Recently, I’ve spent considerable time contemplating discipleship. It’s a subject that’s weighed heavily on my heart, mind, and soul since I first began working at a homeless outreach ministry nearly three years ago.
While we want to make disciples, our chronically homeless neighbors aren’t in a position to be discipled. Their lives are on fire and we are doing our best to pull them out of the flames and carry them into safety. Like a M*A*S*H unit, we begin doing triage. Through deliberate interaction, we begin building trust and growing relationships. We are trying to guide individuals from where they are to their next right step.
Discipleship takes time. It also requires a modicum of stability. You have to discern when someone’s soul needs lifesaving triage rather than intentional long term investment.
What is discipleship?
It’s two or more people helping each other grow more Christlike. Usually it involves one person who has been a believer a little longer than another individual. This person is simply a little further along in the journey. A disciple-maker is someone who is intentionally and actively engaging with others and helping them walk out their faith authentically and with accountability.
At some level, discipleship involves community; people gathering together to break bread, individuals spending time with each other, and friends doing life together.
In the Gospels, we see Jesus modeling discipleship for us. He invites people to follow Him and actively and intentionally shows them what it is to live a life of belief.
The Devotional Guy™
Who are we discipling?
One another. We are helping each other grow in our faith, knowledge, and understanding of Jesus. We are sharing what we’ve learned along the way about what it looks like to live a godly life that is pleasing to the Lord. We’re sharing wisdom that we gained on our journey about pretty much anything and everyone. Good discipleship helps us be better men and women, better fathers and mothers, better sons and daughters, and better husbands and wives. Great discipleship helps us move from where we are to our next right step on our journey. It helps us stick the landing.
As disciples and disciple-makers , we have submitted our will to God’s will. After all, the prayer asks that His will be done, not ours. We have surrendered our lives to His purpose. We do that boldly and courageously, not in fear. We know we can trust God to do what He says. We want to become known for being people who do what they say. We honor God by honoring our commitments. We honor God by bearing the weight of our responsibilities with humility and grace, recognizing we need His strength to overcome our weaknesses.
18 Jesus went near to them and he said to them, ‘God has given me authority over everyone and everything. I have all authority in heaven and in this world. 19 So you must go to people in every country of the world. Teach them how to become my disciples. Baptize them by the authority of God the Father, his Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will be with you until the end of time.’
Matthew 28:18-20 Easy English Bible
Jesus has called us all to be disciples and make disciples. Are you disciplining anyone? Is anyone discipling you?
I pray that this post is helpful, especially if you are someone looking to become a disciple-maker or wanting to be discipled in the ways of Jesus.
Blessings and peace,
Rainer Bantau
The Devotional Guy™
#bgbg2#BibleGateway
The Devotional Guy™ 
My pleasure. Glad you found it helpful.
LikeLike
Thank you for this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Nicola! I appreciate the book recommendation. Change always exacts a price. Even in churches. I think part of what gets us off track at times is that we lose sight of the mission. I appreciate you taking time to read my post and share your thoughts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post thank you. I’m currently reading a book on the same subject by Steve and Esther Uppal which is about re-thinking discipleship. The Lord spoke to Steve about his church in 2019. He had become “number of people attending my church focussed” rather than discipleship focused. On the surface it would have been considered a very successful vibrant church. It’s a very honest account of how God has stripped away a lot of the “entertainment” and “performance” trap from his church. Some of it has been a painful journey for them. They initially lost a lot of their congregation who didn’t want to go on the discipleship journey. I recommend a read. Revival ready -Re-thinking Kingdom discipleship and church.
LikeLiked by 2 people