An apostolic church trains disciples to put Christ first to impact the world.
And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26b NKJV).
•  In Antioch, disciples were first called'Christians' which means'Christ-people' or'the followers of Christ' because people were impressed by their life. They lived for Christ wherever they went and in whatever they did.

1. Puts Christ above self
Disciples honor Christ first in their life.

a. Subject all areas to Christ
Following Christ requires daily effort of putting Him first.
Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels" (Luke 9:23-26 NKJV).
• 'Let him deny himself' means following Christ requires surrendering your right, values, choices, and ambition to Him.
•  The Romans demanded a sentenced person to carry his cross to the place of execution. Carrying the cross is a journey of no return.'Take up his cross daily' means to give your life to Christ without reservation and subject all areas of your life to His authority at all times.
•  Stop completely the thoughts, speech, and deeds that contradict the Word of God and live according to the Word (see 2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
• 'For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it' means putting Christ first which incurs sufferings and sacrifices will be rewarded when Christ returns.
The Son of Man will come again with his Father's glory and with his angels. At that time, he will reward them for what they have done (Matthew 16:27 NCV).
•  Those who put Christ first will be specially honored at His Second Coming (see also verses 24-26). Eternal reward motivates putting Christ first.

b. Do all things in His name
To put Christ first, you honor Him in every thing you do.
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:17 NKJV).
• 'In the name' means representing the authority of a person.'Do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus' means you are representing Christ in every thing you do. It is bearing a good testimony in all areas of your life.
•  Be a good testimony for Christ in your study, work, home-life, leisure, time usage, stewardship of money, music, songs, readings, speech, behaviors, food, rest, friendship, courtship, marriage, spiritual growth, winning souls, and making disciples. Your honoring of Christ will convince people that you have a new life.
•  Honoring Christ will benefit you. God monitors all your good works to reward you (see Galatians 6:7). Though you may suffer disadvantages, you will be rewarded (see Matthew 5:10-12).

2. Puts Christ above others
Disciples honor Christ above all relationships.

a. Subject all relationships to Christ
Following Christ requires loving Him more than the people you love.
Those who love their father or mother more than they love me are not worthy to be my followers. Those who love their son or daughter more than they love me are not worthy to be my followers. Whoever is not willing to carry the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who try to hold on to their lives will give up true life. Those who give up their lives for me will hold on to true life (Matthew 10:37-39 NCV).
•  When any person or relationship challenges the place of Christ in your heart, you must put the Lord back to that rightful position.
•  Keeping Christ above all relationships requires you to'carry the cross' willingly. You may have to say no to your emotion and the people you love if the current situation contradicts your loyalty to Christ.
•  You may have to endure some misunderstandings but'those who give up their lives for Christ will hold on to true life'. It means b lessings will flow richly on you if you put Christ above relationships.
•  To love Christ more than the people you love, you need to love, understand, and care for them better than before.

b. Give Christ all relationships
Let Christ take care of all the people you love.
If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:26-27 NKJV).
•  Christ does not demand us to hate our family relationships and our own life. C omparing the love we give to people close to our hearts with the love we should give to Christ, it is like hatred comparing with love.
•  When you face any manipulation or influence that will damage your commitment to Christ, you must choose to honor Him first though you may have to suffer rejection and some disadvantages.
The Lord is your protection; you have made God Most High your place of safety. Nothing bad will happen to you; no disaster will come to your home. He has put his angels in charge of you to watch over you wherever you go (Psalm 91:9-11 NCV).
•  Put Christ before your family. God will send angels to protect you and your loved ones from all evils and deadly diseases.

3. Puts Christ above practices
Disciples honor Christ above good practices.

a. Subject all practices to Christ
Following Christ requires honoring Him higher than all practices.
As they were going along the road, someone said to Jesus, "I will follow you any place you go." Jesus said to them, "The foxes have holes to live in, and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest his head." Jesus said to another man, "Follow me!" But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the people who are dead bury their own dead. You must go and tell about the kingdom of God." Another man said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to my family." Jesus said, "Anyone who begins to plow a field but keeps looking back is of no use in the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:57-62 NCV).
•  Christ and His disciples were travelling in a Samaritan village that rejected Him because He was a Jew (see Luke 9:52-53).
Consider Christ higher than acceptance.
•  To the first person who wanted so much to follow Him, Christ answered with'The foxes have holes to live in, and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest his head'. The Samaritans refused to lodge Jews in their inns. He was testing the person whether he was willing to consider discipleship if he would be denied of acceptance.
•  Stand firm on your faith though not many can readily agree with your preaching, appreciate your decision to believe in Christ, and accept your spiritual values. For God will reward you richly (see 1 Corinthians 15:58).
Consider Christ higher than customs.
•  To the second person who excused His invitation for discipleship, the Lord said,'Let the people who are dead bury their own dead. You must go and tell about the kingdom of God'. Funeral those days went on for many days. He wanted him to value preaching the gospel more important than the customs.
•  Discipleship is an urgent matter that does not tolerate excuses and delays. People are already judged for their sins (see John 3:18) and the end time is near (see Matthew 24:3-31). We must race with time to evangelize the world.
Consider Christ higher than obligations.
•  To the third person who wanted first to bid farewell to his family the Lord said,'Anyone who begins to plow a field but keeps looking back is of no use in the kingdom of God'. Traditions and obligations those days were very demanding but disciples had to consider Christ higher.
•  Discipleship does not tolerate distraction to the commitment of accomplishing the Great Commission.

b. Be a committed disciple
Discipleship requires high dedication.
If you want to build a tower, you first sit down and decide how much it will cost, to see if you have enough money to finish the job. If you don't, you might lay the foundation, but you would not be able to finish. Then all who would see it would make fun of you, saying,'This person began to build but was not able to finish.' "If a king is going to fight another king, first he will sit down and plan. He will decide if he and his ten thousand soldiers can defeat the other king who has twenty thousand soldiers. If he can't, then while the other king is still far away, he will send some people to speak to him and ask for peace. In the same way, you must give up everything you have to be my follower (Luke 14:28-33 NCV).
• 'You must give up everything you have to be my follower' means discipleship demands a complete devotion.
•  Consider also the reward for discipleship. Those who put Christ first will be specially honored at His Second Coming (see Matthew 16:24-27).