Discipleship is Life

December, 2003

by: Walt Bertelsen

Ask Christians about the nature of discipleship and you'll get lots of different answers. Mention the word “disciple” and believers may picture the Twelve wandering the hills with Jesus, or think of some “super Christian,” or a program. Ask believers if they have ever experienced a discipling relationship with a mature Christian — most will say “no.” Ask believers if they are discipling another believer - most will say “no.”

Pastor John Richard, at our October men's breakfast, pointed out that discipling is one of the greatest needs in the ministry of the church — and it is mostly missing. I once heard (via tape) Dawson Trottman, founder of the Navigators, offer a sobering scenario of missed opportunity: Suppose a man leads another to Christ and spends a year pouring his life into him. After that year, both go out, win another, and spend a year discipling those men, and so on. In 15 years the entire world would be reached. This scenario might be unrealistic, but it makes you think… Here we are, 2,000 years later…

What's the answer?

You may need to repent after reading this article — but I trust it will be repentance for the right reason. If you are interested in truth, I invite you to think clearly, Biblically, and honestly with me about just what Jesus meant when he commanded us to make disciples.

John Richard gave us part of the strategy, a practical outline based on 2 Tim. 2:2 a) follow the plan: entrust the deposit; b) impart the proper principles — all that Paul taught; c) invest in the right person — a faithful man, who shall be able to teach others.

What is a disciple? What is discipleship?

We must be clear just what a disciple is and what constitutes discipleship.

All true believers are disciples. A study of the New Testament confirms this, (for example, Acts 11:26). A believer is a person who trusts Christ for salvation, and is committed to follow him. Salvation is the entrance to discipleship. Discipleship is a life-long process of becoming like the Master (Rm 8:29, Lk 6:40) in progressive sanctification.

From salvation on, a new disciple needs teaching. But the disciple also needs vital demonstration of what that teaching means in daily life — in work, in relationships, etc. “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ,” (Paul, 1Cor 11:1). This is the missing element.

Those who attended Calvary in the 70s and 80s remember Harry Damato. Harry was not a great Bible teacher, but he showed a lot of young men what it meant to live for Christ — through help, concern, encouragement, fun.

In the Gospels, we find Jesus dealing with people who had wrong expectations about discipleship, and wrong ideas about Jesus. The Lord spent much of his earthly ministry clarifying his discipleship, and sifting out false disciples. We also find him leading his disciples around those hills and towns — which seems strange to us today. But don't miss what He was doing in those months and years: Jesus was demonstrating how to live out His teaching on a daily basis, living the truth in the world.

What can I do?

Jesus was doing something that all true believers can do — even YOU. Discipleship is not primarily leading a Bible study or teaching systematic doctrine. Discipleship is primarily demonstrating to another believer how to live out the Christian life. This can take many shapes, but the main ingredient is simply living life in its varied forms — doing, going, playing, eating, talking, interacting with others — modeling Christ. “Go therefore and make disciples... I am with you,” (Mt 28:19-20).