The Double Dog Dare Of Discipleship – A Message For Christians To Be All They Can Be!

Come on! I dare you; I double dog dare you. Do it. Try Jesus Christ and really give Him your all.

I remember in the late 1950’s. I am 11 years old, and I am playing on a jet airport runway access road with my uncle. He is only a year older than I, and we are like brothers. Tommy and I are a “little” mischievous on this day. This particular road is not well-traveled and this gives much liberty to play. We skipped, threw rocks, and played dare games to see who would do the most bizarre antics (actually the most stupid). My mother had not a clue and this made it even more fun. We come across a treasure of unparalleled worth for two young champions of incorrectness. Tommy and I found an old Three Musketeers Bar still in its tattered wrapper. We dust it off with our shirts, look playfully toward each other, and I say, “Let’s eat it!” Tommy answers, “No Way!” Now, the fun really begins. I up the ante, “I dare you to eat the bar!” My uncle calls and raises the stake, “I double dog dare you to eat it!” To make the story short, eventually we split that old bar and took a solemn oath to never tell my mom or anyone. This illustration is truthfully ridiculous, but I am very serious as I encourage you to accept Christ today and give your all.

I am reading the writings of the Apostle Paul in the Bible. Here is a man of amazing courage and fortitude. I feel so humbled when I compare my discipleship to his. What a great man of God! Listen to his testimony that he make towards the close of his life:\

Philippians 1:20-22 MKJV according to my earnest expectation and hope that I shall be ashamed in nothing, but as always now Christ shall be magnified in my body with all boldness, whether it is by life or by death. (21) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (22) But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor. Yet I do not know what I shall choose.

It is not enough to just accept Christ as your Savior; we all need to follow Him into discipleship!

Discipleship goes beyond accepting Christ as Savior. It builds upon your personal, intimate relationship with God into an ever deeper Christian maturity. It involves witnessing Christ to others; it involves nurturing others in their Christian faith; it even involves a spiritual parenting of others to their Christian maturity.

Links on “What is a Disciple?”

1. Web definitions for discipleship
2. What is discipleship? Discipling goes beyond witnessing, it's the nurturing of a new Christian's faith and the parenting of the new Christian into maturity.
3. What is Christian discipleship? What is Christian discipleship? How important is discipleship in the Christian life?
4. What is Discipleship? Faith Cycle Ministries presents Richard Krejcir's What is Discipleship.
5. Discipleship Training Overview: Thoughts on Making Disciples and ... Discipleship Training Overview defines discipleship, enumerates five misconceptions of discipleship, helps you know how to evaluate discipleship materials, ...
6. What is Discipleship? - Into Thy Word Ministries What is discipleship and what is Jesus calling us to in Matthew 28:18-20? Is this a command, or a suggestion; does it mean we are just to evangelize and let ...
7. What is a Disciple? If you do not understand and experience basic truths about discipleship taught by the apostle Paul and Jesus Christ, you are not his disciple, and you won't ...
8. Christian Discipleship Program – The A, B, C’s of Serving Christ

• A disciple accepts her role as servant of Christ, of His Church, and of people!

Matthew 10:24-25 MKJV A disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. (25) It is enough for the disciple that he is like his master, and the servant like his lord. …

Luke 6:40 MKJV The disciple is not above his master, but everyone who is perfect shall be like his master.

• A disciple must have a love for Christ so intense that all other loves are as hate in comparison!

Luke 14:26-27 MKJV If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. (27) And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me, he cannot be My disciple.

• A disciple recognizes that everything he has comes from God and must hold his possessions “loosely.”

Luke 14:33 MKJV So then, everyone of you who does not forsake all his possessions, he cannot be My disciple.

• A Disciple is a student and practitioner of the Word of God.

John 8:31-32 MKJV Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed on Him, If you continue in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. (32) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

• A Disciple bears the fruit of following Christ.

John 15:8-14 MKJV In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you shall be My disciples. (9) As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; continue in My love. (10) If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. (11) I have spoken these things to you so that My joy might remain in you and your joy might be full. (12) This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (13) No one has greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (14) You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

Links:

1. Characteristics of Discipleship You will understand some essential characteristics of a discipleship ministry and consider
2. Characteristics of a Disciple Who is a disciple? What are the prescriptive characteristics of a disciple?
3. Bible.org: A Biblical Profile of a Disciple (Session 39) You are encouraged to look up the following verses and see the characteristics of a disciple. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus has told us to go into all the ...
4. SermonCentral.com: Characteristics of a Disciple by Tommy Burrus Offers sermons online, sermon illustrations and sermon outlines for use in Christian ministry by pastors, ministers and priests.

When folks want to argue religion with me, I answer them, “I really do not like arguing over things. Why don’t you just, Come and see!” One taste of the Master will change your life. Also,I double dog dare you!