THEN 101 - N1 (Christian Discipleship)

Preliminary Examination - Sept. 2022

Joanna Marie P. Santelices

1. Imitating St. Luke for the Development of Christianity During the Health Crisis

As the COVID-19 crisis enters its third year, our knowledge of how the health
crisis has affected global poverty and inequality has grown. Almost every aspect of daily
life and employment has been impacted by COVID-19. Every sector of the global
healthcare system has been affected by the pandemic, which has especially severe
effects on women, children, and especially the poor. Because of this, as a Christian and
as a person, seeing these people in need, we shall imitate St. Luke for the development
of our Filipino Christian community relative to our present situation and context. This is
mainly because situations like these should be taken as an opportunity for us all to give,
help, and be for others.

St. Luke being a physician will be a great help if he portrays Jesus just as a
person. Sick and poor are the ones who should be lifted and enlightened. Thus, we,
people, should also do our part not by treating the sick but for doing our very best to
help them with our whole heart.

Luke highlights Christ's compassion for sinners and the suffering in the third
Gospel. The poor and afflicted are the dominant features of Luke's gospel, which
promotes kindness and sympathy for those who are less fortunate. Through this, we
should imitate the deed of St. Luke in order to teach other Christians as well that giving
importance to the poor and oppressed will help the society and the development of
Christian community.

Additionally, the role of women is significant in Luke's gospel. In addition to Mary

Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, Martha, and Mary, Luke also mentions "many additional
women who utilized their own means to support Jesus and his disciples." And this
teaches us to extend our hands for them especially that we are still under the health
crisis.
2.) Following Jesus

Two Essential Conditions for a Follower of Jesus

a.) FIRST: Listen to the Word of God

I've developed a habit of listening to God throughout the years since it is

something that has helped me throughout my entire Christian life a nd I believe every
Christian should develop this habit. For various circumstances, he addresses me in
different ways.

Stay close to God by Listening to Him. I've known for a long time that I must first
get close to God in worship or prayer if I want to hear from him. It's true that being
closer to the Lord makes it easier for me to hear his voice, but I've also come to realize
that the contrary is also true.

When I purposefully set aside time to hear from God, he not only speaks to me
but also draws me closer to him. The Lord brings me right into his throne room through
our encounter. When we concentrate on him, we divert our attention from the problems
of the present and acquire fresh insight and inner calm.

Listen To God To Follow His Will For Your Life. You and I are included when the
bible declares that God has a plan for our lives. The majority of Christians I know would
agree with that assertion, but having a plan is useless if we don't implement it. Our
deeds speak louder than our words. Sometimes we make decisions based on our
preferences rather than God's.

Every single day, we are faced with a variety of decisions. At each point, if we
don't actively listen to the Lord, we can wind up in a place that is very different from
where we had anticipated. Even while it may seem innocent at first, if pursued for a long
enough period of time, a one degree detour from the road can become problematic.
Thankfully, no matter how far off course we have gotten, the Lord is kind and merciful
and is able to put us back on course.
 Listen To God To Capture His Ideas. I wish to live a life of eternal meaning.
Maybe you share my feelings. The ideal way to live, according to Jesus, is to "store up
treasure in heaven," not on earth (Matthew 6:20).

I take this to mean that I don't want to act only on my own impulses. I want to
incorporate the Lord's influence into everything in some way. I recently learned the
beautiful truth that God is just as interested in my thoughts as I am in his. I am aware
that he might interpret my ideas differently than I would hope, and in a better way.

b.) SECOND: Put them in Practice

God did not intend for us to only study the Bible, but to put them in practice. The
Bible is not only about information; it is about transformation. At the end of the Sermon
on the Mount, Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into
practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24 NIV). With
this, it is really important to apply God’s words in our daily life encounters.

If we don't live by the truth, knowledge leads to vanity. According to 1 Corinthians

8:1b in the Bible, "Knowledge puffs up while love builds up" (NIV). Everyone has
witnessed individuals who are well-versed in the Bible but who have never allowed it to
permeate their daily life. They beat other people with the Bible like a hammer. If we
never go the extra mile and apply the Bible to our lives, we could end up being the most
cantankerous, nasty, mean-spirited, grouchy, critical, and judgemental persons anyone
has ever met. Pride results from knowledge without application. It won't require a
love-based program to "puff" you up. It won't help; it will harm.

Action is required by knowledge. James 1:22 warns, "Don't only hear the word
and fool yourselves in this way. Do as it directs (NIV). An individual's actions should
reflect what they know. If we believe that simply taking notes during a Bible study will
result in growth, we are being deceitful. God's instructions are mandatory.

Knowledge increases responsibility. “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought

to do and then not do it” (James 4:17 NLT). A stronger judgment results from a deeper
understanding of the Bible if we don't put what God teaches us into practice. God
begins to reveal to us the parts of our life that need to change as soon as we start
studying the Bible, and when he does so, he invites us to ever-greater responsibility.

Two Common Hindrances for a Follower of Jesus

The call to follow Christ as a disciple applies to EVERY baptized Christian, not
just those who work in the religious sector.

a.) FIRST: Work

Some people are so enslaved that they are unable to find time for God, their
loved ones, or their fellowmen. In my personal experience, there’s this one corporate
manager who worked conservatively 16-18 hours every day. His company consumed
his entire life.

Except for meetings, nothing in life was sacred. On Saturdays or Sundays, or on

Christmas Eve or New Year's Day, meetings may be convened. The slave-driving boss
was discovered one day slumped over his desk, having had a heart attack.

He was a poor guy who ended up serving money rather than people. Irony of
ironies, when he died, he couldn't take with him what he had worked so hard to achieve.

b.) SECOND: Sinful Situation

A circumstance that is sinful or founded in vice could be another obstacle. There

is a tale told by my grandmother about four clergymen who were secretly discussing
their personal flaws.

The Jewish religious leader admitted that he enjoys eating sausages even
though his religion bans consuming pork. “I drink a bottle of whisky every day,” the
Protestant preacher admitted. The Catholic priest disclosed, "On the side, I have a
girlfriend.”

When the Born Again minister turned to face them, they said, "What about
you—surely you have a secret vice?
 He acknowledged that he was a habitual gossip, and the three of them regretted
having ever revealed their vices.

Considering this question: "What keeps me from following Christ? Is it my

attachment to my money or belongings that prevents me from considering God and
others in need? Is it involvement with vices and unlawful relationships?

Probably our worst enemy is ourselves. We all have sinful natures and
inclinations to commit sin.

Each of us will have a different response to the question on one side. This is an
intimate, private subject. However, just as in the biblical story of the builder, it's crucial
that we have a PLAN for life that aims for both material and spiritual fulfillment.

If there is a choice between the two, a true disciple should choose to follow Jesus
and not let obligations to family, friends, or employment stand in the way.