Discipleship

The image to the right shows a range of tools. If you put the average person in that room with some pieces of the wood it is still unlikely that they would be able to make something useful. They may be able to cut some wood and nail a few bits together, but it is highly improbable that they would be able to make something that would be helpful to themselves or someone else.

They would need two forms of help:

  1. Someone to explain to them what the tools are, how they work and explain how something useful could be made

  2. Someone to model how to use the tools and guide them as they use it for the first time.

In all forms of working life, you have a mentor and a trainee. The role of the mentor is to teach, explain, help, correct and show the trainee how to do the job.

An employee may have 4 or 5 years in the job to be able to mentor someone else.

It is a great tragedy that the modern Christian who has had faith in Christ for a decade or more, would not see themselves as being equipped to support a new believer. Either they have not been adequately discipled or they have never been told that it is there responsibility to disciple others.

Discipleship is to teach and guide someone in what it means to be a believer. This is part of the great commission in Matthew 28:19 - 20. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

We tend to stop at the gospel and leave the teaching to the pastor. When we have all been commissioned to “teach them to observe all” that Christ has commanded. As a result, discipleship in many churches has now become the great omission of the great commission.

At Days Lane we will seek to ensure: that your supported in discipling your family and in your daily devotions; that the preaching of the Word of God will always be sound and practical in application; and amongst the church family there is a fellowship that will encourage and edify you.

  • Matthew 28:19–20 contains what has come to be called the Great Commission: “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.”

    In the original Greek, the only direct command is “make disciples.” “Going,” “baptizing,” and “teaching them to obey everything” are the means by which we fulfil the command to “make disciples.” The Gospel is just the beginning. Teaching everything that Jesus has commanded is the end.

    There are examples of discipleship with Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, Jesus and the disciples, Paul and Timothy and many more

  • The first point of discipleship is in the home.

    Husbands and fathers are the primary disciplers in the home.

    Husbands are to teach their wives and support them in understanding the Word of God (Ephesians 5:25; 1 Corinthians 14:35)

    Fathers are also called to be responsible for the discipleship and discipline of their children (Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 23:22)

    Mothers also provide teach and guide their children with gentleness and compassion (Proverbs 31:26 - 27; 2 Timothy 1:5; Proverbs 1:8 - 9)

  • The pastors teaching is a form of regular consistent discipleship. This is why regular attendance to church is important. When you attend you are putting yourself under sound teaching and exhortation of an under shepherd. Pastors are called to teach the whole council or scripture and to be a model example of Christian character in the home and in the church. (Titus 1:5 - 9; Titus 2:7; 1 Peter 5:3; Jeremiah 3:15)

  • The role of the local church is to encourage and edify one another in fellowship. (Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Galatians 6:2)

    The Bible is also clear that those who are mature in the faith and experienced in marriage should give practical help to young men and young women in marriage and character. Older mature women are to teach the younger women and older mature men are to teach the younger men (Titus 2)

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