Disciples of Christ
Jesus had 12 Disciples. Three close disciples that followed Jesus wherever he went: Peter, Jeames, and John. In Matthew 28 we are called to go make disciples. Countless times in the gospels Jesus talks about the cost of being disciples.
As Christians we are to be disciples of Christ, so why is it so hard for us to be disciples in the world in which we live today? Are we making disciples today? After we baptize do we make disciples the way Christ wants us to do? Do we count the cost? Do we understand the cost of discipleship to why or why not? How can we do so? Should discipleship be preached more in the Churches of Christ? Why or why not? What distracts us from discipleship today? How can we overcome it? Can we overcome it by ourselves or not? What Spiritual disciples help with us becoming the disciples that we need to become? What should be our focus? What where the focus of the disciples in Jesus' time?
I know I ask a lot of questions, if you would like just pick a question or a few and answer what strikes you about discipleship.
what do you think?
Share your thoughts.
posted by preacherman @ 11:20:00 PM
18 Comments:
I think there are a number of factors that influence our current state. One is growing apathy in the church. Another is our affluence. Members today don't have to stay home for the weekend, they can go almost any place for recreation. Still another is we are losing our identity. Our "exclusivism" of the 40s and 50s was a large factor in our evangelism. We are getting too inclusive today so we don't feel the need to make disciples. Also we are including other religions outside of Christianity as "okay" with God. There are myriad other influences but enough for now.
Bob,
Thanks for your comments and adding to this discussion, I greatly appreciate it.
We must have a desire to seek and save the lost. Is it that we become for like the world and don't want to offend? We must have the passion, desire to make disciples in the 21st century despite offending. Despite being labeled. Despite persucuted. We must once again become mission minded. Understanding that the mission is now America as well as foreign places. It is the people you work with, your next door neighbor, people down the street, etc.
My opinion, whether valid or not, is that we only want to disciple those who are just like us. We want to convert those who can not only come to church with us but can take their boat out on the lake when we take ours, etc. There are millions of people who are much worse off than we are and who truly need the Lord. But we don't go after them (spiritually speaking) perhaps because we are afraid they will NEED us also.
Just my thought.
Peace
Neva
Jesus had a lot to say about what is required in order to be a disciple. We aren't doing anyone a favor (neither Jesus nor the prospective convert) when we "convert" people with a lower standard of discipleship. We need to teach what Jesus taught on the subject. And we need to teach it first to ourselves.
Neva,
We are to make disciples of Christ, so we must strive for ourselves to look like him. Love our the Lord and our neighbor as our self. We must desire that relationship with God more that anything. Hunger for it.
Eccless. says, that God has eternity into the hearts of men. Man will never be satisfied until they fill their heart with the relationship with God. The disciples that we make are after the image of Him. We must have the courage to get out the boat. God will give us that courage through His Spirit. He will give us to courage to give us those opportunities if we will look.
Again, great point Neva.
Thanks for adding to this discussion.
Alan,
I totally agree with you brother that we must teach ourselves how to become disciples. I totally agree with you that we must never lower the standard for discipleship. We must preach it from our pulpits so our members will understand what it means in the 21st century what a the cost of discipleship really is: what it means to take up your cross daily. Self-sacrifice. Repentance. Daily Study. Daily Prayer. Mediatation. Loving Him. Loving Nieghbor. What It Means To Be A Living Sacrifice.
You are so right in living the discipled life for ourselves. I do believe when they (the world) see's it lived out in our lives the will see a counter culture and will ask what is so different about your life? What is it? Then, maybe, then there will be the door of oportunity. Becuase real, isn't real discipleship, counter-culture?
Hi preacherman,
Absolutely right. Real discipleship is counter-culture (In the terms of Jesus, we are to be "in the world but not of the world"). We are more like the surrounding culture than we like to admit. We need to be so different that people come up to ask us why we are so different. What is the reason for the hope we have? They think it strange that we won't do the things they do. etc... How many times do we get that kind of question? Nominal Christians won't even be noticed by the world around them. And they will have no effect on them. For them, the salt has lost its saltiness.
Alan,
great point!
I've got a book brewing that's going to be titled Spiritual Abortion. That talks about many churches of today focusing so much on saving souls but not discipling them.
Josh,
Sounds like a very intersting book. Do you know who the author is and where you can get a copy? I also agree that we have been interested in saving souls instead of making disciples.
Lol... preacher, Actually it hasn't been written yet, and the author might be me.
Let me comment on the word disciple.
It's always been interesting to me that we're called to be "disciples" many more times than were called to be "Christians." But somehow "Christian" is the word we've chosen. Maybe we've missed something there?
Trey, actually I don't think we have. You'll notice that the word disciple is used exclusively in the Gospels and Acts. It disappears in Acts after they are called Christians and then not used again in Paul's letters or the general letters. I find that interesting. I don't think that means we shouldn't use "disciple" as a description of who we are, I just find it interesting that Luke records the disciples being called Christians and after that no one refers to them as disciples. Yet it is interesting that Peter is the only one who uses the word. One of Paul's favorite words is "saints." I like that. You can start calling me "saint Bob." How's that saint Trey?
Trey,
I thought the they weren't called Christian until later? Disciples aren't they more profound. Meaningful? Committed?
Bob,
Wow...Saint. That would be a cool word to start calling each other. We are all St.'s St. Preacherman. I like the sound of that! :)
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