FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON DISCIPLESHIP
What is Discipleship?
i. Discipleship is a process of producing or imparting the life of a teacher to another. It is a life-long process, a systematic and cummulative way of making someone (a student, a pupil, a trainee, an apprentice, a raw material, a disciple) to be conformed or transformed into the image, the stature and the full personality of the master, the Lord Jesus Christ.
ii. It is a widespread age-long practice, even before Christ. John 1:35; Matt. 23;15; Acts 5:34-39. Everyone is a disciple of some sort. We are a disciple of whosoever philosophy or lifestyle we follow.
iii. Discipleship is a systematic and cumulative way of making someone to become like his Master. Rom. 8:28-30; Matt. 4:19-22; Luke 6:40; Matt. 11:28-30.
iv. Discipleship can be likened to a “Master – Apprentice” or “Teacher-Pupil” relationship, with a predetermined curriculum and behavioral objectives, between the Christian and the LORD Jesus Christ. Luke 6:40; Matt. 4:19.
Who is a Disciple?
i. A disciple is first and foremost, one who has been BORN-AGAIN. Except a man is born a new by the spirit… he has no potential to become like Jesus. Even if all the principles of Discipleship are applied, a sinner cannot develop by training to become a saint. (John 3:17; I Cor. 2:13-15; Matt. 11:28; Titus 3:5)
If man is not born again, he does not have the ticket to get on board DISCIPLE-SHIP.
Having had rest from sin and the devil, the disciple voluntarily yields his neck under the yoke of his master, so as to be taught and nurtured by him until he (the disciple) becomes like Him. Matt. 11:29-30, Mark 3:13-14, Gal. 4;1-3
ii. A disciple is a pupil who has voluntarily conceded the pedagogical authority (right arising from superiority) to the teacher as the best ever possible for his own. He sees everything permitted in his life as divine apparatus to get him conformed into the image of his master whom he loves and highly esteems. Rom. 8:28-29, John 6:68-69; Job 13:15; Job 19:25-27, 2Cor. 4:16-17; Eccl. 3:1a
iii. A disciple is one who is loyal to one master, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is a man of one focus. 1Jn 3: 5-10; Matt 6:21-24; Lk1: 74-75
How is Discipleship carried out?
i. Discipleship is not just a “teaching” but a “making”, a “life yoking” that affords the disciple an opportunity to learn the Master by hearing, watching as well as questioning. Matt 11:28-30; Matt 5:1-3; Luke 11:1-4.
li. Discipleship is not a single time experience. It is a process consisting of a systematic set of steps carefully arranged in order, until God’s goal is achieved. Ps. 37: 23-24, 1 Pet. 2:21; Matt. 24:13; Rom. 8:28-30. .
The Content of Discipleship
i. The Discipleship process has a beginning, an entrance and a definite starting point (which is not unconscious, but deliberate) when the pupil voluntarily yields his neck to the yoke of the Master to learn of him. Matt. 11:29-30; 4:19-20.
ii. Discipleship involves most of the time, falling and rising, correction and whipping. You may sometimes weep and bleed. It can be painful to bend to a new shape and focus a man who is set on his old ways of living. Heb 12: 6; Ps 118:18; Job 5:17-18; Prov. 3:12; John 14:15-24; 15:15.
iii. It involves direct encounters and interactions with the Master Himself in prayer, in His word, in service and in following in His footsteps. 1 Pet. 2:21; John 8:31-32; 15:8-10.
iv. Discipleship for each person is unique and peculiar to the individual in pace, instrument, arrangement of lessons and dealings as determined by the Master. No Disciple should compare Christ’s dealings with him with another disciple’s. John 21:15-25; John 20:19-20, 24-29; compare with Matt 20:1-16.
v. When the disciple has made real progress in his discipleship program with the LORD, his character, deeds and manner of life and speech show obviously to those around that he “…had been with Jesus” Acts. 4:13; 11:26; Matt. 26:69-73.
The Need for Discipleship?
i. To conform men to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 8:28-30; Matt. 4:19; Luke 6:40. Discipleship is God’s means of achieving His eternal purpose and central goal of calling any man to Himself to be conformed to the image of His only Son, the Saviour Jesus Christ, in order that Christ be not ashamed or shrink to call us brethren. Rom. 8:28-29; Heb. 2:10-11, Eph. 4;13-15
ii. To bring men into a close intimate and deep relationship with God. Mark 3;13-15; John 21:20-22; I Kings 19:19-21
iii. To tie up a man for God’s use. Mark 3:13-15; 11:1-8; Compare Matt 4:21-22 with Luke 18:22-25.
iv. To save God the ordeal of always starting from scratch each time. 2Tim. 2:2; Judges 2:7-11; Luke 18:8. It is the guarantee of inheriting eternal life.
The Objectives of Discipleship
God’s objective in discipleship is to produce other children to become joints heirs with Christ, So that Jesus will no longer remain the Only Begotten Son, but that He will be the First Born among many Brethren.
Secondly, in order for Jesus not to be ashamed to call us brethren, God ensured that we are of one stock or origin with Him so that we would have the potential to become like Jesus. It is through discipleship that every child of God is molded or fashioned to become like Jesus.
Who can disciple others?
Any matured Christian who has himself has been discipled (and still in discipleship relationship) can help disciple others. 2 Tim 2: 2.
The Yoke of Discipleship
“Take my yoke upon you and learn of me…” Jesus insists. Matt. 11:28-30. No man can follow Jesus unconsciously. It is a deliberate decision, a personal, individual choice to submit our life to Him in order that it can be specifically fashioned in His will for our lives.