THE RESURRECTION CHANGED ME

Disciple/Shift “Identity Theft” – A Surrendered Heart

(Luke 9:23) “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny  themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

Intro: Over the last 10–15 years, something fascinating—and  troubling—has happened in American Christianity. Christian identity  has stayed strong, but Christian commitment has quietly eroded. The
label “Christian” is still widely embraced, but the lifestyle of a disciple is increasingly neglected.

The Research

1. Christian Identity Is Stable

Pew Research shows that over 60% of Americans still identify as Christian, a number that has remained surprisingly steady compared
to other religious categories.

People still like the identity of Christianity.

2. But Christian Commitment Has Collapsed

Barna’s long-term discipleship research reveals:
• Only 4% of Americans now hold a biblical worldview (down from 12%).
• Only 1 in 3 Christians feels responsible to share their faith.
• Less than 30% of Christians read the Bible weekly.
• Only 25% of self-identified Christians- participate in any form of discipleship.
• A majority now believe truth is relative, not biblical.

Translation: People still claim the name of Jesus, but fewer and fewer are living the way of Jesus.

This is the heart of Disciple/Shift series: We haven’t rejected Christianity — we’ve redefined it. 

Two Respected Christian Leaders Who Have Spoken About This Drift Here are two voices with enormous credibility who have publicly
warned about this shift from biblical discipleship to consumer Christianity.

1. Dallas Willard (Author of The Great Omission) Willard famously said:

“The greatest issue facing the world today is whether those who identify as Christians will become disciples—students, apprentices,
practitioners of Jesus Christ.” 

He argued that the modern church has created “vampire Christians”— people who want Jesus’ blood for salvation but not His lifestyle for transformation.

Willard’s entire body of work points to this truth: We’ve embraced Christian benefits but abandoned Christian formation.

2. A.W. Tozer (Pastor, Author, Prophetic Voice)

Even decades ago, Tozer warned:

“The church is filled with a kind of Christianity that makes no demands, costs nothing, and produces nothing.”
He said the modern church was drifting toward a self-centered,comfort-driven faith that no longer resembled the New Testament call
to discipleship.

Tozer’s message is even more relevant today: We’ve traded surrender for convenience.

— The Clearest Definition of a Disciple
Jesus says:
(Luke 9:23) “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” 

This is the most concise, comprehensive, and uncompromising definition Jesus ever gave of a disciple.
Three Part Series:
• Identity Theft (Week 1): Jesus begins with identity surrender — “deny yourself.” Discipleship starts with giving up ownership of
your life.
• Servants, Not Volunteers (Week 2): “Take up your cross daily” is the language of obedience, not convenience. A volunteer
chooses tasks; a disciple carries a cross.
• Sacrifice (Week 3): “Follow me” means embracing the path of Jesus — which always includes sacrifice, obedience, and mission.

This one verse dismantles consumer Christianity in a single sentence.

Identity Theft (Week 1): (Luke 9:23) “Whoever wants to be my disciple” Wants to Be – Is Heart Desire

The New Testament calls us ‘disciples’ nearly 270 times and ‘Christians’ only three
— which means somewhere along the way, we stopped identifying ourselves the way Jesus did.”

1. Our True “NEW” Identity

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
– This is the New Testament’s clearest identity statement — who we are in Christ.

John 8:31 (ESV)
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.’”
– This is Jesus defining the identity of a disciple in His own words.

2. A Surrendered Life
Discipleship requires laying down our plans, purposes, and pursuits to follow Jesus fully.
— The Calling of Matthew (Levi)
Luke 5:27–28 (ESV) “After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to
him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.”

Matthew walks away from:
• A lucrative career
• A secure future
• A powerful position
• His own plans and pursuits
This is a perfect picture of surrendered discipleship.

– discipleship requires laying down our own plans, purposes, and pursuits.

whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

This is exactly what Matthew did — he lost his life to find real life in Jesus.

Luke 14:33 (ESV) “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Jesus isn’t talking about poverty — He’s talking about priority.
Matthew renounced everything that defined his old life.

Matthew 6:24 (ESV) “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and
despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

— He literally walked away from the table where he made his money.
Matthew didn’t follow Jesus because it fit his plans — he surrendered his plans because he met Jesus.”

3. Deep Discipleship Love
True discipleship flows from a heart that loves Jesus so deeply it longs to follow Him.
Discipleship is fueled by love — not duty, not pressure, not religion.

John 8:31 “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.”