Why Discipleship?

At Christ Church, our mission is to glorify God as we make, mature, and mobilize disciples of Jesus Christ by loving Jesus- and loving like Jesus—in the world.

At the center of this mission is the role of the people of God living out their lives as disciples of Jesus. But what is a disciple, and what does the call of discipleship entail for the follower of Jesus?

We see that Scripture calls to all who follow Him, a call to live as a disciple, growing together in discipleship in a disciple-making movement. Seeing how these three fit together is crucial for understanding our callings to discipleship:

What Is a Disciple?

A disciple is a fully devoted follower of Jesus.

This is what we are all called to be in the Christian life. Jesus’ call rings out repeatedly through the gospels: follow me.

We see some that hear it and respond with immediate obedience, while others walk away in resistance and sorrow. In leading us away from our sins and back into an abundant life of human flourishing, Jesus made discipleship a central aspect of rediscovering our true identities. As a result, we find ourselves drawn out of the ways of this world and entering into a far grander story, where you are adopted into the family of God as a son and daughter and united with siblings in the Church as a new family. 

As we are made into a disciple, we find that every aspect of our life will be conformed to His image. How does this happen? We grow, as the word disciple in Greek calls us literally to be a “learner” of Jesus. 

How Does Discipleship Encourage Growth?

Discipleship is growing together to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.

We find ourselves continually taking up the posture of a student to learn the way of our great Teacher. And while much of this happens individually, in one’s prayer and devotional time, discipleship is inherently done together.

Jesus doesn’t call individuals; instead, He calls a group of twelve. We see at times that Jesus is focusing specifically on three members of the twelve, and other times expanding that group to seventy-two. He sends them out but always welcomes them back to continue their growth.

It is His method to make them fully devoted, growing in a way that expands their minds to have deeper thoughts of His character, their hearts to have a fuller realization of His love, and their hands to be mobilized into His mission.

What Happens When We Practice Discipleship?

Disciple-making is developing fully devoted followers of Jesus who develop fully devoted followers of Jesus.

Jesus’ final command to us before the Ascension calls us to see a call to discipleship as a call to go. We are to make disciples of all nations—of all the ethnic groups in the world. It is a call that does not pull us out of the world, forming separate communities as safe harbors, but one that provides marching orders into the fallenness of this world with the confidence that God is with us wherever we go.

As we see the brokenness in our relationships, city, nation, and earth, we are sent back into it with the gospel’s good news. Central to the life of a disciple is seeing that Jesus mobilizes His church of disciples for kingdom impact.