Note by james423 (James Brenneman) - Stan was kind enough to fix a problem we had with this post. The post is the regular Sabbath School lesson I do.

Memory Text: Matthew 4:18-19 NRSV “18 ¶ As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people."”

Sunday – Discipleship – Historical and Personal
Matthew 4:18-22 God’s Word to the Nation “18 ¶ As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen. 19 Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me! I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish." 20 They immediately left their nets and followed him. 21 As Jesus went on, he saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee preparing their nets to go fishing. He called them, 22 and they immediately left the boat and their father and followed Jesus.”
Matthew 4:19 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY Follow me. In the sense of becoming a full-time disciple. Henceforth Peter and Andrew were to make it their full-time business to be learners in the school of Jesus.
Acts 11:26 -- New American and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

Monday – Who Is a Disciple?
Luke 14:25-26 -- New Jerusalem “25 Great crowds accompanied him on his way and he turned and spoke to them. 26 `Anyone who comes to me without hating father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, cannot be my disciple.’”
Luke 14:26 COMMENTARY ROBINSON’S NT WORD PICTURES Martyrdom should be an ever-present possibility to the Christian, not to be courted, but not to be shunned. Love for Christ takes precedence "over even the elemental instinct of self-preservation" (Ragg).
1 Corinthians 1:10-17 Holman “10 ¶ Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. 11 For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe’s household, that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I am saying is this: each of you says, “I’m with Paul,” or “I’m with Apollos,” or “I’m with Cephas,” or “I’m with Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name? 14 ¶ I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say you had been baptized in my name. 16 I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t know if I baptized anyone else. 17 ¶ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.”
1 Corinthians 1:14 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY Evidently Paul had his converts baptized by his associates, perhaps to forestall any special sanctity being placed upon the rite when performed by certain individuals. It is not the rite itself, nor the fact that it is performed by a certain individual, that makes the ordinance meaningful, but the experience of the participant. Compare the practice of Jesus who “himself baptized not, but his disciples” (John 4:2).

Tuesday – How Does One Become a Disciple?
Mark 1:19-20 -- Simple English “19 Jesus went a little farther and saw James and his brother, John. They were in a boat preparing their nets. They were sons of Zebedee. 20 Suddenly, Jesus invited them, too. They left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired workers. And they followed Jesus.”
Mark 2:13-14 20th Century NT “13 ¶ Jesus went out again to the Sea; and all the people came to him, and he taught them. 14 As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting in the tax-office, and said to him: "Follow me." Levi got up and followed him.”
Mark 3:13-14 20th Century NT “13 ¶ And Jesus made his way up the hill, and called those whom he wished; and they went to him. 14 And he appointed twelve—whom he also named ‘Apostles’—that they might be with him, and that he might send them out as his Messengers, to preach,”
Mark 3:13 COMMENTARY BY WILLIAM BURKITT As the Jewish church arose from twelve patriarchs, so the christian church became planted by twelve apostles. The person commissioning them was Christ; none may undertake the work and calling of the ministry, but those whom Christ appoints and calls. The persons commissioned were disciples before they were apostles; to teach us, that Christ will have such as preach the gospel to be disciples before they are ministers; trained up in the faith and doctrine of the gospel, before they undertake a public charge.
Luke 5:8-11 20th Century NT “8 When Simon Peter saw this, he threw himself down at Jesus’ knees, exclaiming: "Master, leave me, for I am a sinful man!" 9 For he and all who were with him were lost in amazement at the haul of fish which they had made; 10 And so, too, were James and John, Zebediah’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. "Do not be afraid," Jesus said to Simon; "from to-day you shall catch men." 11 And, when they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything, and followed him.”
John 1:43 NRSV “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."”
Acts 9:4-6 NRSV “4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."”

Wednesday – Requirements of Discipleship
Matthew 16:24-25 -- New Jerusalem “24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Matthew 16:24 COMMENTARY JOHN WESLEY NOTES Should we not consider all crosses, all things grievous to flesh and blood, as what they really are, as opportunities of embracing God's will at the expense of our own?...Crosses are so frequent, that whoever makes advantage of them, will soon be a great gainer. Great crosses are occasions of great improvement: and the little ones, which come daily, and even hourly, make up in number what they want in weight…We should in humility accept the little crosses that are dispensed to us, as those that best suit our weakness.
Mark 8:34-35 NLT “34 Then he called his disciples and the crowds to come over and listen.”If any of you wants to be my follower," he told them, "you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.”
Luke 9:23 -- Simple English “Jesus kept saying to all of them, ``If anyone wants to follow me, he must carry his cross every day. He must say no to himself and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 The Clear Word for Kids “He also said, ‘If anyone wants to be My disciple, he has to forget about himself and be willing to die for Me, just as I am willing to die for him.”

Thursday – The Essence of Discipleship
Matthew 10:32-33 NIV “32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 10:32 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE We confess or own Christ when we own his doctrine, his ministers, his servants, and when no fear hinders us from supporting and assisting them in times of necessity.
Matthew 22:37-40 MKJV “37 Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second [is] like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
John 14:15 ASV “If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.”
John 14:15 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES that love for him which leads us to do all his will, to love each other, to deny ourselves, to take up our cross, and to follow him through evil report and through good report, is true attachment. The evidence which we have that a child loves its parents is when that child is willing, without hesitation, gainsaying, or murmuring, to do all that the parent requires him to do. So the disciples of Christ are required to show that they are attached to him supremely by yielding to all his requirements, and by patiently doing his will in the face of ridicule and opposition.
Matthew 10:24-25 NRSV “24 "A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25 it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!”
Matthew 10:25 The Clear Word for Kids “If some people don’t like Me, don’t be surprised if they don’t like you, because you’re My students.”

Friday – Further Study on What It Means to be a Disciple
Ellen White, Desire of Ages, p. 250 – “It is not the highest work of education to communicate knowledge merely, but to impart that vitalizing energy which is received through the contact of mind with mind, and soul with soul. It is only life that can beget life. What privilege, then, was theirs who for three years were in daily contact with that divine life from which has flowed every life-giving impulse that has blessed the world!”
Ellen White, Messages to Young People, p. 3 – “Young men and young women, if you are true disciples of Christ, you will consecrate every talent, and be able to reach out for the unconverted, by ways and methods, that will be effective. You will be active working agencies for Christ. In every church there should be devoted workers. All should realize that they are to seek counsel of God, that by well-directed personal efforts they may save souls for whom Christ died. No sinner should come within the sphere of a Christian’s influence and feel that his interest has not been enlisted on the side of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.”
Ellen White, The Bible Echo, January 1, 1893 – “He is the Pattern that we, as his disciples, must follow. We cannot cherish selfishness in our hearts, and follow the example of Christ, who died to make an atonement for us. We cannot extol our own merits, and follow his example; for He made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant. We cannot harbour pride, and follow Christ, since He humbled Himself until there was no lower place to which He could descend.”