Discipleship is…

This weekend I had the opportunity to teach about discipleship, a topic that I absolutely love to talk about. We were looking at Matthew 28:20, part of a six week study of the 5 Biblical purposes.

“…and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:20.

There’s a progression in the verses leading up to verse 20.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

For the believer it begins with the hearing of the redeeming message of Jesus Christ. Then follows a profession of faith which leads to baptism. Welcome to the family.

But baptism isn’t the end, it’s the beginning. Discipleship is the journey that takes the believer into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s the process of the believer growing, maturing and becoming who God has created them to be.

1 Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn babies, crave spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”

For me, discipleship is our craving for spiritual milk.

As Christians, Christ has called us to learn all that he has taught. To his disciples, the charge was to teach everything he commanded. To whom? The new believers. We see evidence of the apostles’ obedience to this charge in Act 2:42. “They [the new believers/church] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…” What were the apostles’ teaching? Everything Jesus had commanded them.

What does discipleship look like in your life? What are you learning? What is God teaching you? You may be a believer, but you are a disciple? If you are a disciple, you should be actively learning.

Do you crave the Word of God, like a baby craves it’s milk? Discipleship is part of the Christian life. We should be learning and teaching!

This week, I hope to share a few simple tools to help you develop a lifestyle of discipleship. So be sure to check back tomorrow!

- jay