Are You a TRUE Disciple?

Most teachers and scholars agree that the model for modern discipleship is Jesus and his interaction with the 12 original disciples. But what did he tell them, "right off the bat?" In Matthew 4:19, he tells them, "Follow me and I'll make you fishers of men." Jesus fished for men by drawing them to himself and the Father. He told His disciples to follow or mimic or learn and model their lives after his. So, originally, a disciple was one who reached and taught others.

Are you a disciple?

It's interesting that today, 2000+ years later, discipleship in most churches simply means transferring information. In some few, it might go one step further to mean that the disciples/students/apprentices actually DO what they've learned such that their lives are transformed. But where do we find churches or leaders defining a disciple ONLY as one who actually teaches and helps others to walk the walk of faith? Almost nowhere...yet isn't that what Jesus did/taught?

Let's take this down to the practical level. What if, we didn't define someone as a member/disciple unless they were sharing the faith and the habits of Christian life with at least one other person. So if I lead Shelly to faith, she's not a disciple until she's either led someone else or is in an intentional relationship with someone she's trying to strengthen spiritually. That could be a friend, co-worker, fellow Christian, family member, etc.--anyone, but she's not yet a disciple/follower of Jesus until she's mentoring or helping someone else grow.

Wow--would THAT change the face of Christianity or what?!

The leaders of MPC are prayerfully considering this. While it's hard, the powerful implications of each person helping someone else spiritually excite us. What if everyone had a prayer partner and someone they were helping learn to pray, study the Bible, fast, hear from God, etc.? What if everyone saw it as his/her responsibility to reach others and help them be transformed by God? Can you imagine?

I can...please pray that God will help us make it a reality....

In Jesus,
Pastor Joel