Discipleship: More Than A Buzzword (4/5)

Welcome to part 4/5 of a series called: Discipleship: More than a Buzzword.

I hope this blog series has been helpful for you to think about command of discipleship and its implications in our lives & our churches. We have answered:

(1) What is the command of discipleship?
(2) What is a disciple?
(3) What is discipleship?

Now we turn our attention to the next critical question: What are the goals of discipleship?

I believe that there are two simple & Biblical goals of discipleship that can help you think through this. No matter the method. No matter the material. No matter the context. No matter the student. There are the two essential goals of discipleship.

Goal One: Fulfillment of the Great Commandment

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” // Matthew 22:34-40

Another way to say this would be SPIRITUAL GROWTH (INTIMACY WITH GOD).

• A growth in their love for God.

• A growth in their love for others.

• A growth in their love for God’s Word.

• A growth in their spiritual disciplines & obedience.

Our love for God is often expressed in how we live, our spiritual disciplines, and obedience. You can do these things without loving God but you cannot love God without these things. They are a radar that show us our heart and our love for God.

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” // John 14:15

So we have to identify where someone is in their spiritual walk and strategize what their next step is together with them to help them SPIRITUALLY GROW and walk in obedience.

Goal Two: Fulfillment of the Great Commission

19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” // Matthew 28:19-20

Again, These were some of Jesus’ last words. These were some of his final commands. This was the game plan. This was the playbook.

Another way to say this would be SPIRITUAL MULTIPLICATION (MISSION WITH GOD).

• Through discipleship we want to multiply our lives.

• Through discipleship we want to teach others how to multiply their lives.

  • How to tell people about Jesus.

  • How to practically disciple others.

Discipleship is not just about spiritual growth. It is about spiritual multiplication. We cannot divorce those two ideas because God’s Word does not divorce those two ideas. Discipleship was designed to be reproducible. That is why we need reproducible and replicable materials and methods. Discipleship is part of God’s plan to reach the world and bolster the church.  We have to remember:

Jesus has called us to Be Disciples

He has called us to walk with Him. He has called us to live our days for Him. We can’t help others follow Jesus if we aren’t actively seeking to follow Jesus.

Jesus has called us to Make Disciples

As we walk with God, He has called us to own the walk of others. He has called us to come alongside others and help them walk with God daily. Because a life lived for God is made up of days lived for God.

When you are the discipler: Own it. God has entrusted them to you. Help them grow. Lead them. When you are being discipled: Submit and allow yourself to be led.

Discipleship is taking the necessary time to win, involve, and teach someone how to follow Jesus.

May this be a culture of our lives and of our churches: to raise up disciples who love God and multiply their lives into others.