Quotes About Discipleship

Followers of Christ are often called "the people of the book" because we believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the unique written revelation of God; the reality is that believers' knowledge of Scripture is woefully inadequate.

Disciple making is not a program but a relationship.

The Scriptures picture the church as an essential, chosen organism in whom Christ dwells; the reality is that people view the church as an optional institution, unnecessary for discipleship.

To be a follower of Christ is to understand that there is no such thing as solo discipleship.

Intimate, accountable relationship with other believers is the foundation for growing in discipleship.

Heading the list is the definitive quality that shines through Jesus and is to mark his followers. Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). To love your enemies and forgive those who intend your destruction is a love that comes from above.

If I were to choose one word to summarize the state of discipleship today, that word would be superficial.

For the better part of two decades, I have observed an approximate 75 percent reproduction rate through the triad model of disciple making.

Can you imagine the kingdom impact if every believer had the opportunity to be involved in an intensive, year-long relationship with at least two others whose expressed purpose was to grow to become a reproducing disciple of Jesus? Church life would shift from the ministry of professionals to a mobilized body of multipliers.

Without question, the setting where I have experienced the most accelerated transformation in the lives of believers has been in triads, or small reproducible discipleship groups.

As the alternative to the one-on-one model, I propose a threesome that I call a triad as the ideal size for a disciple-making group.

Leroy Eims a generation ago asked, "What then is the problem today? Why don't we see more of this [disciple making] going one? Why are fruitful, dedicated mature disciples so rare? The biggest reason is that all too often we have relied on programs or materials or some other thing to do the job. The ministry is carried on by people, not programs.

Robert Coleman's challenge: "One must decide where he wants his ministry to count—in the momentary applause of popular recognition or in the reproduction of his life in a few chosen ones who will carry on his work after he has gone? Really, it is a question of which generation we are living for.

The scriptural model for growing disciples is through relationships. Jesus called the Twelve to "be with him" (Mark 3:14), for their lives would be transformed through personal association.

Every Christian must see themselves as the link to the next generation," writes William Barclay.

Eugene Peterson puts this truth cleverly: "Jesus, it must be remembered, restricted nine-tenths of His ministry to twelve Jews, because it was the only way to reach all Americans."2

So true is this that if we do not respond to the demands of the present, because we do not know in advance whither we may be led, we are simply refusing to hear the call of Jesus Christ. We are refusing to open to him when he knocks on the door and invites us to sup with him.

But instead of being con-formed to the world, Christians are to be changed from within to be increasingly like Jesus Christ.

But if there is one thing clearly and plainly laid down about election, it is this: that elect men and women may be known and distinguished by holy lives.

Disciples who are steadfast and immovable do not become fanatics or extremists, are not overzealous, and are not preoccupied with misguided gospel hobbies.

Unless the believer offers his soul life to death, he shall cultivate that life, incur the displeasure of God, and miss the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

We must face up to the truth that the call of Christ does set up a barrier between man and his natural life. But this barrier is no surly contempt for life, no legalistic piety; it is the life which is life indeed, the gospel, the person of Jesus Christ." —THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

Life Lessons 6:12 — Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Jesus spent all night in prayer immediately before He chose the twelve disciples who would accompany Him everywhere. Whenever we make any decision—major or minor—we should follow His example and wholeheartedly seek His counsel.

Genuine Christianity is more than a relationship with Jesus, as expressed in personal piety, church attendance, Bible study, and works of charity. It is more than discipleship, more than believing a system of doctrines about God. Genuine Christianity is a way of seeing and comprehending all reality. It is a worldview.