My Month Of Discipleship

It is with great delight that I welcome you to our month of discipleship. No doubt Jesus ministered to multitudes but he always spends more time with his disciples for obvious reasons. Jesus wants us to be his disciples and as his disciples he wants us to disciple the nations. When Jesus called Peter and Andrew to leave their fishing nets and follow him, he called them to a whole new life likewise, he is calling us to a whole new life. "And Jesus said unto them, come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." Mk 1. 17. Becoming a disciple has to be intentional and in our year of greatness, I urge you to be intentional in becoming Jesus' disciple if you are not yet one. This is an adventure I guarantee you can never regret.

What does it mean to be a true disciple?

Webster's definition of a disciple is "a pupil or follower of any teacher or school." A true disciple is not just a student or a learner, but a follower: one who applies what he has learned. A disciple of Jesus is a follower of Jesus. In the Christian parlance a true disciple will ask, "What would Jesus do?" A disciple in the New Testament is simply a Christian Acts 11:26. "And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." That was a common name for all Christians. It cannot be some people who are just Christians by mouth and by name and far form living the Christian life. A disciple is a follower of Jesus Christ who embraces him as Lord, Saviour and Treasure. One of the most important characteristics of being a disciple (a student or pupil), is to develop an intimate relationship with God through Christ rather than just learning about Him. A true disciple must be willing to pay the price.

Who is a discipler? A discipler is one who helps people attain servant team status by both ministering in a general way in the church, and by holding specific meetings for study, coaching, counseling, and prayer, all in the context of a close personal relationship, just like Jesus did. A discipler is the one that disciples a disciple.

What is Discipleship?

Discipleship is teaching biblical precepts, while modeling and guiding others toward living righteously as followers of Jesus Christ. Discipleship is an ongoing process. We should never quit learning and growing in our walk with Christ. Just as the New Testament disciples who chose to follow Jesus, we too should continually learn and grow stronger in our personal relationship with Him. Discipleship is simply living the Christian life as it was meant to be lived. Many don't want to hear that word; it is a road less taken. People want to avoid any hardship or difficulty. They want to take the path of least resistance instead. Discipleship is challenging but fulfilling, it's hard but it is more than worth it. It is the road to life. Anything short of living the discipleship life is disobedient to what God wants us to do.

Discipleship should be a cyclical process-meaning once we are discipled, we are to disciple others, and so on. Discipleship equips the Christian with God's Word, prayer, doctrine, worship, encouragement, and service.

Purpose, goals and objectives of discipleship.

1. To ensure we are truly saved. We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment. God the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Bible. If you truly believe this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, "Jesus is Lord," you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven. It is to accept Jesus as our Lord follow him and teach others to follow him.

2. Become disciples to disciple nations. Discipleship is not just an option for believers it is mandatory. "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. "This is the mission and purpose of the Church. We are to equip and grow disciples who in turn go out to equip and disciple others. Unfortunately, many churches today have neglected this mandate.