Discipleship: More Than A Buzzword (2/5)

Welcome to part 2/5 of a series called: Discipleship: More than a Buzzword.

After we see the command of being a disciple and making disciples (see our last post) we have to ask a logical question. What is a disciple? What is it that we are actually striving for? What are we actually making? Definitions matter. They bring clarity. They inform direction, processes, desires, and goals. And this is an issue that the Bible addresses. All throughout His Word God defines what it means to be a disciple. There is no way that we can possibly define this fully but hope to provide you with some ideas and thoughts to get you thinking about where you are & where you are leading others.

Simply… a disciple is a follower of Jesus. Someone who has had a moment of repentance & have received Jesus by faith for the forgiveness of their sin, yes, but a true disciple is more than a convert. A disciple is a follower. The truth is you can be a “True Christian” and not a “Faithful Follower.”

The Greek word for disciple is μαθητής (ma-thay-tays) which means “tobecome, to be a pupil, properly, a learner; a disciple, a follower of Christ who learns the doctrines of Scripture and the lifestyle they require; someone catechized with proper instruction from the Bible with its necessary follow-through.” (https://biblehub.com/greek/3101.htm).

So, What is a disciple? Here are three things to think about:

Someone who ADHERES to Jesus.

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. // Mark 8:34

Someone who is a true disciple is someone who is actually following Jesus. They are adhering to Jesus. Yes, salvation is by grace alone, faith alone, and in Christ alone. We do nothing to contribute to our salvation. Period. But when Jesus saved us, forgives us, transforms us, adopts us, justifies us, and so much more then we are called to walk with Him. We are called to adhere to Him. We are called to be discples.

Someone who ABIDES in Jesus.

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, // John 8:31

Someone who is a true disciple is rooted in Jesus. They are abiding. What does it mean to abide? Jesus talked about it in John 15. It means to be intimately connected to. We are called to be intimately connected to Jesus through His Word, prayer, His church, obedience, and more. Will we do this perfectly? No. But a disciple is not perfect. A disciple if growing. A disciple is following.

Someone who ADVANCES the Gospel of Jesus.

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

Someone who is a true disciple is living on mission. They are advancing the gospel of Jesus. This is core to what it means to be a disciple. The New Testament never divorces following Jesus and proclaiming Jesus. People who followed Jesus proclaimed Jesus. People who proclaimed Jesus followed Jesus. We must be careful to not created these separate categories in our view of a disciple. A disciple is advancing the gospel of Jesus in their world, with the people that God has entrusted to them, and in their sphere of influence. Because God has entrusted us all with the good news of His Son. We are His ambassadors.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. // 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

For the disciple of Jesus, though they are not perfect, Jesus is their LORD. He is on the throne of their heart. They are following Him DAILY.

Discipleship should be more than a buzzword in our lives and in our churches. Part of that starts with good definitions, good goals, and good direction. What would it look like if we were people who adhered to Jesus, abided in Jesus, and advanced the gospel of Jesus? What would it look like if we produced followers of Jesus like that? Can you imagine? Watch out. God would transform the world. He already has shown us what He can do through disciples like that. A quote that keeps me going:

"The world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to Him." - DL Moody

May we be & create disciples that are consecrated to God. Can we help? Don’t hesitate to reach out.