The Master’s Plan for Discipleship
Regarding discipleship trends, noted Christian researcher George Barna writes, "Among the barriers to spiritual growth are the tendencies to focus on Bible knowledge (i.e., memorize verses, know the stories of key biblical personalities) but not character development; the lack of a clear and specific idea of what meaningful discipleship is; and unrealistic expectations regarding the role of small groups in the disciple-making process. Barna acknowledged that most churches have many programs and classes that represent the discipleship effort. "Offering programs is not the issue. We discovered that surprisingly few churches have a well-conceived model of discipleship that they implement. The result is that churches feel they have fulfilled their obligation if they provide a broad menu of courses, events, and other experiences, but such a well-intentioned but disjointed approach leaves people confused and imbalanced."
Oswald Chambers wrote, “... we are not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God's sovereign grace; our work as His disciples is to disciple lives until they are wholly yielded to God. One life wholly devoted to God is of more value to God than one hundred lives simply awakened by His Spirit. As workers for God we must reproduce our own kind spiritually, and that will be God's witness to us as workers. God brings us to a standard of life by His grace, and we are responsible for reproducing that standard in others.”
So it follows that your definition of discipleship will determine your process and your effectiveness.
Let's review a few Scriptures where Jesus speaks specifically about discipleship and then let's continue the study: Matthew 10:24,25; 16:24; 19:23; 28:19,20; Luke 6:20; 12:22; 14:26; 27; 33; John 8:31; 13:35; 15:8
Let me say right here that there is no "one-size-fits-all" discipleship model for all churches. Still, the real challenge for every church is to define a clear, comprehensive and effective discipleship process that most follows the pattern and process of Christ Jesus.
A disciple is someone who is personally and passionately devoted to a Person – our Lord Jesus.
Discipleship is relational and should be within a safe, loving, confidential and personal relationship where a more spiritually mature instructor teaches another to observe all that Jesus commanded” (Matthew 28:19,20).
Let’s take a look at the life and teaching of Jesus and see if we can deepen our understanding. Near the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus prayed, "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do" (John 17:4). What was Jesus’ work?
In His prayer Jesus did not mention miracles or the multitudes, buildings or fundraising, prison outreaches or childcare, meals-on-wheels or far-reaching missions – all worthy projects and much needed - He did however refer to the men whom God had given to Him more than 40 times. His ministry reached thousands and has impacted millions, but His work was the twelve. For over three and a half years Jesus poured His life into 12 men and focused on three of them (Peter, James and John).
The Apostle Paul described discipling in these words: "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others" (2 Timothy 2:2). Based on Christ's instructions, Paul established a pattern for the preservation and communication of the Good News. Teaching is to be passed on to faithful believers without addition or alteration. More simply put, we are to find a faithful Christian who is willing to be discipled and stay with that person no matter what until they are observing all that Jesus commanded. This is the process of CORE Discipleship Groups.
CORE Discipleship Groups follow our Lord's Commission to invest our lives in the lives of a few - it is the third strand of the Great Commission that we focus - to teach others to observe all that Jesus commanded. CORE Discipleship Groups provide for the missing third-strand of discipleship - to make disciples by teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded. It is within this much needed addition to already existing church discipleship processes that we can truly be about the Great Commission.
The heart of a CORE Discipleship Group is learning to live a surrendered life. The goal of a surrendered life is to be conformed into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) - becoming a disciple of Jesus. Unfortunately, most Christians have never experienced a nurturing, loving, caring, equipping discipleship relationship, never entered into a life-transforming relationship where Jesus is Head and God's Word and the Holy Spirit trusted to bring about heart change and where a more spiritually mature saint of God purposely remains from beginning to end.
CORE Discipleship Groups follow Jesus' model of discipleship by imparting life, not just teaching about life - it is spiritual parenting. It is showing, telling, supervising and releasing disciples to make disciples who can then repeat the process once more. It is both an adventure of a lifetime and a lifetime of adventure.
Are you someone who hungers and thirsts for a real relationship with people whom you can share your deepest joys, dreams, plans, pains, and sins without hesitation? A dynamic relationship where safety, confidence, encouragement, confrontation, strength, challenge, and growth are purposely designed so that you can grow and learn to become all God desires without fear of rejection or condemnation?
My encouragement to you today is for you to follow Jesus’ final exhortation: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19,20).
It simply stands to reason that you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself.
For more information on how you or your church can be a part of the Master’s Plan for Discipleship or to download a free sample of our CORE Discipleship Group Manual, please browse through our web site.
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