In our final installment of Lessons in Discipleship, I'd like us to look at how immensely biblical discipleship is. I feel like this would have served as a good starting point, something foundational but I think visiting this piece last suits as a wonderful reminder.
As a brief review of our time last week, we looked at humility as not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less and placing others before you; considering them more important.
Today, we visit the biblical principle of discipleship. For starters, it's the one thing Jesus commanded us to do. Ask yourself: of the questions from the previous posts or perhaps some of the mental notes you took, did you remember that Jesus is at the center of this or were you more occupied about the content?
DISCIPLESHIP: WHAT IS IT?
Before jumping in, we must define discipleship. In my experience, I've had plenty of conversations, read enough books, and visited enough conferences to hear the latest discovery and method on discipleship, but not many spend time on actually defining what it is.
I define discipleship as meeting people where they are in life and taking them to where Jesus wants them to be. It's a "point A to point B" reference.
Two things on this definition: (1) if you haven't noticed, your context for meeting people where they're at is life, not a classroom and (2) I want you to remember that we're making disciples not converts. I know that may sound odd, but Jesus (in Matthew 28) said to make disciples and to teach and talk about Him.
In discipleship, you have the opportunity to share the beauty of Christ in the context of ordinary life- whether with a Christian or a non-believer. Paul says it best, "follow me as I follow Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). This means that in discipleship, we are teaching people what it means to worship Jesus when the house is a mess, the day has just become scattered, when you're in parent mode with the kids, when you're flirting with your spouse, in a difficult situation, and when you screw up.
The goal is to show, in ordinary life, what it means to surrender everything before Christ so that others may do the same unto Him!
DISCIPLESHIP: BIBLICAL
Discipleship is biblical and intentional. The primary source of teaching, rebuke, or encouragement is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16), but you must be intentional in its delivery; compassionate and humble.
Making disciples is easy and everyone does it; it simply has a different name to it. What do you think gym rats are? What about best friends? Gym buddies do everything together in and out of the gym; they talk about fitness all day long. Best friends share everything with one another, in the good times and in the bad; constantly communicating. Why should Christians be any different when making disciples? It's simple, we talk about what we love. The question is: do you love Jesus enough to always be talking about Him?
Sometimes we become so infused with the method that we forget about the One whom all of this is founded upon. Consider Paul's words to the church in Thessalonica: "We cared so much for you that we were please to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives because you had become dear to us" (1 Thessalonians 2:8; emphasis added).
Discipleship is messy, but biblical. It is rewarding, but is an investment of time. And it will push you spiritually because you'll think you're the one working. Friends, we're simply the messengers and the ambassadors. The One at work has done so according to the Father's will and through the power of the Holy Spirit.