What Is Discipleship
“And he (Jesus) said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 So, according to Jesus, a disciple is a person who: 1) is following Christ (head) FOLLOWING Jesus 2) is being changed by Christ (heart) Being FORMED by Jesus 3) is living the mission of Christ (hands) FAITHFUL to His mission 4) and leads others to do the same (health) FINISHED replicate Knowledge about the Word of God and the Christian life must move from the head to the heart; where it can affect character, and from the heart to the hands; where it can affect our actions. Spiritually mature Christians live relationally - they love God and love others. Their resources, abilities, and time are at His disposal so His mission can be completed. Spiritual health involves disciples whose head, heart, and hands do the bidding of Jesus. Disciples commit all they have and all they are to finish the work of God - making disciples of all nations, Matthew 28:18-20.
The Spirit of God + a clear goal + an intentional leader + relational environment + reproducible process = an infinite number of disciples
Disciple - It's who we are
Discipleship - It's what we do
“You cannot effectively lead someone down a pathway where you haven’t gone yourself. (You can’t take them spiritually where you haven’t been.) You can tell them about the path or direct them to it; but it’s not the same as having them actually follow your leadership or your example down the trail of life in Christ.” !!!!!!!!!!!
K. Groves
Discipling is different from mentoring… Mentoring usually emphasizes skill development to accomplish a goal or task. It’s also typically one-on-one. Discipleship focuses on Christ-centered and people-centered relationships. It’s about connecting with God and others as you grow to become more like Jesus, not just emulating another person you know. There’s a life-on-life component which goes beyond just instruction. Biblical examples: Bible= Jethro-Moses (mentor), Moses-Joshua (disciple). Mentoring example: following Donald Trump and his ways (Apprentice). Discipleship example: following Billy Graham and his ways (disciple).
Goal: We are seeking to become more like Jesus, not become a mini-me of someone else. Mutual accountability is essential because no one person has arrived at the place where s/he can model the complete picture of Jesus. We all have strengths and weaknesses. We need to build on the strengths and bolster the weaknesses with help from the Holy Spirit and those who exhibit strength in our weaker areas.
II Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
“Disciple making includes much more than just conversion because it focuses on helping people obey everything that Jesus commanded. That is a really big, lifelong shift.” Harrington & Patrick
“Discipleship is helping people to trust and follow Jesus.” Harrington/Patrick “ It’s leading others to increasingly submit all of life to the empowering Lordship of Jesus Christ.” Jeff Vanderstelt “Discipling others is the process by which a Christian with a life worth emulating commits himself for an extended period of time to a few individuals who have been won to Christ, the purpose being to aid and guide their growth to maturity and equip them to reproduce themselves in a third spiritual generation.” Alan Hadidian Key words: Example & relationship Note: Discipleship is not a separate or distinct category, it is a synonym for Christian living! It’s a process - not a program or event! Disciple making is much more than baptizing people. It is equipping people to embrace the lifestyle of surrender and obedience to all of Jesus’ teachings. Harrington & Patrick
What Is A Disciple
