Discipleship #101
What is Discipleship?
Discipleship is not supposed to be complicated. Difficult sometimes,
complicated never. Two thousand years ago, it was so simple that a
carpenter explained it to uneducated fishermen in one sentence
(Matthew 4:19). The fishermen understood it, acted on it, and they
changed the world. If modern discipleship is confusing or complicated, it
is because we have strayed from the biblical principles that Jesus taught
His original disciples.
For Jesus, discipleship was and still is top priority. Yes, He fed the hungry
and healed the sick, but He always gave the twelve disciples His prime
time. His final word to them before He ascended into heaven was a
commission not just to be disciples, but also to make disciples. Like the
original followers of Jesus, we are supposed to be disciples and we are
supposed to make disciples. In other words, we are supposed to follow
Jesus and we are supposed to help others follow Him.
What is a Disciple? Source: Wikipedia
In Christianity, the term disciple primarily refers to dedicated followers
of Jesus. This term is found in the New Testament only in
the Gospels and Acts. In the ancient world a disciple is a follower or
adherent of a teacher. A disciple in the ancient biblical world actively
imitated both the life and teaching of the master. It was a deliberate
apprenticeship which made the fully formed disciple a living copy of the
master.
A Disciple is a follower of Jesus.
A Disciple is someone who hears the words of Jesus and puts
them into practice. John 8:31
To Disciple someone is to help them learn to follow Jesus.
DISCIPLESHIP BEGINS IN THE HEART OF GOD
1. God’s will be that none should perish.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
(John 3:16) KJV
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance.
(II Peter 3:9KJV)
2. God’s ways are perfect.
“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 18:30)
3. God’s plan for salvation was sending His son, Jesus, to die for our sins
and to have this good news spread by making disciples.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
(Matthew 28:19)
UNDERSTANDING DISCIPLESHIP
1. Once we capture God’s heart for the lost, Discipleship must start in our
hearts also.
1 Thessalonians 2:8
“So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto
you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto
us.”
2. Discipleship begins with the lost, not the found. It begins with
engaging lost people.
3. The goal of discipleship is to help others become strong followers of
Jesus Christ, which happens through relationship. It’s a way of life, not
facts to be memorized. Paul had this attitude when writing to Timothy:
2 Timothy 1:13
“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love
which is in Christ Jesus.”
WHAT IS THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP?
Matthew 4:18-20
18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter,
and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
1. Discipleship is a call to follow Christ.
Bethel School of Discipleship Student Notes
Discipleship 1 Revision: August 8, 2020 Page 3 of 6
Discipleship is a whole-life submission to Jesus.
2. Discipleship is a call to fish for men.
3. Discipleship is a call to fellowship with others
THE APOSTOLIC MANDATE
1. Jesus’s final mandate to His followers was to “Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19-20)
2. We call this mandate Christ gave us the “Great Commission” or the
“The Apostolic Mandate.”
The Apostolic Mandate is not an activity reserved for a few
anointed people. It is a description of the life purpose of every
believer. It is the essence of discipleship.
For discussion: Is there anything new you have learned about
discipleship? Has your perspective changed in any way about
discipleship? If so, how?
HOW DO WE PRACTICALLY DISCIPLE OTHERS?
Engaging the Lost
Establishing Spiritual Foundations
Equipping to minister
Empowering to make disciples
Bethel School of Discipleship Student Notes
Discipleship 1 Revision: August 8, 2020 Page 4 of 6
ENGAGE
Why: Understanding God’s heart for lost people
How: Engage Culture and Community
GOD’S HEART: The 99 and the 1
Luke 15:4-7
4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave
the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find
it?
5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying
unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth,
more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
The point of the story is:
1. Do not spend all your time and energy with the ninety-nine.
Go after the lost one.
2. Value is determined by the price one is willing to pay. God paid
the ultimate price to redeem lost souls. Since God places such a
high value on lost people, we must learn to see all people the way
He sees them. (John 3:16; Luke 19:10)
3. Showing compassion to people who do not know Christ is a
foundational discipleship principle.
Matthew 9:36
When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they
were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
HOW: ENGAGE CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
1. Because people are valuable to God, we must intentionally and
strategically engage our culture and community.
2. We undergird this process of engaging culture and community with
prayer. We should pray for ourselves that God would give us…
open doors. (Colossians 4:2-6)
wisdom. (Proverbs 11:30)
boldness. (Ephesians 6:19-20)
miracles. (Acts 4:29-30)
Bethel School of Discipleship Student Notes
Discipleship 1 Revision: August 8, 2020 Page 5 of 6
3. We are to pray for unbelievers that…
God would open their eyes. (II Corinthians 4:4-6)
They would be convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit. (John 16:8-11)
Demonic forces would be bound. (Matthew 12:25-29)
EVANGELISM IS A CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP AND DISCIPLESHIP IS A
CALL TO EVANGELISM
1. There is an inseparable relationship between following God and
reaching the lost.
Matthew reached out to his friends immediately after he decided
to follow Christ. (Matthew 9:9-10)
Andrew talked with Simon immediately after he decided to follow
Christ. (John 1:41-42)
Philip found Nathaniel immediately after he decided to follow
Christ. (John 1:45)
Paul began to preach immediately after he decided to follow
Christ. (Acts 9:20)
2. When Jesus told His followers to make disciples, He was calling them to
reach the lost, not to help His followers become better followers.
FIVE BIBLICAL ATTITUDES TOWARD THE LOST
1. An attitude of reconciliation. (II Corinthians 5:18-19)
2. An attitude of an ambassador. (II Corinthians 5:20)
3. An attitude of compassion. (Matthew 9:36-38)
4. An attitude of boldness. (Ephesians 6:19)
5. An attitude of urgency. (Luke 4:43)
For discussion:
Do you spend more time engaging the 99 or the 1? Why? What
action step can you take immediately to begin to increase the
amount of time you spend engaging the lost?
Which of the five biblical attitudes towards the lost that were
discussed do you find the most difficult to exude? What is a
practical step you can take this week to exercise that attitude
towards someone who is lost?
Bethel School of Discipleship Student Notes
Discipleship 1 Revision: August 8, 2020 Page 6 of 6
Homework:
1. Pray. Ask God to put one person on your heart to reach out to.
Write down a brief plan of action to reach out to that person
below.
2. Memorize the Gospel message: The Gospel is the good news that
God became man in Jesus Christ. He lived the life we should have
lived and died the death we should have died…in our place. Three
days later, he rose from the dead, proving that he is the Son of
God and offering the gift of salvation for all who repent and
believe in the Gospel.
3. Write out the following promises God gives his children in
Scripture:
II Corinthians 5:17
I John 1:9
Romans 10:9-10
Psalm 103:12
