Discipleship-How do we actually do this?
This is a big command that Jesus first gave the 12 disciples and then to the rest of His disciples which would be you and me (see:Matthew 28:18-20). As followers of Christ we call this the great commission. Most of us don't really know what that means but we know that it means important.
Matthew 28:18-20 says: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ “
Now let's break down what the great commission means…..
Great means of an extent, amount or intensity considerably above the normal or average
&
Commission means an instruction, command or duty given to a person or a group of people
Seeing the definition of both words gives this command and our obedience to it weight. This instruction has intensity behind it. This instruction has eternal benefits or eternal devastation. Now I am not saying that you can save someone you don't have that power only God does but I am saying that you are called to be apart of the process. Knowing this extremely important command can seem daunting especially when we don't know exactly what it means or looks like to make disciples. Trust me I know first hand what it means to be challenged by this command to go and make disciples and not really knowing where to start. I am an awkward person, an extravert, but awkward sometimes in new situations so this seemed like something I didn't really want to do. I was scared that there would be awkward silences and times where I didnt know the answers to questions that my disciple would ask. Both of those things happened and continue to happen and yet I am still alive which means that it won't kill you to have awkward silences or to admit that you don't know and you will have to study more on a particular subject.
Discipleship for me started when I came to college. I became connected with a campus ministry called The Root or BSM (Baptist Student Ministry). This group pushed me to be discipled and to disciple. I was very scared at first. What does this mean what would I have to do? My real question internally was what was the least I could do and still say that I was discipling and being discipled but God quickly humbled me and showed me the importance of this command.
Discipleship has and still is stretching and growing me. Whether I am discipling and being pushed to love like I never have before. Or being pushed to get into my word so that I am prepared to pour truth. Or on the other hand being discipled and having to be vulnerable (which is hard for ya girl) or having to be corrected. Both roles are hard but so WORTH IT! Being apart of these relationships that have grown me gives me passion for this topic. I'm passionate because I see the benefits personally that it has had and I think those benefits are why we all need to be both discipling and being discipled.
What is a disciple?
A disciple is a learner. This is important to realize. Our goal is not to train biblical scholars but to learn what it means to be more like Christ. Of course as you go on in discipleship you will learn about things in the bible and your knowledge of scholarly things in the bible will grow but make sure your eyes are on the real prize looking more like Christ and knowing who he is not just knowing about Him.
What is a disciple-maker?
A disciple-maker is a a christian that enter into relationships with people to guide them in their relationship with Christ towards trust and what it looks like to follow Jesus. Which means that there is intentionality with the relationships that you foster as a disciple-maker. This is also an important role because your opinion have to take back seat to the truth of the Bible.Please take this seriously!
As humans we desire community and relationship and vulnerability. Even those of us that have a hard time being vulnerable we still want to bear our souls to someone. We desire this because we are made in the image of a communal God. We are supposed to foster that desire into relationships that glorify God.
How do we actually do it? How do we foster a discipleship relationship?
It can look different for different groups of people. Sometimes you may want to go through a book from a Christian author or may go through a book of the bible. There is no set formula so don't get caught up in trying to make your discipleship relationships look like someone else's. Let it be personal. Let it be true to you.
Even though there is no set formula here are some practical things that need to be included in your discipleship relationship:
This relationship should be based on truth
It is easy for us to want to litter the world with our opinions. Let this be a relationship where you choose not to do that. The things talked about should be filtered by the truth. Let opinions rest in peace! When I say the truth I am talking about The Bible the absolute truth. In this relationship there should not be deviation from truth. Now you can go through other books from Christian authors that's something I like to do from time to time but make sure that if anything in those books disagrees with the Word of God that the Word is what you stand on and not the outside texts.
Also be truthful about the things going on in your life. There is no growth when you continue to lie about the things that you are struggling with. Be honest it may be hard and awkward but it is BEST!
When your disciple knows that you are also struggling and not perfect it gives them encouragement to be vulnerable but also that they don't idolize you as well.
This relationship should call us out of our sin and closer to Christ
There is not one us that can say that we have never sinned. This relationship should be overflowing with so much truth that you are not able to rest in your sin.
This relationship should also show us Christ. In more than just our words our actions should reflect Christ.
This relationship should have a lot of confession
There should be a safe zone between the two people in this relationship. The two people in this relationship should be able to be extremely vulnerable with each other and be able to share things that they are going through, have gone through and the disappointments of their lives without a fear of rejection.
This relationship should be a reflection of the truth that there is no condemnation in Christ. (see Romans 8:1)
This relationship should be founded on love
There are going to be some hard conversations had between the disciple and the discipler but if there is love these conversations are possible to get through.
Also this relationship should give us a glimpse of how God loves us and deeply knows us and yet accepts and loves us.
This relationship should be fun!
Yes truth, confession and growth are important but don't forget that FUN is also important
You want to enjoy the time you have together with your disciple or discipler.
The relationship should be multiplicable
By this I mean that at a certain point your disciple should feel strong enough to become a disciple maker. How else are we going to make disciples of ALL nations if the disciples that we have don't eventually make disciples themselves.
This relationship should be Christ-centered
This is the main focus of discipleship to know and look like Christ. So I can't emphasize this enough!
My prayer for you:
Lord I pray that we would realize the intensity of the great commission. I pray that we would be willing to be spent for each other in time and effort. Lord show us where we have time in our schedules to disciple someone we know and to be discipled by someone we trust. Lord I pray that we would also follow your lead in who to disciple and what exactly it will look like for us. Lord I pray for these future relationships that they glorify you and that you will be pleased in them. I pray that though we will be gaining knowledge that we don't get wrapped up in knowing about you and miss actually knowing you. Lord I pray that we will know you ,your grace, your mercy, and love for us. I pray that we would have a domino effect that we would not ask what the bare minimum is but that we would desire to do as much as we can because we see the importance of people being deeply rooted in you. I pray for vulnerability and I pray that we would break free from secret sin in our lives. Lord I pray that you will work in mighty ways through these relationships that will take place because of our obedience. I also pray that we would be committed even when things get hard. I pray that we would gladly bear the crosses that our sisters and brothers are bearing with them. I pray we would be willing to speak in loving correction and that we would be heard from a place of love as well. I pray that we would also take correction well. All this I ask in Jesus’ mighty and redemptive name. Amen.
