02 May Guest Speaker: Tom Terry

Radical Discipleship Overview

Guest speaker Tom Terry delivers a powerful message about moving beyond being a multitude follower to becoming an empowered disciple of Jesus Christ. Drawing from his seven-year ministry to Pakistan that has resulted in over 85,000 salvations through Skype crusades, Terry challenges believers to progress from casual Christianity to radical commitment. Using Matthew 15, Luke 6, and Acts 1-2 as foundation, he illustrates how Jesus ministered to multitudes, but only 120 gathered for Pentecost, and even fewer (70) were chosen for special ministry assignments. Terry emphasizes that American Christianity must move beyond comfort zones, highlighting Jesus’s uncompromising call to discipleship through Luke 9:57-62. He demonstrates how spiritual warfare prevents many from receiving Holy Spirit baptism and empowerment, calling the church to embrace supernatural ministry for national transformation. This message confronts lukewarm Christianity while offering hope for those hungry for God’s power.

Radical Discipleship Outline

• 0:00 – Introduction and Pakistan Ministry Report: Tom Terry shares miraculous testimonies from recent Skype crusades with 462 healings and 1,019 salvations.
• 8:00 – Great Multitudes Followed Jesus: Examining Matthew 15:29-31 and Luke 6:17 showing how crowds gathered for Jesus’s healing ministry.
• 15:00 – From Multitudes to the 120: Acts 1:1-8 reveals how only 120 out of thousands gathered in the upper room for Pentecost.
• 22:00 – The Empowered 120 at Pentecost: Acts 2:1-4 shows all 120 receiving Holy Spirit baptism with tongues as initial evidence.
• 28:00 – Jesus Chooses the 70: Luke 10:1 demonstrates Jesus selecting committed disciples for supernatural ministry assignments.
• 35:00 – The Cost of Following Jesus: Luke 9:57-62 exposes Jesus’s uncompromising demands for true discipleship beyond comfort zones.

Scripture References

Matthew 15:29-31, Luke 6:17-19, Acts 1:1-8, Acts 2:1-4, Luke 10:1, Luke 9:57-62, 1 Corinthians 15:1-7, Acts 8, Acts 10

Key Takeaways

• God is looking for believers who will progress beyond casual church attendance to radical commitment and empowerment.
• The same Holy Spirit power available at Pentecost is still available today for miraculous ministry and soul-winning.
• Spiritual warfare prevents many Christians from receiving Holy Spirit baptism and moving into supernatural ministry.
• Jesus deliberately chose committed disciples for ministry assignments based on their faithfulness and availability.
• American Christianity must abandon comfort zones and political correctness to embrace biblical discipleship.
• Technology can be powerfully used for evangelism and ministry, as demonstrated through international Skype crusades.
• True discipleship requires sacrifice and willingness to be stretched beyond personal preferences and convenience.

Radical Discipleship Notes

Tom Terry’s message powerfully challenges the contemporary church to move beyond superficial Christianity into radical discipleship and supernatural empowerment. His opening testimony from Pakistan ministry demonstrates God’s heart for global evangelism, with 85,393 salvations, 35,894 confirmed healings, and 250 churches established through innovative Skype crusades—all at just 50 cents per soul saved.The progression from multitudes to the chosen few forms the sermon’s backbone. While great multitudes followed Jesus for healing and provision, only 120 gathered in the upper room for the promised Holy Spirit baptism. This dramatic reduction reveals spiritual warfare’s reality—the enemy actively opposes believers receiving supernatural empowerment. Terry emphasizes that Holy Spirit baptism with tongues wasn’t a one-time historical event but continues throughout Acts and church history.The selection of the seventy disciples in Luke 10 illustrates Jesus’s strategic leadership in choosing committed followers for ministry assignments. These weren’t randomly selected but represented those who had proven faithful, attended prayer meetings, and demonstrated spiritual hunger. Jesus entrusted His power only to those He could rely upon for obedience and dedication.Terry’s exposition of Luke 9:57-62 confronts American Christianity’s comfort-seeking tendencies. Jesus’s response to potential followers wasn’t encouraging but challenging—demanding they count the cost of true discipleship. The man wanting to follow Jesus everywhere was told about homelessness and discomfort. Another seeking to bury his father first was challenged about priorities. These interactions reveal Jesus’s uncompromising standards that transcend cultural politeness.The message culminates in a call for the church to embrace supernatural ministry for national transformation. Terry argues that normal American Christianity is insufficient for current times, requiring believers to step into miraculous power and radical obedience. This isn’t about condemning casual believers but calling forth those hungry for more of God’s presence and power in their lives.

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