Simple Discipleship

Simple Disciple

The purpose of the Christian church is to glorify God. The foremost task of the church is to make disciples. Jesus made this fact very clear in what we know as the great commission found in Matthew 28:18-20. His command is to go and make disciples. Paul is also very clear in 2 Corinthians 4:5-10 as to what kind of disciples they were to be making. They and the modern Christian are to be about the business of making disciples of Jesus Christ.

If the goal is to make disciples, it would be fruitful to know what a disciple looks like and how to measure one. According to definitions handed down through the ages, definitions that are in agreement with the Greek word translated disciples, a disciple is a student that adheres to the teaching of his master. Some have said he is one who follows His master. Jesus would agree and defined discipleship in Luke 9:23 when he said, "if any man come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me." Literally there are three commitments disclosed. Jesus also established the measuring rod. In John 15:8 he said, My Father is glorified in this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. A disciple is measured by his fruit and defined in subrogating his will to the will of God, laying his life down daily (taking up a cross) picking up God's life for Him, and going where God wants him to go. The disciples life is a life laid down for Jesus. An illustration might be in order. Men who guard the life of the President of the United States are trained to do what ever necessary to protect his life even if it takes their own. They lay down their life for the president.


In our Acts 14 passage, we can understand that it only took a few months to make disciples in the area where Paul was serving as a missionary. He was only there for about a year and made disciples in several cities. Making a disciple is a short term exercise. Developing into a mature believer is a life long process.