endured, having lived with the humiliation and agony of following God's will. Discipleship involves counting the cost before committing to God's way of life, recognizing that the truth is costly and worth the price. Jesus warns that failure to count this cost results in an incomplete life, as no one who looks back after putting their hand to the plow is fit for the Kingdom of God. Holding fast to the word of life is essential for finishing one's life successfully. As in the parable of a king going to war, both Christ and His followers must count the cost, testing the quality of potential soldiers and preparing with resolve and fortitude to triumph over spiritual enemies, the world, and human nature. Perseverance, endurance, willpower, and willingness to sacrifice are vital traits for this battle. Forsaking all means being willing to run the full distance to arrive at the Kingdom of God, planning and sacrificing as necessary. Disciples must be prepared to pay the full price of discipleship, sacrificing pleasures, distractions, material possessions, and even family if they hinder serving God. In this war against powerful enemies, we must exercise self-control and discipline, overcoming only with the help of the Spirit of our King.

Walking in Christ's footsteps is a fundamental principle of Christian living, though it is one of the most challenging tasks. If we succeed, He will commend us in the resurrection as good and faithful servants, having not only lived as He did but also taken on His character image. Following Jesus is neither easy nor risk-free, involving sacrifices and hardships that demand absolute devotion and dedication to Christ Himself. Jesus tests the hearts of those He calls, seeking their willingness to commit to His way of life and purposes, requiring them to be ready to give all. The Christian life is marked by discomfort, as Jesus Himself had no place to lay His head. As strangers and sojourners, Christians are travelers toward the Kingdom of God, unable to expect all the comforts of home. The accoutrements of this world—homes, jobs, vacations, clothes, pastimes—must not hold us back in our devotion to Christ, and we must be willing to forsake them if they hinder our relationship with God, despite the discomfort this may bring. The Christian life is also sacrificial, often requiring us to forsake customary duties, privileges, associations, and activities of normal life. Jesus emphasizes that the focus must be on the living, those called by God, prioritizing His will above all else. This may mean missing out on many of this world's activities, and whether we pass or fail depends on our priorities. If ties to the world are too strong, we will be unwilling to sacrifice them to follow Christ, yet true discipleship demands cutting many of these ties. Furthermore, the Christian life demands new loyalties. Once committed to God's way, turning back renders one unfit. Many Christians, being the only ones called from their families, may need to forsake their own blood to a degree as their ways of life diverge, leading to natural separation. In the church, under a new and better way of life, they find a new identity, family, and purpose. Jesus warns that devotion to Him and God's way must be stronger than blood ties, requiring an act of will to make God the first priority and to go where He directs. In this manner, we begin to live the life of Christ.

Among the many who profess to be Christians, identifying true disciples of Jesus Christ remains a challenge. What distinguishes a true follower of Christ is not merely the keeping of commandments, observing specific days, or attending a particular church, but something far more profound. Jesus Himself provides the identifying sign in John 13:34-35, declaring, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." This command introduces a new standard of love, modeled on His own sacrificial and selfless example, far exceeding the love we naturally show to ourselves. This love, so rare and extraordinary, becomes a visible miracle that sets true disciples apart. It is through the presence of His Spirit that such love is possible, as Paul writes in Romans 8:9 that without the Spirit of Christ, one does not belong to Him. Only by His Spirit living in us can we reproduce His way of life and bear the fruit of that Spirit, with love being the foremost fruit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Thus, the true disciple is identified by the practice of this godly love, a criterion that significantly narrows the field of those who are genuine followers of Christ.

In the closing chapters of John's gospel, among the last sayings of Christ after His resurrection, two significant commands stand as a great responsibility and a great invitation: "Feed My sheep" and "Follow Me." These sayings, repeated for emphasis, underscore their importance. "Feed My sheep," reiterated three times, highlights the duty to care for Christ's flock, which belongs to Him by creation and redemption. As under-shepherds, our primary responsibility is to nourish His sheep by teaching and sharing the Word of God through regular, orderly, and comprehensive communication, ensuring a balanced approach that avoids neglecting any part of Scripture. This task, whether performed by ministers or parents, must be approached prayerfully and obediently, recognizing that we are accountable to the Chief Shepherd. The command "Follow Me," repeated twice, serves as an enduring call to discipleship. It urges us to keep our eyes on Christ as the standard of service, avoiding distractions and self-reliance. Following Him reveals our inadequacies and unites us as brethren, fostering humility and mutual support. This call applies across differences in age, temperament, and calling, reminding us to focus on our own responsibilities rather than comparing ourselves to others. Discipleship, as conveyed through these words, involves self-denial and taking up our cross, renouncing sin and anything contrary to God's will, even if it is not inherently wrong but not meant for us. By continuously following Christ, we learn to deny ourselves and embrace the joy of His path, finding true life through surrender to His example and guidance.

Discipleship in the journey of faith mirrors the commitment of a lifelong vow, akin to the sacred promises made in marriage. Just as young couples make the second most serious decision of their lives at a wedding, we have made a profound commitment to become the Bride, faithful to our Groom, Jesus Christ, through the vow at baptism. This vow, often revisited as a reminder of our promises before God, calls us to reflect on how we came into God's church, drawn by God the Father long before we understood our path, gently reeling us in over time. Before baptism, we had to be called by God, recognizing that it was not due to our own merits but because He saw something in us He desired. The process involved attending church with excitement and fear, craving knowledge about God, and eventually seeking baptism as the most serious commitment we would ever make. The ministry bore the responsibility to ensure we understood what baptism truly meant—counting the cost, knowing it was necessary to wash away sins, and being part of the salvation process as a command. Baptism represents dying to sin, being buried with Christ, and rising as a new creation, free from past sins, with the intent to have no further connection with sin. Discipleship requires us to crucify the old self, putting to death our human nature and carnal mind, understanding that just as Pharaoh's army chased Israel, sin will pursue us, yet we must not serve it. We are to live a new life, planted with Christ in the ground of God's instructions, growing into His fullness with the promise of being raised to glory at our resurrection. Repentance, belief in Jesus Christ, and denying oneself are crucial steps—measuring our desires against God's standards, taking up our cross to endure afflictions for conformity to Him, and submitting to His teachings. Following Jesus Christ in discipleship is a hard reality, not a mere charm or theory, requiring a conscious commitment with a realistic estimate of the personal cost. We must be ready to give up whatever it takes to follow Him, emulating His example of counting the cost, even as He did in Gethsemane, honoring His Father despite the price. This path sets us at odds with the world, demanding we stand firm in our vows, not swayed by worldly opinions, and present ourselves as living sacrifices, wholly belonging to God, transformed by a radical change inwardly and outwardly. As disciples, we are not our own, created and redeemed by God, purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ, and called to use our lives to promote His honor and glory. The gift of God's Spirit, received at baptism, empowers us to overcome and make needed changes, bringing peace and the hope of sharing in God's glory as members of His Family. Despite challenges and confusion over time, our baptismal vows remain binding, part of the uncounted cost we could not foresee, yet we are required to stay faithful, knowing God will not quit on us and will support us to bring us to His kingdom of glory. Discipleship involves continuing in God's way, adding faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity to our lives, ensuring we do not forget or ignore our commitment. Just as a couple celebrating 50 years of marriage reflects enduring obedience to their vows through trials, God desires us to be proud and thrilled at our spiritual anniversary, recognizing that the struggles are worth the eternal reward awaiting us. We are joint heirs with Christ, destined to manifest the fullness of God's power as His body and Family, fixing our eyes firmly on Him and living up to the promises we made before our God.

The defining trait of Christ's disciples is that they show love for each other just as Christ loved His disciples. This love is characterized by two positive attributes: longsuffering and kindness. Longsuffering, often used to describe God, involves enduring ill-treatment without retaliation, bearing long with one another, and forgiving as Christ forgave. Kindness, the active side of love, is a predisposition to do good to others, even to those who mistreat us, seeking to help whenever a need arises. As Christians, we are commanded to manifest both longsuffering and kindness, reflecting God's character in our actions. Loving one another is not merely a suggestion but a direct command from Christ, and showing this love is the identifying sign that we are His true disciples. As God's called and converted children, we must obey this command and love one another as He has loved us.

My subject is discipleship, and I aim to teach you how to be a bad disciple by looking at it from a negative perspective. Sometimes, examining our errors through this lens helps us recognize our own shortcomings. When Jesus called His disciples by the Sea of Galilee—Peter, Andrew, James, and John—He simply said, Follow Me, and they immediately left everything to follow Him. Though they knew Him and His teachings, they likely did not fully grasp the cost of their commitment. Their lives faced immense challenges, including martyrdom for most, and even John endured great hardships. We, too, struggle to foresee the full cost of discipleship, unable to predict the sacrifices, emotional struggles, and trials God will use to prepare us for His Kingdom. Mercifully, He often keeps us unaware of the full extent of these challenges, guiding us gently through the process. God tests us to reveal our character and decisions under pressure, to see if we will remain faithful to Him. So, I ask you to consider: What kind of disciple are you? Have you grown in making righteous decisions over the years of your calling? In Luke 9:46-62, Jesus provides a template for being a bad disciple through four interactions, highlighting wrong attitudes we must avoid. Each incident follows a pattern: an infraction occurs, the background is understood, and Jesus offers corrective teaching. The first no-no for disciples is self-exaltation. The disciples sought to be the greatest among themselves, but Jesus teaches that a disciple is a follower, not a leader by ambition. Our place is under the Master, and we must learn humility by serving others, even at our own expense. Welcoming or accepting others, as Jesus says, reflects how we treat Him. We must value others equally or above ourselves, taking the lower seat and allowing God to handle our exaltation. The second no-no is exclusivity, the attitude of believing we are the only ones doing right or that God only works through us. This us-versus-them mentality undermines discipleship and fellowship. Jesus teaches that if others are not against us, we should not hinder them, nor must we join them. We must focus on what God has called us to do, trusting Him to guide others in His time and way, without judgment or antagonism. The third no-no is resorting to persecution, taking vengeance in God's name when we feel disrespected or wronged. Jesus rebukes this attitude, reminding us that He came to save, not destroy. Even in the face of rejection or dispute, we have no right to harm others, whether through actions or words. Instead, we must turn the other cheek, leave vengeance to God, and avoid conflict that could damage our witness. The fourth no-no is distraction, illustrated by three encounters in Luke 9:57-62. A bad disciple is easily sidetracked by over-concern for self, the world, or family. Jesus challenges the first man, a scribe, on his readiness to face the privations of discipleship, knowing his focus on physical comforts would hinder him. The second man prioritizes worldly duties over following Jesus, but Jesus emphasizes that serving God comes before serving man. The third man is distracted by family ties, and Jesus warns that devotion to family must never surpass devotion to Him. He summarizes with the metaphor of plowing: a disciple must stay focused on the goal, not looking back or being diverted by distractions. God and Christ chose us to be disciples with the purpose of bearing fruit. To do so, we must shed the bad habits of human nature—self-exaltation, exclusivity, persecution, and distraction—that spoil our discipleship. We must keep our minds fixed on the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ, striving to be the best disciples we can be.