Discipleship

There are several Bible verses that come to mind when I think about the importance of a Christ-follower to grow in their relationship with Christ our Savior. The last half of the “Great Commission” is one of these verses. Matthew 28:20,

“teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

2 Timothy 2:15 is another passage,

“Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

In our world today, there are countless Christ-followers without a clue. After coming to accept Christ into their hearts, they stop. Some churches do not understand what Discipleship is all about for the most part. We have “Sunday Schools” on Sunday morning and/or small groups doing the week and call it Discipleship. Discipleship is more than just Bible studies and groups. It’s a process of being equipped to live a fulfilled life in Christ. As Christ-followers, we are called to Spiritual reproduction. Put of this reproduction is nourishing the newly saved as we would a new born child. If a person has an opportunity to lead a person to the saving knowledge of Christ, it’s up to that person to follow-through and equips their new brother or sister to live in Christ. As a new born child, a newly saved Christ-follower has to learn new things. Discipleship is walking beside the newly saved and teaching them how to live this new life we call Christianity.

How does a person know how to disciple a new Christ-follower? According to Ephesians 4:11 – 12, it's up to the pastors of churches to teach their people.

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;”

Pastors of churches have the responsibility to teach their members how to grow in Christ, and it’s up to the members to grow. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. Most new Christ-followers don’t see the importance in growing in Christ until they find themselves in trouble. And most Christ-followers have never been Discipled or equipped to have a fulfilled life in Christ.

It is time for us as Christ-followers, to walk beside our younger brothers and sisters in Christ and equip them to grow in Christ. We need to be a Barnabas to new Christ-followers. Barnabas was the first one to accept the newly saved Saul and encouraged him and walked beside him as Saul grew in Christ. It’s because Barnabas’ investment in Saul that the Roman world was downed upside down. God’s plan of salvation grace would have been done without Saul who later became Paul, but how different would the New Testament be without the influence of Paul. It’s partly due to Barnabas taking the time to invest in a new born Christ-follower. Won’t you be a Barnabas to someone? You will change a person forever, and who knows what God will do through you. Take the chance.