What discipleship is
Christian discipleship is what happens when people live daily with Jesus. Jesus drew incredible, mammoth church-sized crowds during His earthly ministry. But many people had different agendas. The Gospels reveals that Jesus excused more people from the crowds than He kept. The exit door to the Kingdom swung opened as disappointed disciples trudged out en mass:
“After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (John 6:66 ESV).
Jesus asked the twelve disciples who lived with Him, “Do you want to go as well?” (John 6:67 ESV). Jesus loved them but wanted them to understand the cost of living with Him. Peter, as usual, was the one who responded:
“Lord, to whom else shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)
Most people move through distinct phases in their spiritual journeys. But moving from being curious about Jesus, to becoming a fully-devoted follower of Jesus, is the most challenging step.
Somehow Peter comprehended the eternal importance of living with Jesus. He was more than just a half-devoted groupie.
Most people move through distinct phases in their spiritual journeys. But moving from being curious about Jesus, to becoming a fully-devoted follower of Jesus, is the most challenging step.
THE FRUIT THAT FOLLOWS
We often miss Jesus’ original point of making disciples. A growing disciple is one whose life is producing the supernatural fruit of a Kingdom citizen.
Fruit is people – A disciple is called to produce fruit—fruit refers to different outcomes in the life of a disciple. Jesus explained:
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” (John 15:16-17 ESV)
We often miss Jesus’ original point of making disciples. A growing disciple is one whose life is producing the supernatural fruit of a Kingdom citizen.
Fruit is obedience – Fruit is used to describe love that is demonstrated through obedience. Bearing fruit is one of the surest confirmations that we are His:
“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8 ESV)
Fruit is character – Biblical references of fruit work together to describe a distinct quality of life that becomes a thing of beauty.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)
CULTIVATING THE FRUIT
Disciple-makers focus their energy on seeing fruit. People, obedience and character are the fruits that are discovered and cultivated through being in community.
People – To be an effective disciple-maker who makes disciple-makers, start by spending more time with less people. Be an example of what it is like to follow Christ.
Obedience – God asked Adam, “Where are you?” God didn’t need the answer, but Adam needed the question. If discipleship is living with Jesus daily, then you have helped them move closer to the target.
Character – Don’t feel that as a disciple-maker your role is to “fix” everything that is broken in people. Trust the quiet work of the Holy Spirit.
Disciple-makers focus their energy on seeing fruit. People, obedience and character are the fruits that are discovered and cultivated through being in community.
DISCIPLING WITH THE GOSPEL
Normally we struggle with two extremes in our relationships with people who are not like our tribe. We become too pharisaical, pointing out a long list of shortcomings, or we feign ‘niceness’ and let everything slide.
“An example of this polarity is seen in the account of the woman caught in the act of adultery and was forcibly dragged to Jesus by her religious accusers” (John 8:1-11).
Jesus seemed to have only two choices when they asked, “So what do you say?” (John 8:7) One choice was strict compliance to the Law of Moses, which was death by stoning. The other was complicity with the morally depraved culture of Rome, which would argue to release her without consequence. This choice would put Jesus and His movement in the category of just another sexually immoral religious cult leader.
Making disciples is not creating a grace environment that ignores our moral struggles and their natural consequences. Neither is making disciples taking on the hypocritical and rigid position of judging and sentencing people who are sinners just like us.
Jesus responded and created a ‘judgment free zone’ that focused on His compassion, and the future of the broken woman who was in fact, guilty as charged.
Making disciples is not creating a grace environment that ignores our moral struggles and their natural consequences. Neither is making disciples taking on the hypocritical and rigid position of judging and sentencing people who are sinners just like us. Making disciples is living out the gospel without apology.
Published April 18, 2016
