So far in this discipleship series, I have discussed the topics of what discipleship is, and how Jesus demonstrated discipleship while He was on Earth. Today's topic is the consideration of what is required to disciple others. As always, if any of my readers disagree with any of my points, or have anything to add, please let me know!
The foundational necessity in discipleship is having a personal relationship with the Lord. We can not disciple or counsel others without wisdom, and without an understanding of God's Word.
No one can have true wisdom unless he knows the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (NKJV)
Likewise, no one can understand the Word of God unless he has believed in Christ, and as a result, has received the Holy Spirit. We are told in I Corinthians 2:14, "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (NKJV) The Holy Spirit gives us understanding of the truth: ". . .when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth. . ." (John 16:13a, NKJV)
The Great Commission was not carried out until after the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples. In the first chapter of Acts, we read, "And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father. . . . 'you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'" (Acts 1:4a, 8, NKJV) Jesus did not expect His disciples to carry out His command to "make disciples" until the coming of the Holy Spirit; therefore, an unbeliever should not attempt to make disciples for Christ.
Aside from the foundation of knowing Christ, there are two specific things that I would consider to be necessary to disciple others.
One of these things is a heart that is understanding and patient. I think of Job's friends. In the midst of losing almost everything he had for seemingly no reason, Job's troubles were furthered when his friends attempted to give him counsel, and ended up accusing him of sin that he had not committed.
These friends of Job are a perfect example of how not to counsel others. They were wise in their own eyes, they would not listen to Job's defense of his own character, and they had a distorted view of God. Even Elihu, the most gracious of Job's friends, "justified himself rather than God." (Job 32:2 NKJV) After all was said and done, the Lord rebuked Job's three friends for speaking what was not right about Him. He commanded them to offer burnt offerings, and promised that He would hear Job's prayer on their account, "lest I deal with you according to your folly." (Job 42:8b, NKJV)
Job's friends did not have all that we have; they did not have the Word of God, nor did they have His Spirit. But the principles were still the same, as God's character never changes.
"The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. . . . He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him." (Proverbs 15:28; 18:13, NKJV) We must exercise patience and understanding as we disciple others, considering how each person may be taught best, according to what their level of understanding is, and according to the circumstances in their lives.
James 1:19 teaches, "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." (NKJV) It is easy, in the heat of the moment, to come to quick judgments and become angry, but it is especially important to listen carefully and to consider our words when we are speaking with someone whom we are discipling. One simple misunderstanding or moment of anger could jeopardize our ability to disciple that particular person.
The other very important thing in discipleship - and really, another foundational thing - is the Word of God itself. God's Word is important both in the life of the discipler and in the life of the disciple. God's Word is "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. . . and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3:16-17, ESV) Without the use of the Word of God, the discipler will teach using his own wisdom, and will be snared by pride. He will not be discipling for the sake of Christ, but for the sake of gaining a following of his own.
Furthermore, without the use of Scripture, the disciple will become caught up in the wisdom of man rather than the wisdom of God, and will gain nothing profitable. He will gain no true knowledge of the Lord, and will not learn the necessity to look to God Himself, or to train others to follow the Lord.
Scripture is so vital in discipleship, and in our daily walk with the Lord, that it would be my recommendation to memorize it, and to teach those you are discipling to make Scripture memory a priority. The Psalms speak of the Word of God in this way: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:1-2, NKJV)
"How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." (Psalm 119:9-11, NKJV)
Knowing Christ as Savior is the most precious thing on earth, and it carries over into eternity. As believers, we are instructed, "Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful." (I Corinthians 4:1-2, NKJV) What better way to practice faithfulness than to get to know God through the personal study and memorizing of His Word, and in turn discipling others to do the same?
The foundational necessity in discipleship is having a personal relationship with the Lord. We can not disciple or counsel others without wisdom, and without an understanding of God's Word.
No one can have true wisdom unless he knows the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (NKJV)
Likewise, no one can understand the Word of God unless he has believed in Christ, and as a result, has received the Holy Spirit. We are told in I Corinthians 2:14, "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (NKJV) The Holy Spirit gives us understanding of the truth: ". . .when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth. . ." (John 16:13a, NKJV)
The Great Commission was not carried out until after the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples. In the first chapter of Acts, we read, "And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father. . . . 'you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'" (Acts 1:4a, 8, NKJV) Jesus did not expect His disciples to carry out His command to "make disciples" until the coming of the Holy Spirit; therefore, an unbeliever should not attempt to make disciples for Christ.
Aside from the foundation of knowing Christ, there are two specific things that I would consider to be necessary to disciple others.
One of these things is a heart that is understanding and patient. I think of Job's friends. In the midst of losing almost everything he had for seemingly no reason, Job's troubles were furthered when his friends attempted to give him counsel, and ended up accusing him of sin that he had not committed.
These friends of Job are a perfect example of how not to counsel others. They were wise in their own eyes, they would not listen to Job's defense of his own character, and they had a distorted view of God. Even Elihu, the most gracious of Job's friends, "justified himself rather than God." (Job 32:2 NKJV) After all was said and done, the Lord rebuked Job's three friends for speaking what was not right about Him. He commanded them to offer burnt offerings, and promised that He would hear Job's prayer on their account, "lest I deal with you according to your folly." (Job 42:8b, NKJV)
Job's friends did not have all that we have; they did not have the Word of God, nor did they have His Spirit. But the principles were still the same, as God's character never changes.
"The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. . . . He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him." (Proverbs 15:28; 18:13, NKJV) We must exercise patience and understanding as we disciple others, considering how each person may be taught best, according to what their level of understanding is, and according to the circumstances in their lives.
James 1:19 teaches, "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." (NKJV) It is easy, in the heat of the moment, to come to quick judgments and become angry, but it is especially important to listen carefully and to consider our words when we are speaking with someone whom we are discipling. One simple misunderstanding or moment of anger could jeopardize our ability to disciple that particular person.
The other very important thing in discipleship - and really, another foundational thing - is the Word of God itself. God's Word is important both in the life of the discipler and in the life of the disciple. God's Word is "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. . . and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3:16-17, ESV) Without the use of the Word of God, the discipler will teach using his own wisdom, and will be snared by pride. He will not be discipling for the sake of Christ, but for the sake of gaining a following of his own.
Furthermore, without the use of Scripture, the disciple will become caught up in the wisdom of man rather than the wisdom of God, and will gain nothing profitable. He will gain no true knowledge of the Lord, and will not learn the necessity to look to God Himself, or to train others to follow the Lord.
Scripture is so vital in discipleship, and in our daily walk with the Lord, that it would be my recommendation to memorize it, and to teach those you are discipling to make Scripture memory a priority. The Psalms speak of the Word of God in this way: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:1-2, NKJV)
"How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." (Psalm 119:9-11, NKJV)
Knowing Christ as Savior is the most precious thing on earth, and it carries over into eternity. As believers, we are instructed, "Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful." (I Corinthians 4:1-2, NKJV) What better way to practice faithfulness than to get to know God through the personal study and memorizing of His Word, and in turn discipling others to do the same?
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