Discipleship
You are probably familiar with the Great Commission from Matthew 28:19-20:
19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And
behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We are not just expected to tell the world about Jesus, we are commissioned to “Make Disciples.” So, what does that mean? Strictly speaking, a Disciple is someone who is a follower, student, servant or even worshiper of another. For a Christian, a Disciple is a follower of Christ, who longs to become more like Christ through learning and worshiping God through our relationship with Christ. When we “make a disciple,” we are helping someone become a devoted follower of Christ.
OK, so what does that look like? Think of discipleship as investing. You are investing your life into someone else. The best examples in the New Testament are Paul, Barnabas and Timothy. Barnabas was Paul’s friend who encouraged him in his walk with Christ. Paul referred to Timothy as his “Spiritual Son.” We all need a Paul to invest in us. We all need a Barnabas that walks alongside us and encourages us. And we all need a Timothy that we are investing into.
Being a disciple means that we act with selfless love towards those we choose to invest in. It also means that we are willing to lovingly correct those in whom we are investing. The word “disciple” comes from the same root as the word ‘discipline.” Look at it through the words of Proverb 3:11-12:
11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.
So, being a disciple takes time, patience, courage and, above all, love. Prayerfully consider who you might invest in by discipling them. God will honor that prayer.
19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And
behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We are not just expected to tell the world about Jesus, we are commissioned to “Make Disciples.” So, what does that mean? Strictly speaking, a Disciple is someone who is a follower, student, servant or even worshiper of another. For a Christian, a Disciple is a follower of Christ, who longs to become more like Christ through learning and worshiping God through our relationship with Christ. When we “make a disciple,” we are helping someone become a devoted follower of Christ.
OK, so what does that look like? Think of discipleship as investing. You are investing your life into someone else. The best examples in the New Testament are Paul, Barnabas and Timothy. Barnabas was Paul’s friend who encouraged him in his walk with Christ. Paul referred to Timothy as his “Spiritual Son.” We all need a Paul to invest in us. We all need a Barnabas that walks alongside us and encourages us. And we all need a Timothy that we are investing into.
Being a disciple means that we act with selfless love towards those we choose to invest in. It also means that we are willing to lovingly correct those in whom we are investing. The word “disciple” comes from the same root as the word ‘discipline.” Look at it through the words of Proverb 3:11-12:
11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.
So, being a disciple takes time, patience, courage and, above all, love. Prayerfully consider who you might invest in by discipling them. God will honor that prayer.
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