Becoming a Stronger Disciple

WHO A DISCIPLE LOVES

A strong disciple correctly prioritizes his devotions in life.

(Mark 3:20-21) Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples were not even able to eat. When His family heard about this, they went to take charge of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.” (31-35) Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call Him. A crowd was sitting around Him, and they told Him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for You.” “Who are my mother and my brothers?” He asked. Then He looked at those seated in a circle around Him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

4. Love for Mother

A. Love for parents and siblings is our FOURTH priority.

B. Jesus had a tremendous love for his mother.

1) Mother’s and sons share a special bond.

2) Oldest sons assume primary love responsibility for their widowed moms.

3) Jesus and His mother shared a soul-bonding secret.

4) Jesus had an increased capacity to love his mom.

3. Love for Disciples

(34-35) Then He looked at those seated in a circle around Him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

A. Love for other disciples is our THIRD priority.

B. Only strong disciples can genuinely love other disciples.

(John 13:34-35) “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

C. Our love for one another is our only proof to the world that we are genuine disciples.

2. Love for Wife

(Ephesians 5:21-25) “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”

A. Love for our spouse is our SECOND priority.

(Ephesians 5:31) “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

1. Love for Jesus

A. Love for Jesus is our absolute FIRST priority in life.

B. Am I correctly prioritizing my devotions in life?