Becoming Disciples of Jesus the Rabbi
I Kings 19:19-21

"You cannot separate life from work. The way you do the most insignificant activity in your daily life will reflect in your work."

I. A Different Way to Learn

A. To follow a rabbi was much more like a traditional apprenticeship than sitting in a classroom.

B. Learning was not so much about retaining data as it was about gaining essential wisdom for living, absorbing it from one's mentor.

C. A disciple is one who dedicates him/herself to learning a rabbi's understanding of Scripture and his way of living it out.

D. The task of the disciple was to become as much like the rabbi as possible.

II. How to Raise a Disciple (Elijah and Elisha)

A. God instructed Elijah to "anoint" Elisha to be his successor. And Elijah discipled Elijah

I Kings 19:19-21
"Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you."
"Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?"
21So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant."

B. The disciple gives up everything to follow the mentor everywhere.

C. A disciple did not grasp the full significance of his mentor's teaching except through prolonged close association.

D. Jesus was constantly surprising his disciples, challenging their way of looking at God and at others.

III. Discipleship has always been about a process.

A. The changes that Jesus worked in his disciples' lives did not come easily or instantly.

B. Miracles happen, but the inner transformation we so desperately desire can only be achieved over time as we allow the Holy Spirit to continue cleansing us.

C. Total Commitment: We can only become Christ-like by maintaining a constant close connection.

1. "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).

2. He said, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head" (Luke 9:58).

3. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34).

The goal of discipleship is not simply to grow in self-discipline, but to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.