4 Components of Discipleship

In my last post about discipleship, I talked about the numbers of discipleship. And it is a very real fact that we can reach the world in our generation. It is a long-term commitment, but with the help of the Holy Spirit it can be done.

The question that arises after thinking about the numbers is this, “What does discipleship mean?” and “What does discipleship look like?”

In continuing to look at the example of Jesus, we see that discipleship to him was definitely more relational than it was institutional. He never taught in a classroom, though he did teach in the synagogue. He also taught as different situations arose. He taught his disciples as needs came, as he healed people, as people opposed him and as people asked him questions. Mostly, Jesus taught in a way that was relatable to His disciples, and he taught as they lived life together. For us, that means that in whatever place we are, in whatever we are doing, we can disciple others. Whether we are working in a steel mill, an office complex or a school, there are people around us that God wants us to disciple, and we disciple as we live life with those around us.

 However, the fact that Jesus’ discipleship was relational, doesn’t mean that it wasn’t intentional. He definitely had a purpose in everything that He did. He didn’t do anything by accident. He had a plan for his disciples.

In the book of Genesis, we see that when God created Adam and Eve, He created them for a plan or a purpose. Genesis 1:26-28 and Genesis 3:8 show us four reasons that God created man. These four reasons are 1) to have the character of God, 2) to have a relationship with God 3) to exercise the authority of God on the earth and 4) to reproduce and fill the earth.

As we look at Jesus’ training of his disciples, we can see that Jesus taught in these four areas as well. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught about character. As he taught about prayer, he was teaching them about how to have a relationship with God. He was also an incredible example in his relationship with God through prayer. In his healings and miracles, he was an example of how to use the authority that He had been given from His Father. He also sent out his disciples to exercise their authority in healings and casting out demons. Finally, in his last words to his disciples before he ascended into heaven, he told them to reproduce and fill the world with disciples.

These are four vital areas – character, relationship, authority and reproduction – are the areas where we are to be grow every day, but the are four areas in which we are to disciple those around us.

Let’s be examples in these four areas in our lives and also disciple and train at least one other person this next year. Together we can start changing the world and we will see a huge difference in the next thirty years!