Practical Teaching on Discipleship

Practical Teaching on Discipleship

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20)

     What is discipleship? Discipleship is the growth of Christians in Christlikeness by the grace of God, through the word of God, for the glory of God, in order to replicate themselves for the good of families, churches, communities, and the world. Jesus met with Peter, James, and John and taught them valuable lessons that echoed into eternity (Mk. 1:29, 5:37, 9:2, 13:3; Matt. 17:1, 26:37). So, discipleship is biblical. It is also commissioned, as the verses quoted above demonstrate. Jesus sent his disciples into the world to make disciples. Discipleship, therefore, is not optional. Believers are expected to be discipled and then to disciple others. Disciples are made, they are not born!

     Discipleship is walking with Jesus. There is a purpose, direction, and a destination. It is personal and intimate, instructional and intentional. Something of this magnitude takes effort and discipline. Make no mistake, discipleship takes time, patience, and endurance.

     Discipleship is necessary. It empowers and enable believers to do the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11-12). Cultivating a deeper and closer walk with the Lord and developing mature and faithful believers who can multiply are other results. That is the goal of discipleship, Christlikeness. Christlikeness manifests itself by growth and maturation, doing the work of the ministry, and growing in faithfulness.

     There is a cost. Discipleship is an investment. It takes time and resources, sacrificing and giving, in order to lead, teach, mentor, and train others. Nothing that is worth it in the end ever comes easy. But, there is the reward of glorifying God, growing yourself, and the satisfaction in knowing that the Lord used you in the life of another Christian.

     What does discipleship look like? When sinners are saved, they need to be taught and nurtured. They are spiritual babies and need to be fed a steady diet of the word of God. They need to be encouraged and taught in order for them to grow and mature in Christ. New believers are dependent on the church and other believers. Discipleship is vital and must not be ignored.

     The church is only one place where discipleship takes place. Obviously, believers will grow sitting under the preaching and teaching of God's word from the pulpit and in Sunday School or small groups. But, it must not end there. Discipleship is not confined to the church. It may take place anywhere and in any number of situations and circumstances. It may be structured meetings over a period of time, or encounters at different times and locations. Whatever it is, it is to be intentional, scriptural, edifying, purposeful, and fruitful. Praying and reading Scripture is a must. Outside of these, discipleship is not overly complicated. It is simply teaching believers how to live and act as believers.

     The key is to be intentional. Look for opportunities to teach someone something. This could be done through a phone call, having lunch, shopping together, watching a game, hunting, driving in the car, etc. Be aware of teachable moments. Look for ways to disciple friends and family. It never ends- there is always room for growth!

     Discipleship is not about programs, steps to success, or curriculums. It is about building relationships with other believers centered around Christ in order to aid them in their growth in Christlikeness. This then is a process. It takes time to build and cultivate relationships. Growth takes time. It is ongoing. Discipleship is exposure to other believers, the development of spiritual disciplines, and encouragement. It is also teaching. This includes: the gospel, authority of Scripture, a biblical worldview, contentment, how to deal with suffering and trials, how to read and interpret the Bible, doctrine, how to resist temptation, functions within the church, and many other things.

     The importance of biblical discipleship cannot be overstated. The lack of it in churches today is evident and reveals why the church is in the shape that it finds itself. Biblical ignorance and illiteracy seems to be at an all-time high. Why is this? Perhaps, it is because the church has dropped the ball when it comes to discipleship. It seems that the church, at least at one time, was only interested in numbers. People were rushed through the doors, told to recite a prayer, declared believers, and then allowed to walk right out the back. This is a generalization, but there is some truth to it.

     Believers, churches, need to get back to the Bible and biblical discipleship. It is imperative. We are commanded to make disciples. Again, this must be intentional. Disciples are made. They do not make themselves!