Discipleship is a word often tossed around in Christian and church circles. It’s part of the dialect that can become so common it’s never actually explained—something you are just supposed to know. Still, if you don’t know, you are too embarrassed to ask. So, let’s clear that up.
There are two ways we typically think of discipleship. First is personal discipleship, which refers to me growing closer in my relationship with Jesus and ultimately becoming more like Him. The second is making disciples, which is introducing others to Jesus or helping them grow in their relationship with Him. Today, we’ll take a brief look at both because you have to be a disciple of Christ to make disciples of Christ. Let’s take a look at the two types of discipleship.
Personal Discipleship
The day you choose to trust Jesus with your life, you are, at that moment, a disciple. But just because you become a disciple doesn’t mean you’ve got this whole Christian thing figured out. There is still a lot to learn about what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Think of it like your wedding day.
One special day, you chose to marry your wife, and as soon as you both said, “I do,” you became a husband. But you didn’t return from your honeymoon with the whole husband thing figured out. You may have been a guy who thought you were a genius in the field of husbandry, but now, after some years have passed, you know that guy was an idiot. You are now well aware you still have a lot to learn about what it means to be a husband (a good one, at least).
The fundamental goal of discipleship is to be like Jesus (Ephesians 5:1)—to think, act, speak, feel, treat other people the way Jesus did (no big deal, He only did all those things perfectly). If we are going to live like Jesus, we have to know how Jesus lived. And the best way to do that is to be a student of the Bible. I used the word “student” because disciples study the Bible, not just read it (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2). There’s a difference.
For example, if you read Luke 4:1-13, where Jesus faced temptation for 40 days in the wilderness, instead of reading those verses and thinking that was cool, you’d start dissecting every verse with questions—How did Jesus do that? Why did He do it that way? What would He have been thinking/feeling? What does this tell me about the character/strength/preparation/attitude of Jesus? How do I gain those qualities? What steps do I need to take to start moving in that direction?
Like anything else, this is a skill you will develop over time. Plus, you’ll probably want to ask someone to help you do it (Acts 18:24-26). This is the heart of discipleship—someone helping you understand how to: pray, study the Word, worship, tithe, serve, share the Gospel. Discipleship is not a solo adventure. It will always involve other people—learning from and teaching others Who Christ is and being more like Him. It’s cyclical (2 Timothy 2:2).
Making Disciples
A telling sign of a disciple is that they make other disciples. This is the part of discipleship where many people get a little squeamish. We are okay (sort of) with the responsibility of personal spiritual growth. Still, the idea of playing a role in developing other people’s spiritual growth seems to be (if we’re honest) a bit too much. However, It is perpetually beyond our capability. I’m not ready for that. I don’t know enough. I’m not mature enough. I’m not good enough. The flaw in all those statements is the capital “I” in each one.
True, you do not have the authority or ability to change a heart. Only God can do that. But you can help push someone closer to Christ. To aid in that effort, God gave each Christian a Helper, the Holy Spirit–God dwelling in you. The Holy Spirit will lead you in the disciple-making process. He will tell you what to say, how to say it, what to do, and how to do it. Trust Him to guide the whole process (John 14:26).
So dad, want to learn how to disciple your kids?
Discipleship is one of those things we tend to think of or make more complex than it really is. Thankfully, you didn’t have to know all there is to know about being a husband or father before you became one. The same goes for being a disciple. You learn as you go along. Some things you’ll pick up quickly. Some things will be more of a struggle. Either way, you grow as you go.
