Branded: #2 What Does It Mean to be a Christian?
Series: Branded
May 06, 2018
Landon Henry
Episode Notes
BRANDED – 2
The Mark of a Disciple
What Does It Mean to be a Christian?
Prayed A Prayer
Baptism
Confirmation
Your Brand = True Brand
“I was a Christian, but not anymore.”
For some people being a Christian is all about what you believe. For others it’s all about how you behave.
The term “Christian” only appears three times in the Bible.
Acts 11:25-26 NIV Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
“Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for the abominations, called Christians’ by the populace.”
“Christus, from whom the name had it’s origin,
“Christus, from whom the name had it’s origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus…” -Cornelius Tacitus
DISCIPLE: It’s a terrifying term and should disturb you, because it’s CLEARLY DEFINED.
Acts 11:26 NIV The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
A Disciple is a:
Learner
Pupil
Apprentice
Adherent
Follower
Acts 6:7 NIV So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 9:26 NIV When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.
Acts 9:36 NIV In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.
Are we disciples?
John 13:33 NIV “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
John 13:34 NIV A new command I give you:
John 13:34 NIV A new command I give you: Love one another.
John 13:34 NIV As I have loved you, you must love one another.
John 13:35 NIV By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,
John 13:35 NIV …if you love one another.
Mark #2 of a Disciple: An Extraordinary Love for People
John 13:36 NIV Simon Peter asked him, “Lord where are you going?”
Ephesians 3:17-19 NKJ
...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Four Dimensions of Love:
1. Loving the least.
2. Loving the lost.
Matthew 18:11 NKJ “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”
3. Loving cross-culturally.
4. Loving my enemies.
Matthew 5:43-48 NKJ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Romans 12:17-21 NIV Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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