Essentials of Discipleship for Disciple-Making Ministries
With this definition in mind, we can explore the following essential features of biblical discipleship that must characterize all of our attempts to develop a disciplemaking ministry.
Discipleship originates with a gracious call from Jesus to enter into an intimate relationship with him.
In contrast to the form of discipleship found among the scribes and rabbis of Jesus’ day, where a person earned the right to be called a disciple through intense study and commitment, Jesus called men and women to him to be his disciples solely and only on the basis of grace. Whether it was calling Peter and Andrew by the Sea of Galilee (Matt. 4:18–22) or offering salvation to the citizens of the city of Ephesus (Eph. 2:8–9), discipleship to Jesus originates with a gracious call from Jesus, and it is a call that must be obeyed from the heart as we enter into an intimate, transforming relationship with him.
Discipleship must be grounded in a personal, costly relationship with a seeking Savior.
The new life that comes at regeneration cost Jesus, and it costs us. Although it is nothing we can buy, it is costly nonetheless. The cost is life. Jesus’ life and our life. The cost of Jesus’ life was given in his death on the cross. He came seeking those who were spiritually ill to make them well and fit for his kingdom. This initiative could only be accomplished through the penalty he paid for our sins in his loving act of redemption on the cross. He gave his life so that we might have life (1 Cor. 6:19–20; Mark 10:45).
The cost for us is likewise our life. While Jesus’ death on the cross is unique, we also lose our life through taking up our own cross (Matt. 16:24–26). Discipleship begins with intentional evangelism that challenges people to count
the cost of accepting Jesus’ call to life in the kingdom of God, which will prepare them to engage in and expect personal transformation as the normal Christian life. ministries must help new and older Christians to find their identity in being Jesus’ disciple in all of our relationships in the home, the workplace, the community, and the church. Discipleship must begin with and strive
With this definition in mind, we can explore the following essential features of biblical discipleship that must characterize all of our attempts to develop a disciplemaking ministry.
Discipleship originates with a gracious call from Jesus to enter into an intimate relationship with him.
In contrast to the form of discipleship found among the scribes and rabbis of Jesus’ day, where a person earned the right to be called a disciple through intense study and commitment, Jesus called men and women to him to be his disciples solely and only on the basis of grace. Whether it was calling Peter and Andrew by the Sea of Galilee (Matt. 4:18–22) or offering salvation to the citizens of the city of Ephesus (Eph. 2:8–9), discipleship to Jesus originates with a gracious call from Jesus, and it is a call that must be obeyed from the heart as we enter into an intimate, transforming relationship with him.
Discipleship must be grounded in a personal, costly relationship with a seeking Savior.
The new life that comes at regeneration cost Jesus, and it costs us. Although it is nothing we can buy, it is costly nonetheless. The cost is life. Jesus’ life and our life. The cost of Jesus’ life was given in his death on the cross. He came seeking those who were spiritually ill to make them well and fit for his kingdom. This initiative could only be accomplished through the penalty he paid for our sins in his loving act of redemption on the cross. He gave his life so that we might have life (1 Cor. 6:19–20; Mark 10:45).
The cost for us is likewise our life. While Jesus’ death on the cross is unique, we also lose our life through taking up our own cross (Matt. 16:24–26). Discipleship begins with intentional evangelism that challenges people to count
the cost of accepting Jesus’ call to life in the kingdom of God, which will prepare them to engage in and expect personal transformation as the normal Christian life. ministries must help new and older Christians to find their identity in being Jesus’ disciple in all of our relationships in the home, the workplace, the community, and the church. Discipleship must begin with and strive
