Discipleship: Priority
Discipleship
Priority
Sunday October 26th, 2025
Apostle Mike Herzog
If one generation does not testify to the next, that testament dies. In Jewish culture they used to verbally share the first five books of the Old Testament with the next generation from memorization. Christians are saved to help grow God’s kingdom and shine the light given to us in the dark places, so that we can help others see that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. During Jesus’ time on earth His priority was to make disciples, so that His fathers kingdom would carry on forever. The last instructions He gave before He departed from earth and returned to heaven were written in Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus declared that His authority was being passed down, and commanded we go make disciples. Discipleship is about relationships. It is a priority to intentionally do something for the sake of someone else’s growth and it’s not about your own benefit.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
John 6:1-19
A great multitude of people followed Jesus because of the miracles that He performed. People are often drawn in when they want to be mesmerized. They want to find out how they can benefit. He chose to sit down with His disciples and give them His focus rather than cater to the crowd. He knew what He was about to do to feed the crowd, but He chose to set up that moment for discipleship training. When discipling to someone it’s important to be intentional to look for opportunities to teach God’s lessons. Both Philip and Peter had doubts of how they’d feed the crowd even though their past experiences with Jesus had already proved what miracles He could perform. Once more Jesus displayed God’s power when He multiplied the rations to ensure the crowd ate their fill. He partnered with His disciples by having them bless the crowd with these gifts. God is looking for people to partner with Him. He is the one who starts the multiplication of blessings, but He puts that in our hands to continue His work. He then had the disciples gather what was left over as evidence to remind them of what He had just done. We often forget about all Jesus has done for us, which is why it’s important to constantly create reminders for ourselves of His goodness. One way to help ourselves remember is to write down when He blesses you, so that you can look back on it later. After the crowd witnessed the miracles, He had performed they wanted to make Him king. If people are won over simply by signs others can do the same to sway the crowd in their favor. Jesus was not after winning over the crowd with His works, but instead He wanted their hearts based on who He is. This is why He left the crowd. He didn’t want the fame, only the hearts of His followers.
Jesus Walks on Water
Matthew 14:25-31
Later His disciples were faced with fear even with the evidence of His most recent miracle still in the boat with them (the baskets of bread). All the baskets of bread didn’t calm their fears because a sign doesn’t bring lasting peace. Only the giver of the sign can bring that kind of peace. Peter stepped out of the boat towards Jesus having faith in who He was, but when he took his eyes off Jesus and began looking at the signs of the storm and waves all around him, he began to sink. When we take our focus off Jesus and look for signs, good or bad, we put our focus back on our circumstances, and we begin to stumble. When we continue looking for signs doubt creeps in. Keeping our focus on Jesus keeps our peace and trust in Him, allowing Him to release His power upon our lives. The signs aren’t nearly as important as who is giving the signs.
Jesus The Bread of Life
John 6:20-29
The people were seeking Jesus because they saw what He could do, and they hoped He could do something for them. Jesus confronted them about this truth, how they weren’t seeking Him because they simply wanted to know Him. Are we seeking Him because we want something from Him? Or are we seeking Him because we want to know Him? Jesus is a king, and He is beckoning us, but we should be seeking Him to get to know Him, to love Him, praise, and worship Him and to bring Him honor. His desire is for us to seek Him for everlasting life, not for what He can do us here on earth because that is merely a temporary satisfaction. His disciples asked Him what they should do to get what will satisfy them forever. He explains they simply need to believe in the one God sent, referring to Himself. See the sign, do the work, which is to trust and believe in God. Sometimes believing is the hard part, but we must believe in His promises contrary to evidence that may infer otherwise. There is a battle that goes on inside of our minds, but the work is not giving up believing. He will help us fight the battle to continue to believe.
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
Mark 9:20-27
There was a boy that had a deaf and dumb spirit upon him. He was constantly seizing and convulsing from demonic torture. Jesus asked the boy’s father how long that had been happening. The boy’s father explains it had been going on since birth. Any parent that must witness their child suffering wants to do whatever it takes to end that suffering. A parent would even go as far as to take their child’s place if possible. You can imagine how desperate this father felt. Jesus tells this boy’s father if he can believe, his boy can be healed. Anything is possible to those who believe in Him. Deciding to believe does not always mean all your doubts disappear. The hardest obstacle to overcome is to stand in the face of unbelief and trust God, but He can work wonders with even the smallest amount of belief.
Jesus The Bread of Life
John 6:30-58
Jesus is the sign; our responsibility is to do the work of believing in Him. When we continue to believe in Him, we will never again long for meaning and purpose. He brings peace and contentment. Looking for signs will forever leave you feeling unsatisfied. His priority is His disciples. The will of God is that everyone believes in Jesus, His son. Belief takes something that doesn’t make sense in our natural mind. We choose to believe because He said it to be true. God is the God of the impossible. Jesus chose to live as God the Father intended and when we follow Jesus, we do the same because that becomes our true purpose of surrendering to the Almighty. That is what salvation is.
Priority
Sunday October 26th, 2025
Apostle Mike Herzog
If one generation does not testify to the next, that testament dies. In Jewish culture they used to verbally share the first five books of the Old Testament with the next generation from memorization. Christians are saved to help grow God’s kingdom and shine the light given to us in the dark places, so that we can help others see that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. During Jesus’ time on earth His priority was to make disciples, so that His fathers kingdom would carry on forever. The last instructions He gave before He departed from earth and returned to heaven were written in Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus declared that His authority was being passed down, and commanded we go make disciples. Discipleship is about relationships. It is a priority to intentionally do something for the sake of someone else’s growth and it’s not about your own benefit.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
John 6:1-19
A great multitude of people followed Jesus because of the miracles that He performed. People are often drawn in when they want to be mesmerized. They want to find out how they can benefit. He chose to sit down with His disciples and give them His focus rather than cater to the crowd. He knew what He was about to do to feed the crowd, but He chose to set up that moment for discipleship training. When discipling to someone it’s important to be intentional to look for opportunities to teach God’s lessons. Both Philip and Peter had doubts of how they’d feed the crowd even though their past experiences with Jesus had already proved what miracles He could perform. Once more Jesus displayed God’s power when He multiplied the rations to ensure the crowd ate their fill. He partnered with His disciples by having them bless the crowd with these gifts. God is looking for people to partner with Him. He is the one who starts the multiplication of blessings, but He puts that in our hands to continue His work. He then had the disciples gather what was left over as evidence to remind them of what He had just done. We often forget about all Jesus has done for us, which is why it’s important to constantly create reminders for ourselves of His goodness. One way to help ourselves remember is to write down when He blesses you, so that you can look back on it later. After the crowd witnessed the miracles, He had performed they wanted to make Him king. If people are won over simply by signs others can do the same to sway the crowd in their favor. Jesus was not after winning over the crowd with His works, but instead He wanted their hearts based on who He is. This is why He left the crowd. He didn’t want the fame, only the hearts of His followers.
Jesus Walks on Water
Matthew 14:25-31
Later His disciples were faced with fear even with the evidence of His most recent miracle still in the boat with them (the baskets of bread). All the baskets of bread didn’t calm their fears because a sign doesn’t bring lasting peace. Only the giver of the sign can bring that kind of peace. Peter stepped out of the boat towards Jesus having faith in who He was, but when he took his eyes off Jesus and began looking at the signs of the storm and waves all around him, he began to sink. When we take our focus off Jesus and look for signs, good or bad, we put our focus back on our circumstances, and we begin to stumble. When we continue looking for signs doubt creeps in. Keeping our focus on Jesus keeps our peace and trust in Him, allowing Him to release His power upon our lives. The signs aren’t nearly as important as who is giving the signs.
Jesus The Bread of Life
John 6:20-29
The people were seeking Jesus because they saw what He could do, and they hoped He could do something for them. Jesus confronted them about this truth, how they weren’t seeking Him because they simply wanted to know Him. Are we seeking Him because we want something from Him? Or are we seeking Him because we want to know Him? Jesus is a king, and He is beckoning us, but we should be seeking Him to get to know Him, to love Him, praise, and worship Him and to bring Him honor. His desire is for us to seek Him for everlasting life, not for what He can do us here on earth because that is merely a temporary satisfaction. His disciples asked Him what they should do to get what will satisfy them forever. He explains they simply need to believe in the one God sent, referring to Himself. See the sign, do the work, which is to trust and believe in God. Sometimes believing is the hard part, but we must believe in His promises contrary to evidence that may infer otherwise. There is a battle that goes on inside of our minds, but the work is not giving up believing. He will help us fight the battle to continue to believe.
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
Mark 9:20-27
There was a boy that had a deaf and dumb spirit upon him. He was constantly seizing and convulsing from demonic torture. Jesus asked the boy’s father how long that had been happening. The boy’s father explains it had been going on since birth. Any parent that must witness their child suffering wants to do whatever it takes to end that suffering. A parent would even go as far as to take their child’s place if possible. You can imagine how desperate this father felt. Jesus tells this boy’s father if he can believe, his boy can be healed. Anything is possible to those who believe in Him. Deciding to believe does not always mean all your doubts disappear. The hardest obstacle to overcome is to stand in the face of unbelief and trust God, but He can work wonders with even the smallest amount of belief.
Jesus The Bread of Life
John 6:30-58
Jesus is the sign; our responsibility is to do the work of believing in Him. When we continue to believe in Him, we will never again long for meaning and purpose. He brings peace and contentment. Looking for signs will forever leave you feeling unsatisfied. His priority is His disciples. The will of God is that everyone believes in Jesus, His son. Belief takes something that doesn’t make sense in our natural mind. We choose to believe because He said it to be true. God is the God of the impossible. Jesus chose to live as God the Father intended and when we follow Jesus, we do the same because that becomes our true purpose of surrendering to the Almighty. That is what salvation is.
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