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Written by Kat Bittner, Iron Rose Sister Ministries Board Member in Colorado
Discipleship is the process of learning from and following a master or teacher. In the Christian context, it specifically refers to the lifelong commitment to follow Jesus Christ, learn from His teachings, and strive to live according to His example. This includes actively applying our faith in daily life and helping others to do the same.
For many believers, however, the word “discipleship” is unnerving. The mere thought of teaching others about Jesus and how to live a faithful life can be intimidating. Perhaps the thing most frightful for Christians is not the act of discipleship but knowing how to live out discipleship. Many of my generation, raised in the church, became accustomed to door-knocking or sharing a filmstrip series about disciples. Gospel meetings and church revivals were popular for reaching a large number of people in a short amount of time. While those means of sharing the Word of God with others were popular and could be fruitful, they were uncomfortable and ineffective ways for many Christians to make disciples.
Yet discipleship isn’t just one thing we should do as Christians; it is the very thing we should do. If we are truly living as followers of Christ, we must share Him with others. Jesus compels us to do that very one thing!
Go and make followers of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Mt 28:19 NLT)
Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that all scripture is useful for training us to do what is right (among other things) and to equip us to do good works. Scripture also repeatedly tells us that we have been given varied and unique talents which can be used to serve others, to make disciples, and to glorify God (1Pe 4:10-11; Ex 35:10; Eph 2:10; Ro 12:4-8; 1Co 12:4-11).
It is with these gifts – or rather, these tools – that God has given to each of us that we should use to "disciple": to make disciples, modeling and teaching what it means to be faithful followers (Mt 28:20). I use my unique talents to share Jesus in a way that is comfortable for me yet fulfills my faithfulness in making disciples.
For example, I love Jesus, and I love food! And I believe God has given me a love of food, the gift of gab, and the skills to cook well so that I can share common ground with others where we might not have Jesus in common. Chef James Beard said that “food is our common ground, a universal experience.” When I provide a meal for a nonbeliever, serve food at a community kitchen for the homeless, or organize a meal for a community outreach or missions event, I can use food as common ground with those who might not otherwise share Jesus in common with me.
I meet people in their place of need and then communicate that Jesus is the reason why their need is being met. That communication might simply be saying “Jesus loves you” or “to God be the glory,” which sometimes sparks greater conversation. In this way, I am being a disciple and inviting others to be disciples through the talents God has gifted me with to do good things. The same can be said of Christians who serve on medical missions, those who minister to the sick or shut-in, or those who provide counsel and assistance to people in crisis. Christians actively doing good for others in ways they are uniquely gifted and in doing those good deeds share Jesus and their own testimony of faith are proactively seeking opportunities to be and make disciples.
My dear sisters, a Christian disciple is one who is changed by Jesus to follow and learn from Him daily. It is one who assists in the spreading of the Good News and is committed to the mission of Jesus (1Jn 2:6; Mk 1:17; Jn 13:35; Ac 1:8). Using our unique talents – those training tools – to share Jesus could look very different for everyone. God may have gifted you a sweet voice for singing Christmas carols in your neighborhood. God may have gifted you with the skills to paint an image of what Heaven might be like. Maybe you have been gifted with patience to visit the elderly or babysit a neighbor’s child when they suddenly get called to work.
German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer once remarked, “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.” Every Christian, young or old, newly baptized or tenured in faith, must be committed to discipleship. Jesus’ command to make disciples is fulfilled each time we acknowledge Him in our good works. And we can make disciples in ways that use our tools, those God-given gifts, to share Jesus without hesitation.
How will you be and make disciples using your uniquely gifted tools?
Written by Rayne Paz, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Salvador, Brazil
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6:68-69 NIV)
Do you remember what or who led you to Christ? There are many paths that lead someone to know Jesus. Some people knew Him from a young age through their parents or guardians, while others come to know Him as teenagers or adults.
In the verses we will work through today, we will see that some people had the privilege of meeting Christ personally, but there was one common detail: the message was not enough for them to remain with Him. In fact, the message seemed somewhat irrelevant by worldly standards. In John chapter 6 (read the entire chapter), Jesus was becoming known; it was no longer necessary for Him to be introduced to the people who came to Him. He seemed like a good teacher, with good things to offer His followers, especially in the most recent get-together where there was even a free meal. But this time, merely thinking He was a good teacher that shared good physical food was not sufficient to continue following Him. Jesus leaves the carnal sphere and presents to those people the true benefit of following Him. However, it was not exactly what the crowd expected to hear.
Just like those people, we once came to know Christ, perhaps initially through some of His material blessings, but there comes a time when we are confronted with truths that are hard to accept. We are put to the test as to whether we are remaining in Him for the right reasons. There comes a time when we must decide to stay. Jesus’ words confront our deepest convictions, and suddenly we find ourselves giving up what we previously thought in order to believe exclusively in Him.
The word used by one of His followers in verse 60 translated as “hard” comes from the Greek word sklhro/ß (sklēros). It does not mean “hard to understand” but rather “harsh,” “severe,” or “unpleasant.” Therefore, it is not that Christ’s message is incomprehensible to us, but rather that it is uncomfortable to our will; it is disagreeable to “self,” and at times it frustrates our expectations.
Jesus’ words were offensive, not incomprehensible. However, sometimes being offended is necessary to make a decision. Jesus already knows our answer, whether we will follow Him or not, just as He also knew the disciples’ answer. But He wants to hear us say it to others and to ourselves, just as Peter recognized, accepted, and proclaimed that there is no other way (verse 68). Deciding to stay means understanding who Jesus is, His redemptive work, and the plan of salvation. It is looking with spiritual eyes of satiety and contentment at the living and eternal food, not waiting for what we may enjoy in this life that is temporary and useless. Jesus is the food that gives eternal life, satisfying us forever.
There is a Portuguese song that sums this up very well: “Christ offers what He is.” Jesus offered the bread of life because He is life itself. Unfortunately, the people in John 6 were not prepared for this. Life here on earth mattered more to them.
Some will not bear this truth or will not be willing to give up their convictions in the name of Christ. Like Peter, we must recognize that there is no one else with whom we can completely trust our lives, not because of what He offers, but because of who He is. That moment was an important step for the twelve: becoming a disciple consists of giving up this life and recognizing that outside of Christ there is nowhere to go.
What about us? Will we decide to stay?
