Page 8 - August 2014 Catalyst

Iam a Jesus pusher!!! e Greek word (akoloutheo) translated followed does not apply to the disciples after the Gospel accounts. It is extremely important to no- tice the use of the Greek word (matheteuo) translated disciple. As a noun it appears two hundred and sixty-one times in the New Testament, however, it is only found in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. e verb form as used in the Great Commis- sion (Matthew 28:19) only appears four times (Matthew 13:52; 27:57; 28:19; Acts 14:21). is amazed me! You would think the idea of discipleship as proposed by Je- sus in the Great Commission would echo throughout the epistles. It is never men- tioned in that form.
e idea of “following” or “disciple- ship” seems to disappear in the epistles. e Gospel approach of attachment to a physical Jesus with its external emphasis is swallowed up in the New Covenant ap- proach of the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ. e shift from the external Jesus to the internal Jesus demands a shift in language as well. All of the old structure and language becomes old wineskins into which the new wine is poured. It cannot contain it! Jesus comes to indwell us! is takes us beyond just physically attending worship services in a physical building. We become the temple of the indwelling Jesus who transforms our lives. I am an indwelt Jesus pusher!!!
8 CityLight.org
August 2014