DISCIPLESHIP

Gene Mims, president of Lifeway Christian Resources said, “The greatest threat to the church today is the loss of disciple-making ministries through which mature, spiritually transformed Christians are multiplying themselves through other men and women. If increased attention is not given to building disciples, the number of members will drop and evangelism will wane.”

·        Purpose:  Discovering God’s blueprint for a christen life.  Philippians 1:9  -  “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.”

·        Goal:  To help a new and old believers get rooted and grounded in the word of God.

·        Objective:  II Timothy 2:2  -  “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP?

The main purpose of Christian discipleship is to be like Christ.  Christian discipleship might best be described as a training or mentoring program designed to develop individuals to become more like their Savior.  When Christ became man and lived on earth, he endured all of the same trials, pains, and persecutions that man suffers in order to prove himself as a perfect example for us.  Therefore, one of the primary purposes of Christian discipleship is to emulate the character of Christ.1 Peter 2:21 says, " For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps."

Another purpose of Christian discipleship is to learn about the Father.  In Christ's three-year public ministry on earth, He often stated that His goal was to teach His disciples about His Father.  Christ wanted us to know that God is alive, real, sovereign, loving, and is preparing a place for His believers in heaven.  So another purpose of discipleship is to grow in our knowledge of God.

Bearing fruit for the kingdom of God is another purpose of Christian discipleship.  It says in John 15:8, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."  It is essential to increase the fruit (or those character virtues we exhibit in our lives) to be productive as well informed disciples of Christ in order to carry out the responsibilities given to believers such as serving others and spreading the gospel.

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world.  “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12).  Then in Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus says, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  We are commanded to take the light we are given and spread it around the world to others so that they may see Christ and receive Him for themselves.

INVESTING IN PEOPLE.

What does one-on-one discipleship involve?

It involves a person investing a great deal of time, energy, prayer, and commitment into the life of another person - not just sharing the Good News with them, but developing a relationship where the person being discipled learns, grows, and draws closer to God.  In this model, the person discipling sets the example and the new person to the Lord learns and benefits from this.

This type of discipleship - being a role model - is detailed in 2 Thessalonians 3: 7, 9.  "For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;… Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us."

In this model of discipleship, a person mentors someone else and invests everything they know and have into the life of this person and then encourages them to do the same thing in the life of someone else.  This is perhaps the greatest advantage of one-on-one discipleship - the ability to mentor and shape another person and then send him or her out to do the same for someone else.

 There are certainly advantages to being discipled in a group setting.  However, in a one-on-one environment, there are so many other opportunities for growth.  The person being mentored sees God in the life of a person, and can translate that into their own faith story and struggles.  Just as there is no substitute for a coach in the life of an Olympic athlete, there is no substitute for a mentor or a coach in the life of a growing Christian, and that is what one-on-one discipleship is all about.

One-on-one discipleship is an exciting way to help build people in Christ, and then send people out for Christ.

WHAT IS THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP?

Jesus said, "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:28-33).  "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"  (Matthew 16:25-26)