by Pastor Jon Marshall
Hope Baptist Church will glorify Jesus Christ by growing Spirit-led disciples who delight in the Bible, pray without ceasing, worship in spirit and truth, follow holiness, serve others by love, and preach the gospel to Toledo and beyond.
Discipleship is intentionally one-on-one
Mark 3:14 - And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
Jesus intentionally chose out twelve men. This was in order that he might personally, teach and grow them. What was the goal? For them to go forth to preach, and if they were to do this they would need to first become disciples of Jesus Christ.
Discipleship has a definite purpose
Disciples are those who, seriously intending to become like Jesus from the inside out, systematically and progressively rearrange their affairs to that end. – Dallas Willard
Discipleship is a way of life, with the end result of being more like Jesus. It must have a definite beginning, a time where one person starts to lead another. It also must have an end goal or a purpose for the disciple. The purpose is not to get together and hangout with a spiritual leader of the faith. The purpose is to become a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. This happens through the direction of the Word of God, and the guidance of a discipler. Below we see Paul writing to the Corinthians:
2 Co 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
2 Co 13:10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
The Lord gave Paul the power to edify the Corinthians, and his desire was their perfecting. As is the role of the discpler to the disciple. The discipler has been given the responsibility of edifying one that is weaker in the faith to see them grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Discipleship gives every believer a chance to give out spiritually
Notice how each role gives spiritually in 2 Timothy 2:2:
"And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."
Paul taught Timothy, and Timothy learned . Now it is Timothy who is told to take what he learned, and teach faithful men who will learn, and teach others. Discipleship is an opportunity to serve others with what you learn. It is an opportunity to give what has been given to you, both for the discipler and the disciple.
Misconception: the pastor makes all the disciples from the pulpit. Young Christians start to believe that having an audience is the goal - a group of people listening to you. This leads to the pride of leadership: the smartest people, the best talkers, the most winning personalities are the disciple-makers.
It is not the best and brightest who are called to disciple others. It is every christian who is called to be a disciple, and to disciple others. Do not think that if you are being discipled that you are insignificant. You are being made into a disciple of Jesus Christ so that you can commit that which you have heard to faithful men. Do not think that if you are a discipler that you are one of the elite, but instead that you are a disciple yourself, who has been given the opportunity to teach others also.