When we talk about a disciple as a noun, we are talking about a person who is a learner and a follower. A disciple of Christ is someone who learns about and follows Jesus Christ in all ways. When we use the word disciple as a verb, that is someone being a disciple. As a verb that could mean a disciple living their life like Jesus. It could also mean a disciple helping another to become a disciple by sharing their faith about Jesus. In this example a disciple becomes someone who disciples.
Disciples simply don’t become disciples who disciple. Disciples need to be discipled by evangelists, preachers, elders, and teachers (Ephesians 4:11-16). Active disciplers are examples for other disciples to follow. Like the first disciples of Jesus (Acts 2:42-27), disciples today need to always be about learning, following, and sharing Jesus.
The challenged faced by disciplers today stems from the consumer-driven culture the church strives to exist in today. Most people come to “church” expecting to receive rather than to give. Those with this view of “church” create “shoppers” rather than “seekers.” The difficulty disciplers struggle with is the double-life that the church “shopper” tends to lead. For them there is the “church life” on Sundays and their “regular life” the rest of the week. While this viewpoint is nothing new, it is not what disciples strive to exemplify or teach.
Disciplers need encouragement to remain on task. This is because it requires a significant investment and commitment on the part of the discipler. In our fast-moving society it can be challenging for both the discipler and the one being discipled to make it a priority to meet with, minister to, and mentor. This can make discipling frustrating for the discipler.
Discipling is an involved process that does not end at baptism. Discipling continues for as long as is needed to ensure the disciple has become a discipler. This does not mean that relationships formed have ended, only changed in status to one that is more mutually edifying.
Since the beginning of this year we have been focusing on discipleship. We have shared in sermons and class what it means to be a disciple and a discipler. Next Sunday our sermon series on discipleship will come to a close, but our class on the fundamentals of discipleship will continue for several more weeks. Just because series or classes end, that does not mean that we slow down or cease being disciples who make disciples. Jesus gave the command to “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).” The process of discipleship is meant to be perpetuated by His disciples until Jesus returns.
