Aspects of Discipleship
In the 1980s, while serving as Treasurer of our small church in Sacramento, I had the opportunity to book the President of Shield of Faith Mission International, Dick York, to speak at one of our annual conferences. Dick was a missionary in the 1950s and 1960s, evangelizing and church-planting in the postwar villages of South Korea. He brought the gospel to Korea years before Billy Graham held his massive Asian crusade there. Having served two tours in Korea myself in the Army, and having married my Korean wife, Dick took a personal interest in both of us. My wife was just a little girl when Dick was on the mission field in this once third-world country. One of Dick’s powerful messages on discipleship was drawn from Luke 14, and it had a profound influence on our Christian life as we endeavored to count the cost of following Jesus as disciples. Below are some aspects of discipleship that should challenge us to make more and better disciples of Jesus Christ.
The Practical Definition of Discipleship
What do we think of when we hear the word discipleship? What are the identifying qualities of a disciple? Discipleship is the process of becoming a follower of Jesus. It's a continuous process of learning about who Jesus is and striving to be like Him. It is the foundational system by which disciples grow in Christ and are equipped by the Holy Spirit to overcome the challenges and trials of this present life. The process of becoming like Christ involves accountability with mature, faithful Christians and the Holy Spirit’s prompting to examine our thoughts, words, desires, and activities, and validate them with the Word of God. In John 8:31b, Jesus says, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”
The Principle of Discipleship
Nothing is more pleasing to God than to follow His Son. God’s primary goal for your life is not necessarily your comfort, but your character. The Principle of Discipleship is given to us in Luke 6:40… “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” Again, in Matthew 10:25… “It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.” This is the greatest purpose God has for us: to be like Christ, our teacher and master. There is no higher calling than to be Jesus’ disciples: students and disciplined learners who are willing to live for Him, learn from Him, and freely express our love to Him through our worship, fellowship, discipleship, and stewardship.
The Priority of Discipleship
Many of us call ourselves Christians. The word “Christian” only appears in the Bible three times. The biblical word most commonly used to describe followers of Jesus Christ is “disciple,” which appears over 260 times. How important is being a disciple of Jesus? When you want to know what was really important to someone’s life, listen to their last words. A person’s last words on earth usually reflect the most noteworthy purpose or objective of that person's life. Listen to the last words of Jesus as He instructs His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20… “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, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Although Jesus thought it vitally important that we know He will always be with us, the first thing on His mind was that we make more disciples. He commissioned His first disciples to go and do the very thing that will fulfill the purpose and plan of God for all ages. If it is our mandate to go and make disciples, then our first responsibility should be to ensure that we ourselves are disciples. Before you can make a disciple, you must be a disciple. Tony Evans writes: “The goal and cornerstone of our activity, that which brings God the most glory, is for us to become disciples.”
The Process of Discipleship
The process by which we become like Christ in character involves our sanctification. The first part of the process is becoming a disciple. It begins with an admission of our condition, that we’re sinners in need of a Savior, and an acknowledgment that Jesus Christ is our only Savior. Then our submission to Christ’s Lordship as God, Judge, and King. Thirdly, the commission of our life to God’s will and His glory. And finally, the transmission of our faith to others through the Gospel and our personal testimony.
The Price of Discipleship
There is a personal cost to becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. The cross is a required element of discipleship. It means death, self-denial, and, as we carry our cross through life, we must be willing to say to those who notice, “I’m guilty of being a follower of Christ.” To follow Jesus, we are to die to self-interests, self-will, self-sufficiency, self-gratification, and self-glorification. We are to live for His interests, His will, His glory, and His kingdom. Jesus is not going to do a makeover on you; He is going to do a takeover. He wants to take over your life. We’re not adding Him to our lives with a bunch of other good things, like adding chocolate to milk. Jesus becomes our life through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The Proof of Discipleship
What is the proof of discipleship? Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Love is the ultimate evidence of your discipleship. It includes love for Christ, His word, His church, and love for others. You cannot love God and hate His family. That is why He calls us to make disciples. He wants to increase His kingdom family and cultivate it as a family of loving fellowship, devoted to His worship, His will, and His purpose.
Fruitfulness is the second proof of discipleship. Jesus said, in John 15:1-2, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.” John 15:8 says, “My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.” Faithfulness leads to fruitfulness, and every disciple will bear spiritual fruit.
The third proof is “abiding” or “remaining” in a vibrant, life-sustaining relationship with Jesus. John 15:4-5 says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” How do we know if we are abiding? The fruit of the Spirit and a love for God and others is the first evidence. However, many other things characterize those who abide in Christ, as the word of God plays a vital role in a disciple’s life. Without God’s word, we cannot be effective disciples.
The Productivity of Discipleship
A disciple is called to reproduce. We cannot bury our talents in the ground like the unjust steward (Mat. 25:14-18). We are accountable to the Lord, so we need to show some gains. Discipleship utilizes the principle of multiplication. For example, would you rather be given $1,000 a day for thirty days ($30K), or choose one penny on the first day and have it doubled each day for thirty days (i.e., 2 pennies the second day, 4 on the third day, etc.)? Which would you choose? (Best Answer—take the pennies!—equal to $5,368,708.80) The chart below explains the productivity of multiplication. In this process, we don’t worry about winning 100 people a day to Christ like a super-evangelist, or even one person per day, but simply to disciple one person a year. We can do that! And when we do, the dynamics of multiplication will begin. Ask God to give you that one person.
2 Timothy 2:2… “The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
Discipling with you,
Tom Lathrop
Foundational Faith Statement #41: What is the church?
The church is a called-out community of Christ followers who are chosen by God for eternal life and united under the supreme authority, Jesus Christ, to honor, love, serve, and worship Him as our King of kings and Lord of lords (2 Thess. 2:13; Matt. 16:18; Eph. 4:15–16; Col. 1:13; 1 Tim. 6:15–16).