Are You a Christian Or a Disciple?

I lovingly dedicate this book to the staff, students and graduates of Back to the Bible Training Institute in Barberton, South Africa as they prayerfully attempt to win Africa for Jesus Christ by preaching the Gospel and making disciples.

Are You a Christian or a Disciple?

Endorsements

Preface

Part One – Biblical Discipleship Forgotten Today

1.  A Life Changing Question

a.  Not a nice world

b.  What have we become?

c.  Biblical words may be lost

d.  One way biblical words are lost

2.  Where “Christian” was Coined

a.  2 billion+ Christians

b.  Where it all started (Acts 11:26)

c.  An insulted king (Acts 26:28)

d.  A term of derision (1 Peter 4:16)

e.  A 21st century parable

3.  What “Disciple” Meant in the 1st Century

a.  Today’s confusion

1.  Of the term disciple

2.  Of the discipleship texts

b.  The marks of a 1st century disciple

1.  Memorizing the teachings of the rabbi

2.  Understanding & accepting the rabbi’s view of OT

3.  Imitating the life of the rabbi

4.  Becoming a rabbi and making disciples

5.  Submitting totally to the rabbi

4.  The Continuing Crisis in Christianity

a.  The crisis was clearly understood and explained in the 1880’s

b.  The crisis was strongly identified in the 1980’s

c.  The crisis was globally seen in the 1990’s

d.  The crisis is being powerfully addressed in the 21st century

Part Two – Biblical Discipleship Challenges Today

5.  Following Jesus or Being a Christian?

a.  “Test everything. Hold on to the good.”

b.  Simon Says …

c.  “A Different Jesus”

d.  Why I Wanted another Jesus

e.  Is Jesus really present today?

f.  Once popular Christian Songs

6.  Jesus and Evangelism

a.  Two ways to reach the world

b.  My way to reach the world

c.  The Gospel is good news

d.  What kind of evangelism is this?

e.  Why make it harder rather than easier?

f.  The call of Christ

g.  Call it what it is

7.  Jesus and Salvation, Grace & Faith

a.  “Are only a few people going to be saved?”

b.  Grace and works in “salvation”

c.  True and false grace

d.  A faith that does not save

e.  Demonic professions of faith

8.  Jesus and Repentance

a.  Repentance and faith—which first?

b.  Two sides of true repentance

c.  Some things can’t be rushed

d.  The ascended Christ speaks to churches on repentance

9.  Jesus and Obedience

a.  How good works became bad

b.  A different missionary mandate and way of praying

c.  New Covenant Christians

d.  Friends of Jesus

e.  Welcome to the family

f.  Love and obedience

g.  Obedience or “application”

10.  Jesus and Suffering

a.  The condition of following Jesus

b.  The cross is not a piece of jewelry

c.  The Apostle of suffering

d.  The rule among Paul’s church plants

e.  Enemies and hatred

f.  Satan knows his stuff

g.  How it will all end-The Revelation

Part Three – Biblical Discipleship Transforms Today

11.  Following Jesus in Total Submission

a.  Is total submission too radical for you?

b.  Submitting all aspects of our being

c.  He commands our thoughts

d.  Does Jesus set your mood?

e.  Does Jesus give us the right of free speech?

f.  Speaking JUST as Jesus commanded

g.  “You will be blessed if you do them”

h.  “I know your deeds”

i.  The haunting question of Jesus

12.  Following Jesus by a Memorized Mastery of his Word

a.  More powerful than the internet

b.  Gospel texts demanding memorization

c.  Put your mind to it

d.  Biblical meditation

e.  Even you can memorize

13.  Following Jesus’ Teaching on the OT

a.  Christ’s school of discipleship in a snapshot

b.  The Beatitudes – those whom God blesses will be blessed

c.  Disciples as “salt” and “light”

d.  Christ and the Law

e.  Christ’s unique school of discipleship

f.  Have you enrolled in the School of God?

14.  Following Jesus’ Way of Life

a.  What Jesus most often spoke about

b.  Jesus on possessions

c.  Jesus on the use of power or force

d.  Jesus on honor

e.  Jesus on attachment to others

f.  Jesus on religious traditions and spirituality

g.  A closing word on suffering

15.  Following Jesus in Reproducing Disciples

a.  A spontaneous movement of the Spirit

b.  A Muslim awakening

c.  Other awakenings

d.  4 steps in how Jesus made disciples

e.  3 things to remember when making disciples

f.  Why not YOU here and now?

Appendices

1.  Reasons why the word disciple is not found after Acts

2.  Resolutions from the International Consultation on Discipleship (1999)

3.  50 Commands of Jesus for Disciples Today to Memorize

4.  A Discipleship Covenant or Resolution

Responses to Are You a Christian or a Disciple?

Thank you for writing what is greatly needed by the church today. So many Christians have forgotten about discipleship. This will be a gift to Africa as we need to return to the discipleship training God commanded. Your book will help us fulfill the Great Commission. (Bishop Dr Peter Ndhlovu- Bible Gospel Church of Africa - Lusaka, Zambia)

Are YOU a Christian or a Disciple addresses not only the pressing question of our day, but the timeless question of our hearts--Can you be a Christian and not a Disciple? This book is a must read for anyone who desires to live out authentic Christianity. Pastor Matthew Pieters -BridgePoint Church Valparaiso, IN

When Jesus said, “Follow me”, what did he mean? Ed Gross explains that this was the 1st century call to be a disciple. I’ve been involved in discipleship ministries (for over 40 years) since my involvement with the Navigators in college. Ed Gross’s book “Are you A Christian or a Disciple?” has taken me to new depths of understanding on this most important topic. Ed Gross brings us back to what it meant to be a 1st century disciple. He is thorough in his Biblical exposition of key discipleship concepts. Ed’s understanding of “being a disciple of Jesus” is profound. If you only read one book on discipleship this is the one to read. This book will encourage and challenge you to be the disciple Jesus calls you to be. (RJ – having served with several discipleship ministries and now involved in ministry among Muslims.)

It occasionally happens that an author writes a book which leads him to re-examine what he has written before. By God’s grace, Ed Gross found his way out of the doldrums of institutional Christianity and into the rich biblical reality that is the obedience of faith (Rom. 1:5, 16:26). He now challenges the comfortable, affluent, but vaguely dissatisfied American church with the idea that it has lost the biblical concept of discipleship. Are YOU a Christian or a Disciple? Rediscovering and Renewing New Testament Discipleship will renew your faith, hope and love as it re-orients you to what Jesus meant when He said, Follow Me.(Pastor Jack Kennedy Church of the Living Saviour, Philadelphia PA - President Chaplain, 5th Police District, Philadelphia, PA)

I have worked side by side in ministry with Ed since 2007. In the past three years, Ed has been God’s herald in our geographical area and overseas to answer the call of Jesus to, “Go, and make disciples.” Answering the call to be a true follower of Christ and to make disciples is greatly impacting the area of Men’s Ministry where I labor. We are beholding lives being transformed from ones of substance addiction and serious life issues to those of joyful committed followers of Jesus. In the process of discipling, the lives of those men who are actually discipling others are being drawn closer and closer to Jesus. The model of one on one discipling relationships that Ed teaches is producing lasting fruit in the lives of many men for the Kingdom of God. (Gene McGee - Coordinator of Men’s Ministry - CityNet Ministries)

Ed Gross goes right to the heart of the issue in western culture when it comes to the term "Christian". In his book, he skillfully and masterfully delineates the difference between a Disciple of Christ and a Christian. Genuine biblical discipleship leads to a radical change of

lifestyle and an incredible devotion to Jesus Christ. This book will undoubtedly challenge your walk with the Lord. (Rev. Dr. Crawford Clark - With His Love Christian Ministries)

Getting to know Ed and being influenced by his teaching has had a profound impact on me and on many with whom I have shared it. The proper understanding of biblical discipleship is central to my ministry now and to that of many others. Disciples according to Jesus definition are now being made all over the globe due to the influence he has had on so many. (Kurt Olson

Disciple maker/harvest field worker – CityTeam International)

Ed Gross has taken the much too familiar word “disciple” and rediscovered it through true biblical hermeneutics. While the Church of today attempts to be inclusive and non-offensive, Ed walks you through the Scriptures explaining very clear and very passionately that our God calls us to a life of joyful obedience and self-denial. This is a prophetic and yet sobering clarion call to the Church, God’s people, to forsake the norms of our “church culture" and return to a biblical life of truly following the Master and loving our neighbor as ourselves. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who is looking for answers regarding how we are to live as His disciples in a secular and compromised culture walking in the way that He walked! (Dr Mark Sarracino – Executive Director CityNet Ministries – Philadelphia, PA)

For a Christian, being a disciple of Jesus is the greatest honor possible, but what is a disciple? For more than 40 years I tried to understand what that meant. I have seen hundreds of fuzzy definitions of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus: one who follows Jesus, one who loves God, any Christian who takes the teachings of Jesus seriously, and on and on. The definition of a word is like the specifications of a piece of machinery or equipment. Without clear specifications, it is not possible to know what you are trying to make or what it is that you are trying to buy. What Edward Gross has done is look at what discipleship meant in the first century. The definition was clear and distinct. It is supportable from the Scriptures and it is well documented in first century rabbinical writings.

Ed's message is critically important in these times as we try to "rediscover" discipleship. It is clear that much of what is promoted as biblical discipleship falls short of the mark. In the pages of this book, you will find important concepts, words and definitions that should help put discipleship on a track that will truly produce disciples of Jesus who will accurately replicate other disciples of Jesus, who will change the world. – (Jim Lilly, DMM coordinator, Minneapolis, MN)

The thoroughness with which Ed Gross tackles a well-worn yet vital topic of disciple-making challenges the mind and refreshes the soul. There is no doubt that after reading this book you will have traversed the mountain of material historically and theologically regarding discpleship and be left without excuse for not acting as Jesus commanded. (Pastor Roy Moran – Shoal Creek Community Church – Pleasant Valley, MO - Spiritual Literacy Catalyst)

Preface

When we start something wrong it can lead to trouble. Like forgetting a key ingredient to a recipe. Or skipping a step when assembling a piece of furniture. Or making a wrong turn on a trip. We know that when that happens, the best thing to do is to STOP. Even if it means starting all over. We hate it when this happens. We feel embarrassed, guilty—sometimes angry. But, it is better to lose a bit of time, eat some humble pie and start right than to live with the results of starting wrong.

The more important the project, the more important it is to start well. It is one thing to miss a turn going to the neighborhood store. And another thing to head north when the family is supposed to be going south for vacation. Everything down the road depends on a good foundation being initially laid. When a house is constructed on a sinkhole, destruction is its future. Our faith is no different. How we start in our relationship with Jesus is no small matter!

I wish to make the purpose of this book crystal clear—I want to help YOU see that Evangelical Christianity is in a crisis. It is a crisis concerning Christ and His call, “Follow Me.” A crisis concerning discipleship. There are two things that make this book quite different from others who have recently written so helpfully on discipleship:

1.  I will explain what discipleship meant to Jesus and 1st century believers, rather than superimposing our definitions upon the biblical words. I think that this is the only way to fully understand and correct the crisis. We need to return to biblical words and the power of the truth that God intended them to convey. The Spirit of God is called the “Spirit of truth” five times in the New Testament. Without His help we’re sunk.