Discipleship: Essence of discipleship

The Essence of Discipleship

Becoming Like the Teacher

• Matthew 10:24–25 | Luke 6:40 – “A disciple is not above his teacher… It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher.”
  ➤ Discipleship means becoming like Jesus but yet he still holds authority over our lives. This means that our lives and wills start to align with His. We follow Jesus in all the ways that we can, in word, deed, and thought. The only way this is truly possible in our humanly, fleshly form is through the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit guides us in our weaknesses and molds us, if we allow it, into the true-image bearers we were meant to be. This, of course, does not mean we will be perfect and sinless but it does mean that we are being transformed like our Maker and the one we are following Jesus Christ. 

Following Jesus

• John 12:25–26 – “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also.”
  ➤ To be a disciple is to walk in step with Jesus’ mission and presence. Servitude equals discipleship and discipleship equals servitude. One cannot be a disciple of Jesus if they do not serve Jesus by serving others. The opposite is true as well. We cannot serve Jesus if we are not following his commands. Discipleship is evidenced in our lives by how we serve others.  

Disciple=Teacher

• Matthew 28:19–20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
  ➤ Discipleship involves learning from Jesus and helping others do the same. Our greatest mission as a disciple is to go and create other disciples, to call others to follow the same Savior we do. Part of that call is not just to share the good news about the cross and resurrection but the good news also includes the teachings of Jesus. If we are to make disciples, we are to teach them the same things the Bible teaches and that we also are accountable to as well. Making disciples includes baptizing and teaching, not just preaching about Jesus. Following Jesus takes action and so making other disciples takes action as well. 

Trusting Jesus Alone

John 6:66–69 – Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
➤ A disciple depends on Jesus as the only source of truth and life. It truly is fascinating to learn how others in history have defined truth. Even the greatest thinkers pondered what the absolute truth could be and many came up empty. Jesus told his disciples that He himself was the “way, truth and life”. Jesus is the very embodiment of the truth. Therefore, his teachings are true. Many claim to know the truth and to tell the truth, but no one had claimed to BE the truth. This was revolutionary and it is worth listening to over 2,000 years later. Jesus’ teachings are absolute truth and if we follow anything or anyone else above him, we are not his true disciples.