Discipleship Coursework

Becoming a disciple involves many things, which are close to you therefore you must be rewarded in some way. The disciples were rewarded by receiving everything they had given up or lost hundred times over. "No-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mothers or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will tail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age homes...children and field -and with them persecutions and in the age to come eternal life" (Mark 10-29:31) To be a follower of Jesus you had to enunciate or sacrifice something. The apostles left everything, the rich young man was expected to give up his riches and the widow to put all her coins in the mass collection. The story of the widows offering is Mark chapter 12 verses 41-44 shows us the widow sacrificed her money for God. The story is....Jesus sat down near where everyone in the chapel placed their money. Many rich people threw in large amounts of money into the basket. But, one poor woman a widow came beside the money basket and put her two coins in; which were worth only a fraction of a penny. At this moment Jesus called the disciples to him and said to them "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out their wealth, but she, out of her poverty gave everything she had to live on." This story conveys the

  • Word count: 1695
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Explain what a study of Mark's Gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship.

Explain what a study of Mark's Gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship. (A01) In Mark's Gospel we learn about the aspects of discipleship. We learn that Jesus choose ordinary men to be his disciples, not just holy men. He choose tax collectors, fishermen and nationalists. A disciple is someone who follows a teacher. In the Gospel stories there are many disciples who become close to Jesus and are better known as the twelve apostles. These twelve apostles symbolise the twelve tribes of Israel. A disciple of Jesus was expected to make many sacrifices. They had to totally commit themselves to following Jesus and they were expected to make an immediate response, for example, leave behind their family, security, friends and their old way of life. If one wasn't prepared to do this, then they were unable to become a disciple of Jesus and this is related in the story of the rich young man. An examination of the nature of discipleship involves a study of the call of Jesus to his disciples and their response. In the story where 'Jesus Calls Four Fisherman' (Mk1:14-20), it teaches us how Jesus choose the first of the disciples. He was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee when he saw two fishermen catching fish in a net; it was Simon and his brother Andrew. He said to come with him, "Come with me and I will teach you how to catch people". At once they

  • Word count: 1888
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Explain what a study of Mark's gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship.

Explain what a study of Mark's gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship. Mark's gospel has many themes throughout it, one of the main themes is discipleship. Disciple means "willing follower". It is easy nowadays to believe that disciple is just meant religiously, but in fact it can be meant for many circumstances. For instance, these circumstances could be anything from a fan following a football club to a citizen following a government, they are both cases of discipleship. In Mark's Gospel, discipleship is meant about the apostles following Jesus. These 12 apostles were: Simon (aka Peter), James (son of Zebedee) and his brother John (he named them Boanerges), Andrew, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot. These apostles were anointed by Jesus on a mountainside (3:13-19). It is believe 12 apostles were chosen to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. The apostles Jesus chose were very ordinary men, they were not particularly well educated or religious but they were chosen because they were willing to follow. Jesus had many disciples but the 12 apostles were chosen to be his main companions. The duties they were given from Jesus were to drive out demons, to heal the sick and to preach the word of God (!6:17-18). When Jesus sent out the twelve, he told them not to bring any extra food

  • Word count: 499
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Explain what a study of St. Mark's Gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship?

Explain what a study of St. Mark's Gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship? The word 'disciple' means 'follower,' and it is often used to refer to one of Jesus' 12 apostles from the Gospels, but it can also be used more generally to mean any Christian. Throughout Mark's gospel, discipleship has been conveyed as a vocation to spread the works of Christianity through courage and understanding. It is an individual decision to take on board the duties of Christianity and to find the faith hidden within us. When Jesus called his first disciples... "Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people" Mark 1:17 Their immediate, unhesitant action of following Jesus proved that they were prepared to sacrifice for the understanding and knowledge about Jesus who inspired and invited them to be part of a holy congregation in the family of God. Jesus' twelve disciples consisted of a variety of people. Although he interacted with sinners such as the tax collector, Levi, it demonstrates that Christianity is never a judgement of people from their background or their appearance but instead to "Love thy neighbour" as mentioned in the commandment. Jesus role was to save sinners and to forgive and love, as he says... "I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts" Mark 2:17 In Mark, the true qualities of discipleship are related to service and a servant to

  • Word count: 958
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Explain what a study of St. Mark's gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship.

Explain what a study of St. Mark's gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship. A Disciple is a student or pupil; they follow the ways of their teacher. In the time of Jesus when men wanted to learn about the scriptures and the laws they would go to a Rabbi or a Jewish teacher of the law. Jesus had twelve special followers called apostles; the word apostle means the one with a message. Jesus called them apostles because they were the first twelve men he chose, these apostles would learn from Jesus and carry on the good news when he had gone. Jesus chose them because they were brothers, which meant that they would stick up for each other because they had hard jobs to do, and had to preach to people who didn't want to know. He chose ordinary people because some were fishermen this was because fishermen would sometimes have to wait for hours to catch fish. This shows that they would have a lot of patience and courage because they stood up all day in their boats when the waves were strong. The kingdom of God was for all and not just the rich and wealthy, this is why he chose ordinary people who could spread the good news to their friends and they would believe it because it wasn't coming from someone who was rich. Jesus said to the disciples that they would have to leave what they had and follow him. He gave them strict instructions that they were not to take any

  • Word count: 736
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Explain what a study of St. Mark's gospel can tell Christians about the nature of Discipleship

Discipleship Explain what a study of St. Mark's gospel can tell Christians about the nature of Discipleship By Matthew Monaghan 1D In St. Mark's gospel, Mark focuses on the nature of Discipleship. He focuses on this theme because Christians were being persecuted in his time, in AD 70. They needed something to believe in, for they were losing faith. Mark told us in his gospel that Jesus led by example and told parables to us about how to live like disciples. For example in "the widow at the treasury" (Mark 12:41-4). Mark includes this story in his gospel because it shows how disciples should be generous and make sacrifices. Disciple means "follower" and as followers we should exhibit love and compassion such as Jesus did in "the feeding of the five thousand" and Jairus' daughter. The first disciples Jesus chose were Simon, Andrew, James and John. When he called them they left everything immediately and followed Jesus. This explains discipleship very well because a disciple is a follower of Christ. Jesus called the fishermen to become "fishers of men," in other words to spread the word of God "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men" (Mark 1:17-28) This quotation calls the first disciples to Jesus. They respond to his call. They were stepping into the unknown and leaving family and friends. From this Christians today can learn we must also follow Jesus'

  • Word count: 1128
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Explain what a study of St Mark's Gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship?

A01 Explain what a study of St Mark's Gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship? (Authority and practices) The nature of discipleship Discipleship is a very important theme in Mark's Gospel. It is as very important for Christians today as it was for the first disciples of Jesus. True discipleship is not something that can be one in a half-hearted way. To Christians, it means giving all that they have in the service of God and of other people. This is clearly explained the story of the widow at the treasury.1 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciple to him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all out of wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything all she had to live on.' = Mark 12: 41- 4 There are many different points to this story which are: * Jesus neither criticized nor praised the rich people who put large amounts of money onto the offering box, even though it was money they probably had to spare or just lying around. * The widow is praised because she gave more than anyone else to God. Her offering was very small, but

  • Word count: 2623
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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"Explain what a study of St.Marks Gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship".

"Explain what a study of St.Marks Gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship". The word 'disciple' means 'someone who learns'. Jesus was an unusual rabbi, in that he often chose poor uneducated men to be his disciples. At Lake Galilee, he calls ordinary fishermen to join him. "Come with me and I will teach you to catch people at once, they left their nets and followed him". (MK 1:15) This story teaches us that a disciple is aware of their vocation from God. They are prepared to give up everything for Jesus, including their life, family and wealth. "They left their father Zebedee in the boat and went with Jesus". Jesus chose fishermen to be his disciples this tell us that anyone could become a disciple and that you don't need to be a doctor or scientist to become a disciple. You have to be ready to sacrifice everything you have and depend on Jesus. The word mission means an important task, which you have to do. That's what the disciples had; their mission was to preach the word of God, to drive out demons and to heal the sick. Also they had to perform miracles in Jesus' name. They will have to speak in different languages and if they pick up snakes or drink poison they will not be harmed. "Go throughout the whole world and preach the Gospel to the whole human race. Believers will be given the power to perform miracles: they will drive out demons in my

  • Word count: 1142
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Explain what a study of St. Marks Gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship.

Explain what a study of St. Marks Gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship. St. Mark is an invaluable source of information for Christians in learning about the nature of discipleship. St. Mark provides Christians with many parables told by Jesus that enlighten his followers as to what they have undertaken in becoming a disciple of Jesus, they learn that to be a disciple is not an easy way of life as they may receive 'persecutions' and other hardships. However as one would expect St. Mark also retells his readers of the rewards of discipleship as told to the twelve apostles by Jesus. One of the major themes of St. Marks Gospel is discipleship; while disciples are expected to follow the example set by Jesus it is extremely difficult to be infallible. Due to this, weaknesses and flaws are to be expected in any disciple, St. Mark was realistic and instead of ignoring these flaws he used them to teach his readers of how not to act. The definition of a disciple is 'someone who believes in and helps to spread the teachings of another', usually a religious leader, in the time of Jesus. The usual method for people to become a disciple was for them to choose and attach themselves to leader or rabbi. Jesus however did not follow this usual pattern; instead he himself went out and called the disciples. Marks Gospel tells of Jesus calling first four of the

  • Word count: 1800
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Explain what a study of St .Marks Gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship.

Question 1: Explain what a study of St .Marks Gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship. Marks gospel is a very good reference on the topic of Discipleship. This is because although Mark writes about Jesus mainly, his gospel contains a lot on discipleship. In Marks Gospel, it explains the rewards, meaning and cost of discipleship. It is surprising, however, to find that he views the Disciples in harsh light. The Gospel begins with the Calling of the First Disciples. Mark is trying to make an important point about discipleship in the first two chapters. The point that he is trying to get across is that discipleship is total commitment. Some people are called to leave everything they have to follow Jesus, even if the cost is very great. When Jesus chooses Simon, Andrew, James and John, he tells them to leave everything, and that he would make them: Fishers of men (1:17) This phrase means that the disciples are to bring people back to God, i.e. they would catch people in the net of the Kingdom of God, not very much is known about the first disciples, they were probably all married, Peter is definitely known to be married. This shows the cost of discipleship, giving up everything. Another example of the cost of discipleship is the story of the rich young man (Entry into the Kingdom). The young man tells Jesus that he has kept all of the commandments, but

  • Word count: 1538
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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