Let’s start with the basics. Here are three essential questions that need to be answered in order to understand discipleship and why it is so important. Once you understand the who, what, and why, you can fully dive into the how, which is the purpose of The Disciplemaker. We seek to KNOW God better, GROW more like Jesus, and GO make disciples.
- Who is a disciple?
- What is a disciple-maker?
- Why is it important?
1) Who is a disciple?
A disciple is someone who continuously learns and lives out the teachings of Jesus. The goal is to know Christ and make him known. This entails reading and obeying scripture, spending time with other believers and worshiping together, and loving others and telling them about Christ. Discipleship is the process by which disciples grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and make other disciples.
2) What is a disciple-maker?
After Jesus was crucified and resurrected he met with his disciples. One of the last commands he gave was this:
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)
Jesus tells his disciples to go make disciples. That means making disciples is inherent in our identity as followers of Christ. To be a follower of Christ is to be a disciple-maker. What does that look like? A disciple-maker is someone who invites others into a relationship with Christ AND comes alongside them to teach and show them how to follow Christ. As these believers spiritually mature in their walk with God, they become equipped to go and make new disciples.
3) Why is it important?
We are called to Christ and to work with Him in sharing the good news of the gospel to a hungry world. To be a follower of Jesus means that no matter our career, education, or season of life, we are called to know Him and work with Him in this spiritual harvest. Discipleship is a life-long process of reproducing spiritual generations as we follow in the footsteps of Christ.
