Disciples were sent out on a mission to drive out demons, heal the sick, preach the word of God and baptise people. In the story “THE MISSION” and “THE COMMISSION” shows how the disciples are seen as worthy of doing gods work. In the story “THE MISSION” ‘Jesus ordered them, “Don’t take anything with you on your journey except a stick- no bread, no beggar’s bag, no money in your pockets. Wear sandals, but don’t carry an extra shirt.” He also said, “ wherever you are welcomed, stay in the same house until you leave that place. If you come to a town where people do not welcome you or will not listen to you, leave it and shake the dust off your feet. That will be a warning to them!” This could mean that the disciples could experience rejection and have to totally rely on God. They will have to support each other as they are helping to create the kingdom of God.
The cost of being a disciple is having to put God first and make sacrifices. The story “THE WIDOWS MITE” told us that the widow is a true disciple because she gave all that she has to God and she shows total dedication to god. The story “THE RICH MAN” is the opposite to “THE WIDOWS MITE” because in the rich man story Jesus asked the rich man “Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me,” The Rich man could not do this because he does not want to give up his wealth so this means that it is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom Of God because they have more wealth and belongings to sacrifice.
There are many cost of being a disciple; it may even be your life. A disciple has to be prepared to die for his faith. The story “THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP” shows that you have to die for your faith by Jesus saying “If anyone wants to come with me,” he told them, “ he must forget self, carry his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his own life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for me and for the Gospel will save it”.
This means that a disciple has to be prepared to forget his own needs and put others and God first, he is prepared to follow Jesus, even if that means suffering and death.
The rewards of being a disciple are eternal life and God will give you 100 times more of the things you gave up for Him. The story “THE REWARDS OF DISCIPLESHIP” ‘Jesus said to them, “ and I will tell you that anyone who leaves home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the Gospel, will receive a hundred times more houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – and persecutions as well”. This means that God recognises that a disciple has given up many things for his faith and God will generously reward the disciple in this life and the life beyond death.