Reclaiming Discipleship

“Whenever any species undergoes a reproduction crisis, a name is given it: “endangered. Arguably Christianity has entered such a crisis; our inability to reproduce the faith is the number one problem facing our families and churches today.”

A Discipleship Pandemic

There is a huge pandemic among us today and I’m not talking about Covid, I am talking about the inability to reproduce the faith.

I was reading a book called Tablet to Table by Leonard Sweet and he compared Discipleship to an endangered species where whenever any species undergoes a reproduction crisis, a name is given it: “endangered.” He goes on to say, “arguably Christianity has entered such a crisis; our inability to reproduce the faith is the number one problem facing our families and churches today.”

Somewhere along the way we have dropped the baton. And my hope is that after our time today you will pick it back up, get in the race, run, and pass it on.

The race in 2 Timothy 4:7 is not a marathon but a relay race. One in which we are helping each other.

What is Discipleship?

Greg Ogden says in his book Discipleship Essentials, which I highly recommend, “Discipleship is an intentional relationship in which we walk alongside other disciples in order to encourage, equip and challenge one another in love to grow toward maturity in Christ. This includes equipping the disciple to make disciples who make disciple.”

The short answer….Following Jesus and teaching others to follow Jesus too.

Let’s look at Jesus’ life.

· He grew – in grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God

· He had an occupation – He contributed to society

· He had disciples – He had a plan to reach the world

"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Luke 2:52

Jesus Grew

Jesus came into this world in human flesh and grew just like me and you. He needed nutrients to grow in stature, He needed an healthy environment to grew spiritually, and He needed community to grow in relationships.

"Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” Mark 6:3

Jesus was a Carpenter

Jesus was God in flesh and blood but He did not neglect His gifts and talents. He had an occupation. A job. We all have gifts and talents that we have been sovereignly given and Jesus was perfect example of utilizing all His resources to make the world a better place and provide a service that would help others. He also had another job to accomplish that was appointed to Him by the Father from the beginning of the world. He was sent in flesh to manifest God's name to the men whom God gave Him out to the world (John 17:6). Discipleship.

Wherever he went and whatever He did, He was to manifest God to those God placed in His life.

How are you doing at manifesting God's name?

"And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles:" Luke 6:13

Jesus Had Disciples

The method to reach the world with the Good News was through a chosen group of men that Jesus called to carry on His work. He knew that He couldn't stay with them forever so He gave His disciples His Spirit to empower them to do greater works than He did. This is huge. For those who believe in Christ, we are given the same mandate. Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

To make disciples is to encourage others to grow in the knowledge of God, go into the places He has called them, and give him away to those He has placed in their life. This includes helping others know God and His plan for their life, using your gifts and talents to make the world a better place, and helping them to do the same.

Reproducing the faith. This is discipleship.