What Is Discipleship?

What is Discipleship?

Jesus exhorted us to go make disciples of all people (Matt. 28:18-20)

In the History of Christianity, the disciples were the followers of Jesus during his ministry. While Jesus attracted a large following, the term disciple is commonly used to refer specifically to "the Twelve", an inner circle of men whose number perhaps represented the twelve tribes of Israel. In addition to the Twelve, the gospels and the Book of Acts refer to varying numbers of disciples that ranges between 70 and 120 to a "growing multitude". Jesus controversially accepted women and those outside the circle of Israel’s faith among his followers, though it's not clear they were disciples. In the book of Acts, the Apostles themselves have disciples. The word disciple is used today as a way of self-identification for those who seek to learn from the teachings of Jesus.                                                                            

            There are four important aspects in discipleship

Accountable Relationships  

Relationship is at the heart of the Christian Faith, reflecting the fact that we as human beings have been made for relationship. Relationships are at the core of who we are as humans. When God created humans he put them into relationship, first with Him and then with each other.  From the very beginning of creation, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.”  The writer of proverbs states, “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment.”  It is in relationship that we find out who we are as humans and what matters most in life. Whether it is an individual broken heart, or whole families and societies devastated by relationships gone bad, relationships reflect our deepest human struggles. They are the source of our most profound joy and pain. From love to hate, relationship is at the depths of sin and at the heights of moral virtue.  Compassion, sacrifice, forgiveness trust… betrayal, murder, adultery, revenge.  Each is rooted in relationship. Scripture teaches us that God made people, with all their goodness and failure, for himself and also for one another.  This is at the foundation and heart of discipleship.  We believe that our spiritual growth with God is intentional and conditioned by interpersonal relationship with God and One another.  Discipleship can be defined as “an intentional response to others – especially God- that promotes well-being.”

Christian Formation

Christian formation involves opening ourselves up to an experience with God and others. Our focus is to break down the walls and barriers that hinder our relationship to God and others and explore the underlying causes to those roadblocks in our lives. Secondly, the discipleship process explores the maturity continuum of our adult lives and how our faith assists us in accomplishing the tasks of each stage of life.  Both Emotional and Spiritual Growth are a part of this process.  If we do not grow emotionally we cannot grow spiritually. Growing up in Christ is a process and involves becoming accountable to God; others and ourselves; learning the scriptures and how they apply for our lives; and building relational wholeness in our lives.

Teaching

Another aspect in discipleship involves teaching. Our discipleship process is designed to help new followers of Jesus formulate a Christian worldview and it will transform their thinking, assumptions, and mindsets. How does one do this? It requires, in part, challenging our learning about how to have a relationship with God, the Bible, and learning how life was designed by God to work. Our teaching process will focus on the nature and purpose of accountability, the history and background of the bible, and personal transformation.

Service

We are all called to put our faith into practice! We now take the relationships, mentoring, and learning, and carry it out in daily life. This is often expressed in service projects and missions, but that is only a small, although necessary aspect of service. Service is how we live our lives and model His character on a daily basis to those around us! When we are in ministry, we need to realize, it is not what I do, but whom I can equip. As we practice by reciprocating what we have learned to others, we will also be built up! 

All four of these aspects of discipleship collate and build into each other synergistically. Discipleship can be skewed and people fall away if any of these four aspects are let go. We will lose valuable opportunities to share and teach one another if, as Jesus stands at the door and knocks, we are watching TV and ignoring His door. Remember, the focus is never the task in and of itself. Rather, it is the glory and worship of our Lord and the enabling of one another to do and be better at living the Christian life. What we learn and do here during our short time together will echo throughout the vastness of eternity!

Every person who wants to follow Jesus needs to be discipled. Do whatever it takes to get someone who has been a follower of Jesus and reflects his nature to disciple you.  Don't be afraid to ask them until they or someone else takes the opportunity to invest in your life.