Discipleship in the 21st Century
Following Jesus is not always easy. Weigh the cost of discipleship in Mark's Gospel, from taking up the cross to the rich man who walked away, and explore how Christians live as disciples today.
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The cost of following
In Mark's Gospel Jesus is clear that following him has a cost, and that a disciple must put him before everything else. This module weighs that cost and asks what discipleship looks like for Christians in the 21st century.
Self-denial and mission words
Four terms run through this module:
What it costs, what it gives
Jesus taught that discipleship is demanding, but that it leads somewhere worth the cost.
Take up your cross
In Mark 8, what did Jesus say a follower must do?
- Deny themselves and take up their cross
- Become wealthy first
- Lead an army
- Stay silent about their faith
Match each idea to what it means
- Mark 8:34-38
- Mark 10:17-31
- Self-denial
- Mission
- Deny yourself and take up your cross
- The rich man who kept his wealth
- Putting God before your own wants
- Sharing the faith with others
The rich man walks away
A rich man asked Jesus how to gain eternal life. He had kept the commandments, but when Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give to the poor, he went away sad. Jesus said it is hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, but that with God all things are possible (Mark 10:17-31).
Following today
Select the TWO ways a Christian might live out discipleship today.
- Serving and helping other people
- Sharing their faith with others
- Ignoring the teaching of Jesus
- Keeping their beliefs completely secret
The rich man, step by step
Put the account of the rich man in Mark 10 into order.
- A rich man asks Jesus how to gain eternal life
- Jesus reminds him to keep the commandments
- Jesus tells him to sell his possessions and follow
- The man goes away sad because he is very wealthy
Match each act to what it is
- Worship and prayer
- Giving to charity
- Mission
- Standing firm
- Growing closer to God
- Helping those in need
- Sharing the good news with others
- Keeping faith under pressure
Why he was sad
Why did the rich man in Mark 10 go away sad?
- He could not give up his wealth to follow Jesus
- He had broken all the commandments
- He was told to become a priest
- He did not believe in God
Discipleship in words
Jesus taught that a follower must deny themselves and take up their _____. A _____ man in Mark 10 kept the commandments but could not give up his wealth to follow Jesus. Today, Christians live out _____ through worship, service and sharing their faith, which is called _____. Following Jesus can be costly, but it leads to a place in the _____ of God.
The cost of discipleship
Tap the TWO statements that are TRUE.
- Jesus taught that disciples must deny themselves and take up their cross.
- The rich man went away sad because he could not give up his wealth.
- Jesus said it is easy for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God.
- Discipleship today means keeping your faith completely hidden.
- Self-denial means putting your own wants first.
Discipleship in action
Work out what each situation shows about modern discipleship.
- A Christian volunteers at a food bank and gives money to help people in need. Which part of discipleship is this?
- A Christian tells a friend about their faith and invites them to church. What is this an example of?
- Someone argues that following a religion is an unnecessary waste of time. How might a Christian respond?
The cost and the calling
Explain what Jesus taught about the cost of discipleship, and explain how a Christian might live as a disciple in the 21st century.
- Explain what Jesus said a disciple must do
- Explain what the rich man's story shows about the cost
- Describe two ways a Christian follows Jesus today
- Explain one response to those who say discipleship is unnecessary