Discipleship

Discipleship is both the pathway to spiritual maturity and the objective of Christ’s Great Commission to “Go and make disciples”.  The character of discipleship is rooted in following Christ.  “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  Luke 9:23  It requires giving up your right to your own will and replacing it with God’s will as revealed by the Holy Spirit and Scripture.

The cost of discipleship is high.  Surrender to God’s purpose for your life may cost everything: career position, reputation, financial security, relationships, family harmony, or even life itself.  Becoming a true disciple requires a sober, deliberate decision not only to obey his commands but to allow his very being to envelop you.  His perspective becomes your perspective; his desires become your desires.

Discipleship commands a grounding in the Word of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and direct your spiritual maturation.  It produces a joyful and willful submission to Christ’s authority in living out your Kingdom purpose.  Your transformation prepares you serve as Jesus did and to “value others above yourselves.”

Matthew 28:19-20 quotes Jesus saying: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations … and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  This outward dimension of discipleship compels the spiritually mature to teach others.  The community of disciples becoming disciple-makers exemplifies the reproductive nature of the Kingdom.

Ultimately, the goal of discipleship is twofold. First is our grace-filled conformity to the image of Christ.  Romans 8:29 states: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.”  Second is our outreach to the world.  “He (Jesus) is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”  Colossians 1:28