Deeper in Discipleship

Churches like ours can easily put a lot of energy and resources into many things that are not actually producing disciples of Christ. Recently, the Lord has convicted our church leadership about what it means to be led by the Holy Spirit in every area and activity of ministry, so that what we are doing is for the Lord and not just for us. As the renowned pastor John Stott wrote, “As a body without breath is a corpse, so the church without the Spirit is dead.”

For the next several weeks, you’ll be hearing a lot about our upcoming discipleship emphasis—with specific goals beginning in September to engage men, women, couples, students, and children in small groups and important training, teaching, and service times.  

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus calls us as His followers not merely to win converts, to increase baptisms, or to preach to more people, but rather to “make disciples of all nations.” To be a disciple of Jesus Christ means growing more like Him in our attitudes and actions with each passing day.

The New Testament word for making disciples is similar to our English word “apprenticeship.” As someone once said, true discipleship is less like a revival service and more like a trade school. This kind of personal investment and training reminds me of my grandfather, from whom I learned so many skills as a young boy. He didn’t just tell me how to fish, he showed me and fished beside me. He didn’t just explain how to fix things, he shared his tools with me and patiently allowed me to work alongside him.

True discipleship requires intentional time and investment to help others grow in the Lord, to grow in friendship, and to learn how to better love each other and our neighbors well.

True discipleship is also always connected to spiritual formation. The closer we walk with Christ, the more we grow in the joy of salvation, our desire to know and to do His will, and in disciplines that improve our spiritual lives such as prayer, the study of Scripture, and service.

Discipleship is a never-ending process. The more we grow as disciples, the more we understand that we are sent out to replicate the process of making disciples. We invest in others so that they too are sent out to make disciples as the Lord leads them.

I hope you’ll join us in praying for and encouraging our discipleship goals, and also commit to participating in the exciting things the Lord is doing here in our church!