The Established Path of Discipleship

I read something in the current issue of Table Talk magazine that reminded me of a significant principle of discipleship. The subject of the devotional was Acts 4:13, “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” The author of the devotional makes the following observation: “When a person has sat under the teaching of Jesus and absorbed it, others cannot help but notice that the individual’s demeanor and understanding have been transformed.” The theme of the devotional was that if we spend time with Jesus in his Word and in prayer, we will likewise be transformed.

This principle of absorption has a cumulative effect. As we regularly sit under the teaching of the word of God, read and study the word of God, and converse with the Lord in prayer, we absorb godly principles which manifest in our daily living. This should happen in the context of a local church that preaches the gospel, rightly administers the sacraments/ordinances, and practices church discipline.

The principle of absorption has another equally important aspect: the relational. The disciples spent time with Jesus. They sat under the teaching of Jesus and interacted with him for three years, and in doing so, they absorbed his principles into their lives. Jesus made disciples relationally. He knew the disciples, and the disciples knew him. They witnessed his life up close and personal. It was not an antiseptic relationship between a professor and his students.

Public worship, church Bible studies/classes, and sitting under biblical preaching are vital and necessary. They are a component of making disciples but not the only component of making disciples. The relational component of making disciples cannot occur unless mature believers develop relationships with new believers and disciple them in the context of a relationship. They must know each other and spend time together. Through instruction and example, the new believer will absorb the teachings of Christ by being around the more mature believer.

The principle of absorption is also challenging. Perhaps Paul had this principle in mind when he said to the Corinthian church, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). On another occasion, Paul wanted the Thessalonians to absorb his work ethic (2 Thess. 3:7, 9). The author of Hebrews tells us to “remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7). It’s one thing when the Apostle Paul tells believers to imitate him. It’s another thing for us to tell those we disciple to imitate us, but that is precisely the model Scripture presents.

I encourage you not to give up on making disciples. Knowing those we disciple are always looking and listening to us is intimidating. We fear discouraging or giving them the wrong understanding of the Christian life from our behavior. Do not, however, be discouraged. What God has commanded us to do, that is, make disciples (Matt. 28:18-20), he equips us to do. Equally assuring is the promise of Jesus: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).