God’s movement has been forcefully advancing in our time. It has been amazing to see the growth in the church here in Phoenix. The perfect plan of Jesus was to use imperfect men to influence others to follow Him through accountability, followership, teaching, and training. We call this discipling, and to be a member of this church we expect every member to be involved in a discipling relationship. These relationships hold the church together, thus being the glue of the movement. (NOTE: Please read the scriptures to understand the article and deepen your convictions.)
I. Theological Basis for Discipling
Discipling relationships are essential due to the nature of God himself. The three aspects of his nature which compel us to develop deep spiritual relationships are that: “relationship” defines the very nature of God (Trinity), “God is love,” and love is putting the needs of others ahead of our own. Discipling relationships require us to have the qualities that God expects and rewards: faith and humility. They are defined by love, which binds all things together. The Bible commands us to be in each others personal lives. There are over 160 one-another passages in the New Testament alone. In fact it is a principle found throughout the whole Bible. Cain asked God the rhetorical question “am I my brother’s keeper?” From day one, Cain questioned discipling in a negative light as many of us might do. Moses discipled Joshua. Samuel discipled David. Nathan discipled David. Elijah discipled Elisha. Jesus discipled Peter, James, and John. Barnabas and Paul shared a discipling relationship. Paul discipled Timothy and Titus. There are many other examples.
Ultimately, discipling is the command and plan of God. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus says to the faithful eleven disciples, “…go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father the Son and 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.” “Make disciples” literally translates from the Greek “disciple the nations”. Discipling begins before someone becomes a Christian. The Bible is not enough to save us; the Word must become flesh as Jesus said (John 1:14). People still have to come in contact with Christ to be saved seeing the Bible being lived out in another man. This is only done by people coming in contact with the church, which is the body of Christ. After baptism, Jesus commands that the disciple who baptizes the new Christian stay with them to teach them to obey everything Jesus taught. Anyone can be taught the Bible, but to be taught to obey only comes through walking with someone who is discipling you. Just like you don’t learn to change a tire by reading the manual, you learn best by watching someone else do it first and than you give it a shot.
We come to the Bible bringing our own emotions, experiences, and sin which can cloud the message God wants us to receive. We read it through our own life “glasses” so to speak. It is only through discipling that these “glasses” can be removed. To not have a discipler is to exhibit pride and go against God’s plan for His church. Let us break down some principles:
II. Perfect Discipling of the Master
Discipling is the plan of the master; his method was in 3 steps:
1) He called people to follow and imitate Him (1 Cor. 4:14-17; 11:1). Discipling is a heart transfer; Paul invested his life into people. Who are you imitating or following in your life right now? Are you calling those you are discipling to follow Christ in you?
2) He kept men with him in order to train them and send them out to preach.
3).He gave practical assignments (Luke 10:1-3). Jesus sent them out to imitate what he had been doing and get ready for the mission! Luke 10:18-20: He discipled their heart, and focused them back on God. Jesus looked for discipling opportunities! Jesus practiced all three forms one-over-one (1 Thess. 5:12; Hebrews 13:17), one-on-one, and group. This was the method of Jesus. Does it sound like your discipling?
God and Jesus shared a discipling relationship to model for us: John 5:16-23, 30. Jesus was the perfect disciple to God and God the perfect discipler. Both are hard at work to make the discipling relationship awesome (v.17). God was over Jesus in the discipling relationship but still both were equal and shared their feelings with each other (v.18). Jesus was so submissive to his discipler; he only did what he saw his father doing. He never tried to reinvent the wheel but was an exact representation of his discipler. How submissive are you to those who lead/disciple you? There was love in their relationship, a complete trust (v. 20). Because God loves Jesus, he shows and shares with him everything. As a discipler you must set the pace with openness. He shows him “even greater things”, giving Jesus vision! Evangelism/life is the goal of the relationship (v. 21). God entrusted Jesus with all judgment (v.22-23). We must entrust what we know to others (2 Timothy 2:1-2) in our discipling. God wanted to honor and give glory to Jesus. Our heart must be that, “I am going to live for another mans glory!” HUMILITY IS KEY IN DISCIPLING. “I myself can do nothing!” Jesus said. Do you think you can do something (v. 30)? Jesus didn’t seem to think so. He needed discipling. Tons of people have Bibles around, and study the scriptures but are real Christians because they don’t come to Jesus to have life (v.39). To come to Jesus from what we have studied is done by getting discipled. God and Jesus never sinned yet their discipling relationship focused on saving the lost. We must not only confess sin in these relationships but entrust, give vision, be open, and seek and save the lost together.
III. The Authority of Discipling
Jesus has all authority and gives authority to those whom he raises up in His church as leaders. Romans 13:1 shows us what we will call the “umbrella of authority”. There is no authority other than which God has instituted politically and in the church. We are required to submit to them unless they call us to disobey God’s word (Acts 5:29). This is a hard teaching for some but is part of God’s plan to bring unity in His church.
Hebrews 13:7; 13:17 — Look at the Greek definition of the words in the previous verses: “Obey” = to be easily persuaded. “Leaders” = those who have rule over you. “Submit” = surrender or yield yourself to them. We are to obey our leaders and yield ourselves to their authority. Do we understand the God-given authority in every leadership position in the church and respect them as they watch over our souls? This teaching is frightening in America today. The word “cult” gets thrown around or we get accused of making clones, yet we have to ask “Aren’t we all trying to become like Jesus?” Discipling is what made the church so powerful and is God’s plan! Understand the first century church disciples did not have the Bible in book form and many were illiterate. This is why discipling came so naturally for them as they had to fully depend, trust, and submit to an imperfect man in order for God’s perfect plan to be revealed. As a disciple we don’t control our lives anymore. Jesus leads his church, and has given His leaders authority to shepherd us and take care of us. Do you have an independent American mindset about discipling, or are you submissive to the authority in your life? Sadly, many of us stunt our growth spiritually in our rebellion and pride towards the authority God has put over us.
Practically, in our discipling, we must initiate with love and listen carefully. We must never assume where each other is at spiritually but should probe and be open to discipling in the following areas: laziness, schedule, discipline, lack of growth, finances, lust/sex, marriage (intimacy), gluttony, pride, self-esteem, amount of alcohol consumption, timidity/cowardice, health, and ungratefulness/bitterness. We must disciple the whole man. Hebrews 3:12-13 commands us to be in each other’s lives daily. Discipling must be daily to protect us from being deceived by sin’s deceitfulness. Many of us can be deceived, thinking we don’t need discipling partners! This can lead to rebellion towards the authority of God in His leadership and the methodologies the leadership has chosen to facilitate discipling. Ultimately, lack of discipling leads to us falling away. Colossians 1:28-29 shows us the goal of discipling is to present each other mature and complete in Christ. Paul says he labors and struggles with the power of God inside him to be able to disciple people. How hard have you worked at your discipling? Weekly discipling times are a must and daily conversations of encouragement are a command!
Phoenix International Christian Church: To facilitate and fulfill the one-another passages, the leadership of this church along with the rest of the movement world-wide expects every member to have someone discipling them, and to also be involved in a small group (Bible/Life Talk). New Christians naturally will be discipled by one of the people who studied the Bible with them. For others, the leaders will ask who the member wants to disciple them and assign them a discipler, since the shepherd knows the sheep, and sometimes we do not know what is best for ourselves. Mutual love for each other, a spirit of unity, and openness is the driving force behind our discipling methodology, and follows the pattern of Jesus and the principles found in Exodus 18:13-27. Make a decision today to reevaluate where your discipling relationship is at. Are you having weekly d-times and becoming more like Christ?
Campus Minister,
Mike Patterson
