My Heart on Discipleship
Why is discipleship important?
It's a good question, not only for those of us who work in "Discipleship Training Schools," but for everyone.
First of all, it's a command from Jesus."Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations..." A command we've heard a thousand times, but maybe aren't so quick to respond to as we think.
You see, we cheer the numbers of salvations, as we should. But what happens afterwards? When the worship band stops playing and the congregation has gone home? Life still goes on. Family problems still exist, jobs are still waiting on Monday.
The disciples weren't just church attendees on Sundays, they walked beside Jesus every single day, learning from Him, listening to Him. Jesus' example of discipleship wasn't a one time thing, it was a lifetime process. The disciples were together on their good days and their bad days. One moment Peter says he'll follow Jesus anywhere, the next he's denying Him. But Jesus, despite Peter's faithlessness, Jesus was still faithful.
That's discipleship. It's believing in someone as Jesus believes in them. It's community. It's continually pointing Christians, and Non-Christians, back to the person of Jesus.
It's messy. People are hypocrites. They're backsliders.
Have you ever expected someone to know something you knew and they just didn't? "I mean, they should know, because I know..." I do it all the time. I expect others to know what I have been taught. But what if they don't know because they haven't been taught? Or because no one would have the patience to help them learn it?
Maybe instead of expecting all Christians to be perfect automatically, we should do what Jesus told us to and make disciples. We have this huge, amazing opportunity, to partner with God and help people along their journey. He gives us the body of Christ for a reason. We are to sharpen one another. To teach one another.
How can I dare, having grown up in church all my life, not share a bit of what I've learned with someone else!
I love discipleship, because Christ loves discipleship. It's hard. It's not easy, and sometimes you have to get in the mud with people. But is it worth it? Oh yes it is! To watch people mature in Christ is one of the greatest things you will ever experience.
It's a good question, not only for those of us who work in "Discipleship Training Schools," but for everyone.
First of all, it's a command from Jesus."Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations..." A command we've heard a thousand times, but maybe aren't so quick to respond to as we think.
You see, we cheer the numbers of salvations, as we should. But what happens afterwards? When the worship band stops playing and the congregation has gone home? Life still goes on. Family problems still exist, jobs are still waiting on Monday.
The disciples weren't just church attendees on Sundays, they walked beside Jesus every single day, learning from Him, listening to Him. Jesus' example of discipleship wasn't a one time thing, it was a lifetime process. The disciples were together on their good days and their bad days. One moment Peter says he'll follow Jesus anywhere, the next he's denying Him. But Jesus, despite Peter's faithlessness, Jesus was still faithful.
That's discipleship. It's believing in someone as Jesus believes in them. It's community. It's continually pointing Christians, and Non-Christians, back to the person of Jesus.
It's messy. People are hypocrites. They're backsliders.
Have you ever expected someone to know something you knew and they just didn't? "I mean, they should know, because I know..." I do it all the time. I expect others to know what I have been taught. But what if they don't know because they haven't been taught? Or because no one would have the patience to help them learn it?
Maybe instead of expecting all Christians to be perfect automatically, we should do what Jesus told us to and make disciples. We have this huge, amazing opportunity, to partner with God and help people along their journey. He gives us the body of Christ for a reason. We are to sharpen one another. To teach one another.
How can I dare, having grown up in church all my life, not share a bit of what I've learned with someone else!
I love discipleship, because Christ loves discipleship. It's hard. It's not easy, and sometimes you have to get in the mud with people. But is it worth it? Oh yes it is! To watch people mature in Christ is one of the greatest things you will ever experience.
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