1. GROWING TOGETHER
Committed to Others

3. The Chosen Twelve Peter – fisherman, impulsive and quick-tempered.
James – fisherman, brother of John, fiery temperament
John – fisherman, brother of James, fiery temperament
Andrew – fisherman, brother of Peter
Bartholomew or Nathanael – a prince of Geshur
James, the Younger – brother of Jude and of Matthew
Judas Iscariot – ultra nationalist Jew
Thaddeus or Judas – another ultra nationalist
Matthew or Levi – tax collector for the Romans
Philip – fisherman, easy-going personality
Simon the Zealot – zealous, extremist, Jew, hated Rome
Thomas – a pessimistic man, a doubter
I don’t think that even one of these men would be chosen by any selection committee today (Except possibly Judas Iscariot). Nevertheless, after Jesus had finished with them, they turned the world upside down! However Jesus had first to turn them upside down. He’d been preaching about the Kingdom of Heaven and he taught them that life and made them into disciples.
Today, there is a world population of Christians exceeding 2.5 billion with an annual net growth rate of 3.8 million (Wikipedia) so they must have had some success!! How did he do it? How did they do it?
So why should we want to become a fellowship of disciples of Christ anyway? If we are Christians, isn’t that enough? Well, no it isn’t. One of my favourite authors, Dallas Willard quotes Matthew 28:19-20 with Jesus saying “….go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (that’s making them Christians) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (that’s making them disciples).
This last command of Jesus is usually called the Great Commission. For us to be complete Christians we have to be disciples and to help to teach others to be disciples. If that doesn’t happen, it gives rise to what Willard calls his book – The Great Omission. It’s almost as though we would be Vampire Christians, taking a little bit of Jesus’ blood to ensure our salvation, but not bothering about anyone else. So, if we want to be disciples, if we want to have that true fellowship in Christ, how do we go about it? Back to how did Jesus do it?

4. Jesus Commitment to Others
Focussed and Costly – Mk 8: 31-33; 15:33-40
2.Didn’t pester people – Mk 10: 17-2
3.Was willing to be interrupted – Mk 5:21-41
4.Met the needs of the whole person Mk6:32-44

6. GOWING TOGETHER COMMITMENT TO OTHERS
What If?