What is a disciple? If you ask a hundred people, you might get a hundred answers.
However, for a Christian, this is a very important question because it is what Jesus called us to become. (Matthew 28:19-20) Not only are we to become disciples of Jesus, but we are to make disciples of all the nations! How we answer this question frames the way we live our lives, what is important to us, and the purpose for which we live our lives.
God’s Word definitely helps us understand exactly what a disciple is. An easy, simple definition is that a disciple is a person that learns from Christ lives for Christ, and leads others to Christ. Being a follower of Jesus requires us to sit at Jesus’ feet and learn from Him. As we learn from Jesus, our lives are transformed and we begin to live our lives like Jesus. The cycle of discipleship is not complete, however, until we are passing it along to someone else and leading others to Christ.
A sending and multiplying church must have a commitment to discipleship among its members. As believers learn, live, and lead, disciples are multiplied, leaders are developed, and the church grows and expands wherever the Lord desires.
In today’s message, Steve looks at these three parts of the discipleship process and challenges us to be a church of disciple makers.