Disciples Of Christ
Sermon # 5 - Fruitful Disciples Of Christ
Today is sermon #5 in a series of 6 sermons about Disciples of Christ. So far we have seen
“False Disciples”
“Fearful Disciples”
“Fallen Disciples”
“Faithful Disciples”
Today we will look to the “Fallen Disciple” (Peter) and the “Faithful Disciple” (John) and see a few things about “Fruitful Disciples”
Consider what Jesus said in - John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:
Jesus tells His disciples that He chose them. He chose them for a purpose- “To Bear fruit” …To convert sinners. Jesus reveals that bearing fruit is not a temporary success. The fruit of our labors will remain throughout eternity.
I. The Reach Of Fruitful Disciples
A. They Reach People Personally - Acts 3:1-11
Peter & John went to the Temple at the time of prayer, They encountered a man who had been lame from birth, He was brought to the Beautiful Gate daily. He was a beggar and asked them for some money.
Peter looked at this man and said - Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! He then walked, leaped and began praising God. He then entered the Temple with them.
Imagine how many people simply ignored this beggar each day.
You know how it is, you see someone who looks different or undesirable and you will go out of your way not to come near that person. Maybe there were some who weren’t offended or put off by this man but they simply didn’t have (or take) the time to deal with him.
We are told that when Peter & John encountered them they “fastened their eyes on him” Think of how many people you encounter on a daily basis who are going through difficulty and are just hoping someone will notice and offer to help.
How many lost souls do you work with and never take the time to tell them about Jesus. Friend, if you seek to be a “fruitful disciple” You MUST reach out to people personally. Note: It is my experience that the best chance you have to lead someone to Jesus, is with those whom you have a personal relationship.
Not only do fruitful Disciples reach people personally:
B. They Reach People Publicly Acts 3:9-26
After this miracle, the people saw this beggar walking &praising God.The crowd was amazed!
Peter saw the crowd and immediately addressed them. He told them that they did nothing… GOD DID! The same God that sent His Son Jesus to them. This same Jesus that they rejected - He boldly proclaims that his man was healed “THROUGH FAITH IN THE NAME OF JESUS”
Peter goes on to tell them in Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
The message that we share is the same as Peter’s message back then! We are to reach people personally but never pass up the opportunity to reach a crowd.
Fruitful Disciples reach people personally & publicly but also:
C. They Reach People Properly - Acts 4:1 ¶And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed;
Verse 2 says that they “preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead”
Peter made it clear that this miracle was not through their own power. Peter & John Preached Jesus!
In fact, if you read the entirety of chapter 3 you find a great summary of the Gospel.
God sent Jesus!
Jesus was rejected!
Jesus died for your sins!
Repent of your sins!
That is STILL our message today
Being a fruitful disciples is not about you ...It is not about personally glory ...It is about obedience and GOD’S GLORY!!
II. The Resolve Of Fruitful Disciples - v1b the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
After the miracle and the message came persecution! They were seized and held overnight. The next day they were brought before Annas the high priest as well as Caiaphas and others. They asked “By what power, have you done this?
Verse 8 tells us that “Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people,9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ
Peter then boldly proclaims - “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
The members of the council were amazed at the boldness of Peter and John, They could knew that they were ordinary men, They could tell that they had no special training, They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus
The keyword in this text is “BOLDNESS”
They did not compromise, They did not fear imprisonment or death, They were resolute and stood firm and spoke the truth. In fact, they used it as ANOTHER opportunity to share the gospel!
When you are a fruitful disciple you will encounter persecution.You must have the resolve to remain bold in the face of persecution! What is the benefit of being a “fruitful disciple”? Consider:
III. The Results Of Fruitful Disciples - Acts 4:4
Let’s be honest, “fruitful disciples” are not quite as common as false, fallen or fearful disciples.
But I would like to refer you back to the verse we examined earlier. Jesus said - Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: John 15:16
If you are a disciple, you are called to be a FRUITFUL DISCIPLE! When you are fruitful, here are the results:
A. Lives Will Be Changed - v4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed and the number of the men was about five thousand.
How amazing it must have been to witness this man who had been “lame from his mother’s womb” begin to walk, leap & praise the Lord. What a blessing to witness a life being changed.
You have the opportunity to be a vessel that God uses to change people’s lives spiritually. How you ask? The same way Peter & John changed lives. Consider:
1) The Method Of Changed Lives - “many of them which heard the word believed”
Without the Word of God, anything we attempt to do is an exercise in futility.
Paul says in- Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Our works are empty without the Word!
It is the Word that reveals sin!
It is the Word that demands repentance!
It is the Word that points people to Jesus!
The people that Peter & John ministered to, RESPONDED TO THE WORD!
If you are saved it is because you RESPONDED TO THE WORD! If you get saved it will be because you RESPOND TO THE WORD!
2) The Magnitude Of Changed Lives - “the number of the men was about five thousand”
Not only did they HEAR & BELIEVE, a great number believed. Think about this, this was an ongoing process. This all began when Peter & John took the time to heal a lame beggar. They went from this lame beggar, to the crowd, to the religious rulers.
You may have attempted to do a work fro the Lord and it seems that you failed. It may have seemed this way to Peter and John as they were seized and held overnight.
But God was working out a plan. Friend, God may be working out a plan in your life. If you will allow Him to, He can and will use you to do great things for His name sake!! So, Are you a fruitful disciple?
You can be. In fact if you are saved you should be! We have seen a great illustration of how to be fruitful in the lives of Peter & John today.
1. Be willing To Reach… Personally, Publicly, & Properly.
2. Have a firm resolve in the face of persecution
3. Watch for the results (changed lives)
Maybe you are ere and you have never surrendered you life to Jesus Christ. You may not realize it but you are in the same condition as this beggar.
He was lame physically, you are lame spiritually.
He couldn’t do anything for himself
He was looking for one thing and got something so much better.
You may be looking for something and you just don’t know what it is.
This man wanted some money! Peter said “I have no silver and gold, but I have something even better!” You can be changed just like he was and you can leave here today …”walking, leaping & praising God!”
