“Go, therefore, and make ________________”
What is a disciple? If you were to define what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ what would you say? Further, would you say that you have been discipled? Jesus tells us to go and make disciples. Has anyone made you a follower of Jesus?
I have been a follower of Jesus just shy of 12 years now. I did not come into faith in him through my parents or an evangelistic series. While I believe that Jesus was/is the initiator, I came to faith after going through some intense events in my life. I was an atheist, but became an agnostic and started calling out to God in prayer. Some time passed and I met a pastor who, after hearing my journey, handed me a Bible. No one invited me to church, I looked up the closest one in the phone book, called and went. Some months later after attending the church and reading the Bible, I felt convicted to get baptized so I called the pastor and told him that I wanted to be baptized. My point with all of this is simply that it is hard for me to say that a disciple-er came along and discipled me to be a follower of Jesus. Granted I had people along the way that gave me encouragement, prayed for me, and clarified my questions, but I wonder what Jesus had in mind when he called us to go and make disciples.
I would like to hear from you. What do you think a disciple-maker looks like? Have you had a disciple-er disciple you? If so, what did that experience look like?
Posted by pastor matthew on March 07, 2008 at 08:49 AM
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To me its all about what eye sea. Actions give rise to questions. I believe nothing anyone says. Nobody can operate in this world without doing bad things, and I don’t believe in justifying it. A disciple of Jesus was in my path one day, and he didn’t even have to say a word about Jesus. I knew he showed me something different, and it was something I wanted right at that moment. After we parted I sought him out again in his church, and started reading the Bible. I have since learned that a disciple will eventually let me down, but he introduces me to the only hope I have. Even when I’m holding a warm cup of my own vomit, or late at night when my heart feels like glass, or when hope for love turns sour. When I don’t know if I will ever feel better, I still have my King.
Posted by MotherlessTechnomad on March 10, 2008 at 11:20 PM | #I am a disciple of Christ. Still being descipled which I hope will be true until it is not longer necessary. He is my only true best friend forever. I have so many friends, and I don’t take that lightly. I and they are truely blessed to have each other. We will always fail each other at times. Hopefully we will forgive each other. Many of my friends know that we have only one BFF, and that is Christ Jesus. He will never fail us and always forgives us for failing Him. He is so AWESOME. There is nobody that can replace Him. I love my BFF and by His grace alone I’m sure that I always will.
Posted by CJ on March 11, 2008 at 09:06 AM | #This is something that has been occupying my mind for some time. I used to think that discipling was what happened at church, in church programmes and that it was done by pastors, elders and leaders. I now believe that this is something that we should all do with our lives all the time in all sorts of ways. It is about how we model ourselves on Christ to impact people’s lives. It is not about throwing out a Bible text and may not even be about telling people that you believe in the living God with words. Sometimes that is just clear for all to see.
Discipling is about sharing your lives with others, giving time, listening and being a friend. It may even mean taking a step back when someone wants a bit of distance between you and them. It is something that takes half a lifetime to understand and the remainder of your life to figure out how to do it. When done crassly it brings hurt, pain and shame. When done well, it’s transformational.
I think that I have a long way to go before I become a disciple God intended me to be.
Posted by carole on March 11, 2008 at 01:38 PM | #Disciple: One who accepts & assists in spreading the doctrines (teachings or instructions) of another.
A disciple of Christ Jesus would be accepting & assisting in sharing Him & His teachings. We can only be sure of His teachings by reading & studying His word.
Do not be deceived. You can not teach the doctines of Christ Jesus (or test contradictions) without the Bible, which is the Word of God. The more you study this AWESOME TRUTH the more prepared you will be to be an effective disciple. If you want to teach others you must be prepared to prove what God has to say about it. A disciple learns only by being disciplined (taught or trained). God’s Word (The Bible)is the book that teaches us what we need to know in order to be a disciple of Chist Jesus. The Bible is also for us to use to discern TRUTH when we are tempted or need advise. If you want to “cut to the chase” use your Bible (Your Double Edged Sword). Jesus used this effective weapon even aganst the Father of Lies (Satin himself). Don’t lay down your sword “The Holy Bible” or you will be defeated. the Bible is the “TRUTH”, and only the TRUTH will set you free. I praise & thank God for His Holy Word & for allowing it to withstand all of the attacks over thousands of years and for the many who were slain for the sake of preserving it. I am so thankful that I can and do read God’s Truth, The Holy Bible. This is one of His many gifts to me ....to us!!! To God “The Father, Son & Holy Spirit” alone be all of the Thanks, Praise, Honor & Glory. AMEN.
Posted by CJ on March 13, 2008 at 07:05 AM | #Thank you all for taking the time to share your thoughts. This is extremely helpful in clarifying what it means to be a disciple/follower/accepter of Jesus Christ.
In the Great Commission found in Matthew 28 Jesus tells us to make disciples. In light of some of the comments above about the Bible, what does it have to say about discipleship?
Be on the look out for Part II of this blog post…
Posted by pastor matthew on March 13, 2008 at 08:19 PM | #I have definitely been discipled by the friends in my life that have the courage to approach me about the weaknesses that they see in my life that trouble them. Usually I don’t see them, or I don’t realize their seriousness before God. God has used them many times to show me how to have a closer walk with God and to realy know Him better.
Posted by Brian on March 14, 2008 at 07:22 PM | #disciple: to be a learner of another.
my story is quite the same, matt. i came into “the church” by the Holy Spirit, not a person, a seminar or program. it was God Himself that revealed Jesus to me while I was in the woods all by myself one day.
however, the Great Commission to “go make disciples” is closely linked with “teaching them to observe” all the Jesus stuff. So, it would seem that anyone that helps another learn of Jesus is a disciple-maker of sorts. Of course this comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. but i think the bottom line of making a disciple is to teach someone to live like Jesus (teach them to observe), so they are disciplined in the Way of the Master. The end result is they will want to lead/teach others in the Way.
Posted by Chris Bullock on May 07, 2008 at 10:20 AM | #Page 1 of 1 pages