Cave of St' Anthony, Egypt

1
Cave of St. Anthony, Egypt
2
Hermits Cell on Iona
3
Cappadocia Hermit Caves
4
Swiss Hermits Cell
5
Hermit Caves
6
Kingdom Living

• Evangelism and Discipleship

7
Luke 51-11

• 1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of
  Gennesaret,?? with the people crowding around him
  and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the
  waters edge two boats, left there by the
  fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got
  into one of the boats, the one belonging to
  Simon, and asked him to put out a little from
  shore. Then he sat down and taught the people
  from the boat.

8
Luke 51-11

• 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to
  Simon, Put out into deep water, and let down??
  the nets for a catch.
• 5 Simon answered, Master, weve worked hard all
  night and havent caught anything. But because
  you say so, I will let down the nets.

9
Luke 51-11

• 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large
  number of fish that their nets began to break. 7
  So they signaled their partners in the other boat
  to come and help them, and they came and filled
  both boats so full that they began to sink.

10
Luke 51-11

• 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus
  knees and said, Go away from me, Lord I am a
  sinful man! 9 For he and all his companions were
  astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,
  10 and so were James and John, the sons of
  Zebedee, Simons partners.

11
Luke 51-11

• Then Jesus said to Simon, Dont be afraid from
  now on you will catch men. 11 So they pulled
  their boats up on shore, left everything and
  followed him.
• NIV

12
Cave of St. Anthony, Egypt
13
Matthew 1921

• Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go,
  sell your possessions and give to the poor, and
  you will have treasure in heaven. Then come,
  follow me.
• NIV

14
Hermits

• Lived in seclusion (desert theology, 40 years)
• Natural or man-made cave in desert or forest
• Often grew food or did simple work for food
• The counsels of perfection are
• Poverty
• Chastity
• Obedience

15
Anchorites

• Lived in a small cell against one wall of the
  local church.
• The wall had a small, shuttered window facing the
  church to receive food.
• There might be a barred window facing outside to
  give advice and counsel to visitors.
• Anchorites never left their cell, ate very plain
  meals, and spent their days in prayer.

16
Mathew 2818-20 The Call

• 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, All
  authority in heaven and on earth has been given
  to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all
  nations, baptizing them into?? the name of the
  Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20
  and teaching them to obey everything I have
  commanded you. And surely I am with you always,
  to the very end of the age. NIV

17
1st Century Disciple

• There is a Rabbi
• Willing, total submission to Rabbis authority
• Wrestling with scripture (already memorized)
• Real-life questions
• Close contact (community) and transparency
• Imitation of the Rabbi
• Zeal to give up preconceived ideas, totally
  conforming to Rabbis teaching

18
Philippians 48-9 Focused on what?

• 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever
  is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
  whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableif
  anything is excellent or praiseworthythink about
  such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or
  received or heard from me, or seen in meput it
  into practice. And the God of peace will be with
  you.
• NIV

19
Ephesians 411-13 Who does what?

• 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some
  to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some
  to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare Gods
  people for works of service, so that the body of
  Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach
  unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the
  Son of God and become mature, attaining to the
  whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
• NIV

20
Making Disciples
21
St. Anthony (the Great) 251-356 AD

• Pay attention to what I tell you
• whoever you may be, always have God before your
  eyes
• whatever you do, do it according to the testimony
  of the holy Scriptures
• in whatever place you live, do not easily leave
  it.
• Keep these three precepts and you will be saved.

22
Light
Text and photo by Arnvid Aakre, egyptmyway.com
23
Personal Questions

• Are there any parts of your life that are not
  under Christs Lordship?
• What are they, and why are they off limits?
• On a scale of 1-10, how would you assess the
  qualities of being a disciple of Jesus in your
  life?
• Desire, Submission to and Imitation of Christ
  
• Close community and Transparency
• Biblical literacy and wrestling with scripture?
• We only have one life to live here on this earth.

24
Praying

• For our own desire to be a disciple
• For willingness and ability to leave behind
  things that are not profitable to a disciple
• For more mature Christians to show the way
• Specific steps toward your own maturity
• For our churchs evangelism
• For our churchs disciple-making
• For someone who does not know Christ