DT Reading (I): DISCIPLE & DISCIPLESHIP

Dear brothers and sisters, 

It gives me great joy to do RCFD discipleship training with our family again. Some weeks ago one of my good friends told me to look at people and church congregation as souls and not just members. I think that was a helpful insight. His words reminded me of Mark 8:36-37, where Jesus said ‘a single soul is more precious than the whole World.’  And if a soul is more precious than the whole world as Jesus said, can someone comprehend the cost of 43 souls?

Each one of us is precious in the sight of God, and this truth was also reminded by C.S Lewis who said, “When Christ died, he died for you individually just as much as if you had been the only person in the world.”  

As we begin our DT today, it is our sincere prayer for everyone to be encouraged and blessed. Let us grow together in our knowledge of God and in His Word; let us learn from one another as disciples of Jesus, and let us become true disciples of Jesus and make others become His disciples. 

“Be One. Make one”.

You are precious!

Now, having said that, the good news is we are not doing this training all by ourselves. We have three teachers who are knowledgeable and experienced and they are willing to teach us in the next 6 months of learning. Also, this time 4 of us who did DT-I have joined as coordinators to help assist DT-II group. I believe this is God’s will for all of us.

We are doing this together as a group of 43, but the approach of this training will be exceptionally personal type, similar to one on one training/learning. Our weekly reading materials will be the basics of discipleship, video listening related to discipleship will update once a month, and we will have a self-assessment and online class once in two months. (Coordinators will also phone-visit you occasionally and hear from you regarding our DT). As we learn from one another, if you have any doubts, confusion, or even personal issues, please freely discuss or let us know if we can assist you in any way. 

READING (1): LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

# What is discipleship?
# Who is a disciple?
# Can a person disciple himself/herself?
# Why is discipleship necessary?

WHAT IS DISCIPLESHIP?

Discipleship is an integral part of the growth of our daily walk with Christ. The day we hear the Gospel, repent of our sins, accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, believing in Him and declaring His Lordship over our lives, then in the words of Apostle Paul, “God has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Ephesians 1:13-14). Then as we become God’s own children, we begin living our lives in His Kingdom here on earth. To live in His Kingdom here on earth means we live our lives under His Lordship, His Will, His Words, and His Ways.

So, it is in the context of the Kingdom of God, or we living in His kingdom here on earth, discipleship takes place.  Discipleship starts when the triune God (The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit), or when God begins his Work in our lives. When God made us His children, or when we become God’s children, God begins to teach us His Ways that we may follow Him and grow into the likeness of His Son Jesus_ that is discipleship. From His children now we are becoming His students. Discipleship is also a process of leading others to become disciples of Jesus through exemplary life, teaching, learning, and obeying the Word of God. And most importantly discipleship is only accomplished by the help and the power of the Holy Spirit.

WHO IS A DISCIPLE?

In the New Testament, the word for disciple is “Mathetes” (Greek) which in general means a “learner, student, or disciple.” But in the NT, this term became almost a technical term for the 12 followers of Jesus, though this term was also used for the followers of John the Baptist, and even of the followers of Pharisees. Mathetes also refers not only to the 12 followers or disciples of Jesus, but to a wider circle of adherents to Jesus’ message (people (early Christians) who followed the teachings of Jesus were also called disciples). 

The lives of disciples are characterized by their renunciation of worldly things; humility; servants of the Lord in serving people; readiness to suffer for the Gospel; and most importantly their faith in Jesus Christ. (MCED)

In the Bible, Mathetes is translated as- disciple, follower, pupil, and student.

Do you know?

1.       The word “Disciple” (Mathetes) is used 261 times in the New Testament, but the word “Christian” (Christianos) is used only 3 times in the New Testament.
2.       The disciples were called Christians (first in the Antioch) (Acts 11:26).

(In early Church period) The word “Christian” seems to be a title used for a political nickname (like Pompeiians- members of Pompey’s party and other titles of political parties). Those who believed that Christ was king could therefore be accused of treason, and the title “Christian” became a legal charge (1 Peter 4:16), though it was soon embraced by Jesus’ followers as a welcome title. However, it was probably used merely to ridicule the disciples of Jesus. Antiochans (people from Antioch) developed a reputation for mocking people. (Craig Keener)

It is very unfortunate today that many churches have almost separated the words “Christian and disciple” as two different things or entities. It seems like a person can be a Christian his or her whole life but never a disciple of Jesus, and this is a huge mistake and a disaster I would say. The word disciple means student or follower, and the disciples were called Christians (Acts 11:26). In order words, a disciple is a Christian and a Christian is a disciple. We hear sermons and talks on the cost of a disciple of Jesus as hugely challenging and unique (Luke 14:26-27), so is the cost of a Christian. I mean it’s the same thing.

I have mentioned earlier that when God made us His children, He begins to teach us His Ways that we may follow Him and grow into the likeness of His Son Jesus. And from being His children, we are now becoming or have become His students, His disciples. Disciple means student, follower, or apprentice. We are disciples of Jesus!

CAN A PERSON DISCIPLE HIMSELF/HERSELF?

As an illustration, let’s suppose Mr. John tells us that his son Philip, who is 4 years now, can educate himself and get through kindergarten to university even without going to a school and having no teacher, how would we respond? I think we might say, that’s crazy and not possible. The same is true in discipleship. It is not possible to become walk alone in our journey of faith and become mature spiritually without Godly teachers and leaders and disciple-makers. In other words, a person cannot disciple himself or herself, that is why Christ gave the Church his servants_ the apostles, the prophets, the evangelist, the pastors, and teachers, to equip Christians/disciples, to build them up, until they reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (See Ephesians 4:11-13).  

Once we were all dead in our sins but by God’s Grace we were made alive and we were born again into His Kingdom (John 3:1-8). Grace is God acting in our life to accomplish what we cannot accomplish on our own. It is unmerited favor from God toward us. When a baby is born, there are processes of growth: an infant, then early and middle childhood, adolescence, early and middle adult, and old age. Likewise, we grow spiritually in the Lord after we are born again (Ephesians 4:13; Hebrews 5:11-14). And as disciples, we grow by learning and obeying God’s Word.

WHY IS DISCIPLESHIP NECESSARY

Without discipleship, there is no spiritual growth. Like infants grow when nurtured, we grow in Christ when we are nurtured by God’s Word and we put God’s Word into practice. For physical and mental growth, we need food, communication, and movements, etc. Similarly, for our spiritual growth, we need God’s word, communion with God and His people, and obeying His Word.   

Discipleship is indispensable. And to those who are serious about discipleship, in the process, the wholeness of their being will be nurtured; they will understand God in action, what He is doing and what His Will for them. In discipleship, we learn and we obey and we practice what we learn.

The words of Dallas Willard very well capture the necessity of discipleship: “Discipleship is the very heart of the Gospel.” And that “The really good news for humanity is that Jesus is now taking students in the master class of life. The eternal life that begins with confidence in Jesus is a life in his present kingdom, now on earth and available to all.”

ASK AND REFLECT 

1. Am I a true disciple of Jesus, and how can I become one?
2. Will I follow Jesus even to the point of giving up everything I have?
3. Am I a person God will choose and teach? (See Psalm 25:9)
4. Note down/and meditate on this topic: “I am a disciple of Jesus”

PRAYER

For the sake of your goodness and mercy help me Lord to learn more about you and help me to grow as I put into practice what I’ve learned from you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen!