Disciples of Jesus Are Connected to Jesus

What does it mean to be a Christian?

Many people see being a Christians as:
- Believing certain theological doctrines
- Going to church
- Believing in God
- Living a good life (whatever that is)
- Not being something else

In Matthew 4 where Jesus is tempted by Satan, Satan demonstrates a knowledge of Scripture as he quotes it to Jesus to try and get Jesus to disobey the Father. Satan knew theological doctrines.

So being a Christian is not just about knowing and believing certain theological doctrines.

James 2:19 says, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe - and shudder!”

So being a Christian is not just believing in God

In Matthew 7:21 Jesus says that just because someone calls Him Lord does not mean anything unless they are obeying Him as Lord.

So being a Christian is not just about going to church and knowing “churchy” language.

In Matthew 19 the rich young ruler calls Jesus good and Jesus says there is only one good and that is God. So even if a person tries to live a “good life” they are not capable without God.

So being a Christian is not just about living a good life.

For may people Christianity or being a Christian is their default setting. Well, I am not a Muslim or Buddhist or Jewish or Atheist so by process of elimination I must be a Christian.

So being a Christian is not just a default setting. It is not about not being something.

Disciples are people who are connected to and with Jesus.

Being connected with Jesus first means spending time with Jesus. So disciples spend time with Jesus.

Mark 3:7 says that Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea.

Jesus planned times when He and His disciples just hung out. In those times of being with His disciples Jesus primarily did four things.

He taught them.
He answered their questions.
He showed them how to follow God.
He just fellowshipped with them.

Since being a Christian is about following Jesus we need to be with Him to be able to really follow.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about spending time with Jesus in prayer, the Word, worship and ministering to others.

Being connected to and with Jesus means I see myself as a part of His family.

In Matthew 12:49-50 it says that Jesus stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus indicates here that to be His disciple means you are part of His family.

American Christianity sees being a Christian and being part of the church like being in an organization. Jesus sees it as being part of a family.

When we see being a Christian as being part of Jesus’ family instead of being a part of an organization it affects how we relate to Him and others who are also a part of the family.

Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls is about being part of Jesus’ family and relating to Him and the rest of the family in love.

Being connected to and with Jesus means to have intimate fellowship with Him.

Matthew 26:26-28
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take eat, this is My body.” And He took a cup and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

This passage shows the intimacy that Jesus has with His disciples. He ate with them. In Middle East culture eating a meal together is a sign of acceptance and friendship. He shared the last meal He would eat as a human being with His disciples. He shared with the bread representing His body and the wine representing His blood. He told them He was going to die for their sins.

Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls is about having not just a casual relationship with Jesus but an intimate relationship with Jesus.

The invitation that Jesus gives us to come and be His disciples is not an invitation to come be religious or come be spiritual or come be part of an organization. It is an invitation to come have a relationship with Him. It is to come and be connected with Him 24/7 in every part of our lives.

Disciples are connected with Jesus. If we are not connected to Jesus, we are not disciples. If we are not disciples, then we are not Christians.

Christians are not good people who believe certain things and go to religious gatherings weekly. They are people who think and act like Jesus. The only way a person thinks and acts like Jesus is to be spend time with Him.

David wonderfully expresses the desire to connect with God in Psalm 84:10 when He says, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls is about being connected to and with Jesus.

Connected to Jesus Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe