Make Disciples?

Biblical discipleship is far more than transferring information. Jesus did not tell His followers merely to preach, teach, or make converts. He commanded them to "make disciples" (Mat 28:19-20). A disciple is a learner, follower, and imitator. Biblical discipleship, therefore, is the intentional process of helping others follow Christ by teaching them God's Word, modeling obedience, encouraging spiritual growth, and helping them become disciple-makers themselves.

Jesus Himself is the pattern. He certainly preached to crowds, but He invested most deeply in a small group of disciples. They watched Him pray (Luke 11:1), heard Him teach, observed how He treated people, accompanied Him in ministry, and received correction when they failed. He taught them truth, but He also taught them how to live. At the end of the Great Commission, Jesus defined discipleship as teaching believers "to observe all that I commanded you" (Mat 28:20). The goal is not merely knowledge but obedience.

The Apostle Paul followed the same pattern. He could say, "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ" (1 Cor 11:1). He not only instructed believers publicly but shared his life with them. To the Thessalonians he wrote, "We proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children... having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives" (1 Thess 2:7-8). Discipleship involves relationship. Truth is taught, but it is also demonstrated.

Biblical discipleship includes teaching sound doctrine (2 Tim 3:16-17), encouraging spiritual disciplines such as prayer and meditation on Scripture (Acts 2:42), helping believers put sin to death and pursue holiness (Col 3:1-17), and equipping them for service within Christ's body (Eph 4:11-16). A mature disciple is not merely someone who knows biblical facts but someone whose life is increasingly conformed to Christ.

Perhaps the clearest picture of intentional discipleship is Paul's instruction to Timothy: "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim 2:2). Notice the progression: Paul discipled Timothy, Timothy would disciple faithful men, and those faithful men would disciple others. Biblical discipleship is multiplication, not accumulation.

Ultimately, discipleship is helping another believer grow in knowing Christ, loving Christ, obeying Christ, and becoming more like Christ, while equipping that believer to do the same for others. It is truth taught, truth lived, and truth passed on. The measure of successful discipleship is not merely how much someone knows, but whether he increasingly reflects the character of Christ and helps others follow Him as well (Rom 8:29; Eph 4:13).

So ... my question. Have you been a disciple? Have you discipled? How is that working for you?