What is Discipling?

Tuesday, February 13th, 2007 | discipleship

In my Christian Missions class my professor, Dr. Greenham, said something that really made me think about a question I have been asking myself:

How do I disciple someone else?

Dr. Greenham claims the answer is in the Great Commission:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. - Matthew 28:19-20

There is only one imperative (command) in these verses, disciple. There are three participles, going, baptizing, and teaching. The answer to the question, “How do I disciple someone else?” is by going, baptizing, and teaching them. Could it be this simple? Have I been missing the obvious answer this whole time?

What do you think?

4 Comments to What is Discipling?

Alan Knox
February 13, 2007

Lew,

With all respect to Dr. Greenham, I think he (and most of the church) is missing something. “Going, baptizing, and teaching” is not the extent of disciple making, but the beginning. I’ve been working on a series on “disciple making”, and I’ll post the third installment later this week (Part 1 and Part 2). In short, disciple making includes teaching, but it should also include sharing your life with someone so that they can “see” what it means to follow Jesus.

I’m afraid that our focus on teaching has caused us to be a generation of students (that is, people who like to sit and listen) with very few Christ followers (that is, people who actually do what Jesus did).

-Alan

Heather
February 13, 2007

I’m just going to repeat what Alan said:

“In short, disciple making includes teaching, but it should also include sharing your life with someone so that they can “see” what it means to follow Jesus.

I’m afraid that our focus on teaching has caused us to be a generation of students (that is, people who like to sit and listen) with very few Christ followers (that is, people who actually do what Jesus did).”

To me, this is what disciple making is … sharing your life with another person so that they can see what following Jesus means. I have had the honor and privilege to both be discipled and to disciple. In those cases (mine and others) it extended so much further than teaching.

Perhaps we have a misunderstanding of the word “teaching” in this passage … perhaps that is what Jesus was implying - sharing your life with someone - what better way to teach!

~Heather

Lew A
February 14, 2007

Alan & Heather,

Thanks for the comments. You have made some very good points.

I probably should have made myself a little more clear. When I talk about teaching - I do not envision a guy standing behind a pulpit talking to a large group of people. I guess I envision something like a blog Alan once wrote called Discipleship and a lawn mower.

I believe this type of teaching is the same type that comes from sharing your life with someone (anyone).

Anyways, thanks again for the great comments.

Lew

Alan Knox
February 14, 2007

Lew,

I think you’re right. When we think of “teaching” we think of a purely intellectual exercise. I think “teach” was much more holistic for Jesus and Paul.

-Alan

Leave a comment

Search

Categories