We are to be “Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught” (Titus 1:9). Paul explains God’s preservation process for the church is to continue, “The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).
I believe the modern church has a problem: few are able to teach, few are faithful men.
Jesus commanded the church Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” “As you go on your way, teach all the nations making them your pupils (of Jesus), baptizing them.”
We may tell them of Jesus, we may baptize, but I think we often neglect the teaching of them personally. Christ commissioned His disciples to go and teach, make disciples, learners of him. This means we should imitate them. We are to be personally involved in people’s lives, not just preaching a sermon from the pulpit on a Sunday.
Yet remember, discipleship is not about one’s relationship with another Christian, it is about their relationship to Jesus (Mark 2:18, John 9:28 they are called disciples of Jesus.) In its definition or context it means a follower, a learner of Jesus. In Acts 19 Paul met disciples of John, those who were baptized by John and had never heard of the one whom John spoke of that was to come. They were still following John’s teachings. Paul explained to them Jesus came and what he did and they were baptized as believers in Jesus. They then were to follow Christ.
The Gospel is preached for one to be saved. But then what? As one is born into the new family it is up to us to be there for them, to train them by word and example so they go from being a newborn to a mature believer. I think we miss the boat here.
When we point one to the goal of “making a decision”, or “accepting Christ”, without discipleship, how can we expect growth afterwards? People cannot be equipped to do what God has called them to do when they are untrained.
Yet remember, discipleship is not about one’s relationship with another Christian, it is about their relationship to Jesus (Mark 2:18, John 9:28 they are called disciples of Jesus.) In its definition or context it means a follower, a learner of Jesus. In Acts 19 Paul met disciples of John, those who were baptized by John and had never heard of the one whom John spoke of that was to come. They were still following John’s teachings. Paul explained to them Jesus came and what he did and they were baptized as believers in Jesus. They then were to follow Christ.
The Gospel is preached for one to be saved. But then what? As one is born into the new family it is up to us to be there for them, to train them by word and example so they go from being a newborn to a mature believer. I think we miss the boat here.
When we point one to the goal of “making a decision”, or “accepting Christ”, without discipleship, how can we expect growth afterwards? People cannot be equipped to do what God has called them to do when they are untrained.
The whole purpose of leadership in the church is “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12). Because most are not taught the Scriptures properly, they have a lack of knowledge and motivation.
Discipleship is far more important than what is discussed today. Jesus taught those who followed him, “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). A person carrying his cross entered into suffering. Without reproach, without dying to self, we cannot learn from him. Today’s church teaches blessings with no self denial but self exaltation. Luke 9:23: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
Discipleship is far more important than what is discussed today. Jesus taught those who followed him, “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). A person carrying his cross entered into suffering. Without reproach, without dying to self, we cannot learn from him. Today’s church teaches blessings with no self denial but self exaltation. Luke 9:23: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
This is not a single decision but a lifestyle. The cross we carry is a crucified life, to ourselves and the world.
Many within the Church still struggle with the same habits and bondages as before and do not move on to maturity because of one reason – no discipleship. The basics are the milk of the Word (Hebrews 6). These basics need to be taught over and over until the believer is established. If the foundational core teachings, the milk, are not taught then we cannot expect to go on to eat the meat. The bible expects those who are born spiritually to go from milk to meat to become mature and effective.
The gospel is not supposed to be a message you must attend church to hear but a message that is to go out from the church, told to those who would not attend church services. We are to present an intellectual understanding of the fallen state of man from God’s perspective to impact the culture. That’s why I believe Apologetics (1 Peter 3:15) is necessary for Christians as well.
Many within the Church still struggle with the same habits and bondages as before and do not move on to maturity because of one reason – no discipleship. The basics are the milk of the Word (Hebrews 6). These basics need to be taught over and over until the believer is established. If the foundational core teachings, the milk, are not taught then we cannot expect to go on to eat the meat. The bible expects those who are born spiritually to go from milk to meat to become mature and effective.
The gospel is not supposed to be a message you must attend church to hear but a message that is to go out from the church, told to those who would not attend church services. We are to present an intellectual understanding of the fallen state of man from God’s perspective to impact the culture. That’s why I believe Apologetics (1 Peter 3:15) is necessary for Christians as well.
We too are supposed to be equipped in the church to be able to answer people and lead them to a correct understanding of what is written. But to do this we must know the Scripture. Believers that see the power of God at work in their life personally are the ones to confidently speak the gospel to others.
Twice Jesus specifically said, “blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it” (Luke 11:28; also 8:21) referring to the person in Psalm 1 who will be as a fruitful tree. John 15:8: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” We are showing ourselves to be in relationship with Him by learning which when applied will produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. This is supposed to be a natural process of the Holy Spirit’s work in a believer’s life as we co-operate by obedience. If a person is a devoted Christian but has not discipled another, it means they have not taken the time to reproduce. We do not measure a person’s spiritual life by how many disciples they produce but it certainly should be part of their development to maturity.
Lord, Help me commit myself fresh to discipleship to strengthen what remains.
Twice Jesus specifically said, “blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it” (Luke 11:28; also 8:21) referring to the person in Psalm 1 who will be as a fruitful tree. John 15:8: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” We are showing ourselves to be in relationship with Him by learning which when applied will produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. This is supposed to be a natural process of the Holy Spirit’s work in a believer’s life as we co-operate by obedience. If a person is a devoted Christian but has not discipled another, it means they have not taken the time to reproduce. We do not measure a person’s spiritual life by how many disciples they produce but it certainly should be part of their development to maturity.
Lord, Help me commit myself fresh to discipleship to strengthen what remains.
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