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What is a disciple? What is discipleship?
The terms “disciple” and “discipleship” are two words that are not all that common in our vocabulary today, especially to those who have not been in church for a long time. Many times we use them without really understanding what they mean.
When discussing these topics it is helpful to get a clearer understanding of what exactly they mean.
1. Disciple = Apprentice
In reading the 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) we come across the word “disciple” quite often. It is most often used in reference to the group of 12, who followed Jesus in order to learn from him.
Another word for disciple that may help in our understanding could be a term that we are more familiar with: apprentice
.
An apprentice, as you probably know, is someone who works alongside a more skilled person in order to learn a certain trade or skill. For example, a carpenter will take on an apprentice in order to teach the apprentice all that they know about carpentry.
“one who is learning by practical experience under skilled workers a trade, art, or calling” – Merriam Webster
The 12 disciples followed Jesus and worked alongside him in order to learn through practical experience how to be like him. They were in essence, Jesus’ apprentices.
2. Discipleship = Apprenticeship
If we think of a disciple as an apprentice, then we can also think of discipleship as an apprenticeship.
An apprenticeship is simply the process of being an apprentice. It is the hands on process of learning and growing.
When Jesus called his 12 disciples, he was calling them to enter into an apprenticeship with him (“Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” – Matt 4:19).
He was calling them to follow him, live with him, work with him, learn from him, and to one day carry on the work that he started.
Follow Me
It seems that Jesus’ two favorite words when calling his would be apprentices were “follow me.” Let’s take a look:
Matthew 9:9
[ The Calling of Matthew ] As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 19:21
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Mark 8:34
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
John 1:43
[ Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael ] The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Those two words speak volumes. He wasn’t just asking them to physically follow him (though they did, often immediately!) He meant it on a much deeper, life altering level. FOLLOW ME.
Those two words are the invitation to live life in a whole new way; to live it as it was truly meant to be lived!
Now, when it came to training this group of rough around the edges fishermen and crooked tax collectors to be like Him (which would turn out to be no easy task!), Jesus was all about hands on training.
In other terms, Jesus’ method of discipleship or apprenticeship was intentionally relational – it was all centered on sharing his life, not just his work, but his very life, with his disciples. He did this because he not only wanted to teach them about ministering, but about living.
The Call to Discipleship
Do you know that Jesus is alive today?
He may not be walking around on this planet, but he is alive!
And Jesus still calls out to us today to FOLLOW HIM.
Through the Scriptures and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can learn to live as he lived. We too can be his apprentices.
Jesus is waiting to take us under his wing and show us how to live like him.
That’s what being a disciple is all about! Following Jesus and learning to live like Him!
Now, Jesus not only calls for us to be disciples but to go make more disciples.
Mt. 28:18-20 (The Great Commission):
Then Jesus came to them and 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 everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
Multiplication is a key component of being one of Jesus’ followers.
As Jesus’ apprentices, we’ve been commissioned to multiply ourselves.
Imitating Jesus
Again, Jesus primary method of training his apprentices was relational.
Since we are called to not only be disciples, but to make disciples, we should follow the lead of Jesus and be intentionally relational in our disciple making efforts.
When it comes to practicing relational discipleship, or helping someone be an apprentice to Christ by sharing your life with them, we can learn three primary things from Jesus’ example (from the article Jesus: Model Disciple Maker by Ee Ling Ducatt):
1. Jesus was authentic. He shared his entire life with his disciples, the good and the bad. Jesus did not put on a façade when he was with his apprentices. He shared his true emotions with them. When we are discipling someone, we too should be authentic. It can be scary to be that vulnerable with someone, but true discipleship is hindered when we refuse to let people see the true us.
2. Jesus was intensive. Jesus ministered to thousands, but he chose just 12 to enter into an intensive relationship with, and even out of them he chose 3 to be his closest disciples and friends. Jesus realized that there are different levels of relational discipleship and that focusing his energy into a small group of people, while still ministering to the masses, would have a greater long term impact. We too must learn that it is ok to not have equal relationships with all people.
Christian speaker and author Alicia Chole says, “If we are going to follow Jesus’ model of mentoring, then we are going to have to choose to appear to do less in order to actually begin doing more. Jesus knew that as He concentrated His life in the 12, His life would then be multiplied through them to minister and meet so many needs.”
3. Jesus was dependent. The Holy Spirit is the one who shapes, molds, and transforms people, not us. Jesus realized this as he said in John 16:
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
Just as Jesus was dependent on the Holy Spirit, we too must become dependent on the Holy Spirit to do the ultimate work in the souls of people we are helping.
Discipleship Moments
Helping someone be a disciple, does not always have to be a long term thing.
We each experience “discipleship moments” every time we interact with someone. In our daily conversations and interactions, we can choose to either do the usual (nod our head to make it appear that we are listening, uh huh, etc.) or we can choose to see it as a possible “discipleship moment” where we can do as 1 Thessalonians 5 says and “encourage” the other in their life of following Jesus.
Jesus had his committed, long term disciples, but he also had many “discipleship moments.” We can do the same.
Recap
Disciple = Apprentice – Being a follower of Jesus in order to learn from him how to live
Discipleship = Apprenticeship – the process of following and learning from Jesus
Jesus two favorite words when calling disciples: FOLLOW ME
As followers of Jesus we have been called to be disciple making disciples. Multiplication is a key component to being a disciple
Jesus was intentionally relational in his method of training his disciples and we should follow his example by being authentic, intensive, and dependent.
Lastly, the opportunities abound for us to take part in the Great Commission of making more disciples, whether it be in the context of a close relationship into which we invest out time and energy or in the daily “discipleship moments.”
Conclusion
Are you a disciple; a devoted apprentice to Jesus?
Are you a disciple making disciple?
Are you ready to embark on the Great Commission to “go and make disciples”?
Discipleship is for disciples! You can’t help someone get somewhere when you aren’t going yourself!
Why Bother with Discipleship by Dallas Willard
What is Discipleship by Margaret Campbell
Jesus in Relationship – Master Disciple Maker by Ee Ling R. Ducatt (this is the article that was referenced in the sermon)
