True Discipleship Vs. Churchianity:
Matthew 4:19 And He saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
7:21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.
7:26, 27 And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
8:11, 12 Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven.
But the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness
8:22 Follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead.
10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
10:34-39 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.
12:30 He that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.
12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.
15:8, 9 This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.
But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
16:24, 25 Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.
19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.
23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
Mark 16:15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Luke 6:46 Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
8:21 My brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
9:23, 24 And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it.
14:23 Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.
14:26 If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
12:26 If any man serve Me, let him follow Me.
13:15 I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.
14:12 He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also
14:15 If ye love Me, keep My commandments.
15:8 Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.
15:14 Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15:16 Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit
21:16 Lovest thou Me? … Feed My sheep.
21:22 Follow thou Me.
Acts 1:8 Ye shall be witnesses unto Me … unto the uttermost part of the earth.
5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands
1Corinthians 13:1,2 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.
2Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in Him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
3:18 Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Revelation 3:15-19 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Popularity, Position & Reputation:
Matthew 5:10, 11 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.
7:13, 14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake.
Luke 6:26 Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you.
14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
16:15 That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake.
John 8:23 I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
15:18, 19 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
15:20 If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you
16:2 The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
17:14 The World hath hated them, because they are not of the World, even as I am not of the World.
Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
1Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ’s sake.
4:13 We are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things
Phillipians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Daring to Be Different:
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Acts 5:29 We ought to obey God rather than men.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The True Christian Stance on War and Patriotism:
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
Luke 6:32, 33 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
Romans 12:17, 18 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
2Corinthians 10:3, 4 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood
Revelation 13:10 He that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.
18:4 Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Materialism:
Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal
6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Mark 10:24 Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Luke 1:53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away.
12:15 Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.
John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you
Acts 2:44, 45 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
2Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
1Timothy 6:7-10 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have
James 1:11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Spiritual Pride & Self-righteousness:
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
9:12, 13 They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
25:40 Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.
John 3:17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
8:15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
12:47 And if any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Acts 10:15 What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
10:34 God is no respecter of persons
Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more
1Corinthians 4:5-7 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
That ye might learn not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
2Corinthians 3:6 The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
A “Conservative” Attitude:
Matthew 9:16, 17 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
15:6 Ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
22:32 God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Pre-Tribulation Rapture:
Matthew 24:29, 31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
And He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
2Thessalonians 2:1-4 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him,
That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Revelation 11:3 And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
12:13, 14 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman.
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Are the Jews Still God’s Chosen People?
Romans 2:28, 29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Are We Still Under the Mosaic Law?
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree
4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Ephesians 2:8, 9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
