And by bearing prosecution on earth from others, and by carrying your cross, you will receive eternal life, maybe the most valuable of all rewards.
By reading the gospel of Mark any person can learn the true nature of discipleship. By being a servant to god you will gin all these rewards, in Marks it says…
A02
“Explain how this teaching about discipleship might effect the life of a Christian today”
Today there are many things that make it easier to live out the teachings of Mark, yet there are other factors that hinder the ability of a disciple to go out and preach the teachings. I believe that the teachings made years ago are somewhat out of date with the now very different future. However I believe these stories can easily be used as guidelines and can be used to translate the teachings to a modern day gospel for Christians to learn how to live out a good Christian life.
Firstly there are many parts of the teachings that should be spread as they help a person if they are feeling afraid, helpless, sinful, or even tempted. But being a disciple today is all about sacrifice.
Today it is easier to spread and practice the teachings of being a disciple as persecution is next to nothing. Spreading the word has become much easier if a disciple is willing to use modern technology. The Internet, telephone has taken communication over leaps and bounds. If a disciple felt lonely when leaving their family to practice the word, then his/her family is just one phone call or email away. Also when travelling to different regions the days of travelling by donkey, horse or camel or far gone. Now cars and planes and other modern modes of transport make it easy for a disciple to travel great distances to spread the teachings, and the time it takes has been greatly reduced when comparing it with the time it took some disciples to travel from town to town. All of these factors reduce sacrifice that had to be made years ago.
However with all these advances making a disciples life easier, there are new arising problems that make it increasingly difficult for disciples to carry out their duties. Firstly when asked to leave family behind, in this day and age is that even possible. Not only is it morally wrong but how will they cope. Today nothing is free and leaving your job will result in no income to pay for your home or your family’s food. Also when asked to give up all wealth, is this wise? I doubt you would be able to successfully preach with no money, no one would listen to you because eventually you ill start to smell and your clothes will become tattered and dirty. Therefore I think that strictly following the gospel is a near impossible task. These factors increase the sacrifices that must be made in order to fully live out the gospel. I think that these new sacrifices are much harder than those years ago.
Mother Theresa was an example of a modern day disciple, she was a Roman Catholic nun who, whilst serving as the principal of a convent in Calcutta was moved by presence of the sick and dying in the city. She left her post at the high school to begin a ministry among the sick. She then extended her work worldwide and in recognition of her efforts she received the Nobel peace prize in 1979. This was a woman who devoted her whole life to God first taking the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a nun and then in addition took a vow pledging service to the poor, whom she described as the embodiment of Christ.
She showed the qualities of a true disciple by putting others needs before her own and living herself in poverty to save others, healing and preaching. She served others and was generous until she could do no more. It was only her ill health that stopped her doing so much and even then she took some time to help others. There are many others who also devote their lives to serving the poor and needy in third world countries, showing the qualities of the disciples by healing and spreading Gods message.
I conclude many Christians would find it hard to follow all of Jesus teachings and become a 'true disciple. They may find it difficult to show all the qualities of a disciple, such as giving up all they have because they may have family responsibilities and it would be negligent to leave them or take things away from them. Also society has changed and money is needed, some people cannot rely on charity alone as people are more materialistic and so unwilling to part with everything, they may not have enough faith though they still wish to go out and preach or heal.
Yet we see from people such as nuns, monks, and priests that there are many people who give up all they have as the first disciples did. There are those who act as missionaries who preach and spread the word of God, and who care for the sick showing the qualities of a true disciple. These people give away all they have to depend on God knowing he will help them.
Then there are normal people who live everyday lives yet their heroism shows they are true disciples as they may risk their lives to save others. There are also other ways to be a disciple instead of going out and preaching as a vicar or missionary. If a person leads a good and Christian life showing kindness and generosity to others they are preaching by example and what they do reflects on their children and others around them. I think it is possible to be a true disciple if one does as much as they can to help others and be a good Christian, even if it is only a small gesture it will still result in rewards and an entry into the Kingdom of God.
A02
“Explain how this teaching about discipleship might effect the life of a Christian today”
Today there are many things that make it easier to live out the teachings of Mark, yet there are other factors that hinder the ability of a disciple to go out and preach the teachings. I believe that the teachings made years ago are somewhat out of date with the now very different future. However I believe these stories can easily be used as guidelines and can be used to translate the teachings to a modern day gospel for Christians to learn how to live out a good Christian life.
Firstly there are many parts of the teachings that should be spread as they help a person if they are feeling afraid, helpless, sinful, or even tempted. But being a disciple today is all about sacrifice.
Today it is easier to spread and practice the teachings of being a disciple as persecution is next to nothing. Spreading the word has become much easier if a disciple is willing to use modern technology. The Internet, telephone has taken communication over leaps and bounds. If a disciple felt lonely when leaving their family to practice the word, then his/her family is just one phone call or email away. Also when travelling to different regions the days of travelling by donkey, horse or camel or far gone. Now cars and planes and other modern modes of transport make it easy for a disciple to travel great distances to spread the teachings, and the time it takes has been greatly reduced when comparing it with the time it took some disciples to travel from town to town. All of these factors reduce sacrifice that had to be made years ago.
However with all these advances making a disciples life easier, there are new arising problems that make it increasingly difficult for disciples to carry out their duties. Firstly when asked to leave family behind, in this day and age is that even possible. Not only is it morally wrong but how will they cope. Today nothing is free and leaving your job will result in no income to pay for your home or your family’s food. Also when asked to give up all wealth, is this wise? I doubt you would be able to successfully preach with no money, no one would listen to you because eventually you ill start to smell and your clothes will become tattered and dirty. Therefore I think that strictly following the gospel is a near impossible task. These factors increase the sacrifices that must be made in order to fully live out the gospel. I think that these new sacrifices are much harder than those years ago.
Mother Theresa was an example of a modern day disciple, she was a Roman Catholic nun who, whilst serving as the principal of a convent in Calcutta was moved by presence of the sick and dying in the city. She left her post at the high school to begin a ministry among the sick. She then extended her work worldwide and in recognition of her efforts she received the Nobel peace prize in 1979. This was a woman who devoted her whole life to God first taking the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a nun and then in addition took a vow pledging service to the poor, whom she described as the embodiment of Christ.
She showed the qualities of a true disciple by putting others needs before her own and living herself in poverty to save others, healing and preaching. She served others and was generous until she could do no more. It was only her ill health that stopped her doing so much and even then she took some time to help others. There are many others who also devote their lives to serving the poor and needy in third world countries, showing the qualities of the disciples by healing and spreading Gods message.
I conclude many Christians would find it hard to follow all of Jesus teachings and become a 'true disciple. They may find it difficult to show all the qualities of a disciple, such as giving up all they have because they may have family responsibilities and it would be negligent to leave them or take things away from them. Also society has changed and money is needed, some people cannot rely on charity alone as people are more materialistic and so unwilling to part with everything, they may not have enough faith though they still wish to go out and preach or heal.
Yet we see from people such as nuns, monks, and priests that there are many people who give up all they have as the first disciples did. There are those who act as missionaries who preach and spread the word of God, and who care for the sick showing the qualities of a true disciple. These people give away all they have to depend on God knowing he will help them.
Then there are normal people who live everyday lives yet their heroism shows they are true disciples as they may risk their lives to save others. There are also other ways to be a disciple instead of going out and preaching as a vicar or missionary. If a person leads a good and Christian life showing kindness and generosity to others they are preaching by example and what they do reflects on their children and others around them. I think it is possible to be a true disciple if one does as much as they can to help others and be a good Christian, even if it is only a small gesture it will still result in rewards and an entry into the Kingdom of God.