Christian Discipleship
Walking With You As You Walk With Jesus
Walking With You As You Walk With Jesus
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their soul? Indeed, what can they give in return for their soul? - Mark 8:34-37
What does being a disciple or follower of Jesus mean? If you are a Christian, and have been saved by faith, who are you?
Given my background in philosophy I like to make sure I understand the concepts that I am looking into fully before studying them. In this case we are looking at discipleship so it is helpful to ask what is discipleship before moving forward. So what is discipleship?
At its heart being a disciple of Jesus means ...
... learning what Jesus taught and doing it.
The concept is simple to understand but for many people like myself it was much harder to do. Instead of fumbling about in the dark like I did I hope the following information can help you know and do Christ's will.
Once you understand what discipleship is, you should learn the basics.As a Christian you are according to the Bible 'born again' and 'a new creature'. For motivation and a clear understanding of your calling as a follower of Jesus, learn who you are in Christ.
When you are down, or have made mistakes, remembering who you are in Christ and the promises God has made to you can help cheer you up and motivate you to continue on.
Yes.
You should be fully aware of these before they happen. Knowing and understanding the costs of discipleship will help prepare you for any hard times and make you more thankful in the good times.
And never forget the positive consequences to following Jesus. The grass is greener on this side and life is better.
Any successful look at Christian discipleship will be based on the Biblical view of discipleship. A good portion of the beginning Christian's task will be learning the bible and developing your Christian worldview.
You will continuously be learning more about how to live as a Christian and what it means to be saved. But you then have to take this knowledge and turn it into action. Your general actions and your ministry will be guided by your obedience to God's will.
...through prayer.
Learning how to pray is not too difficult. Actually taking the time to pray can be more difficult but it is a very important discipline. Plus as a follower of Christ you should be looking forward to spending time with God.
While you should not obsess over tools and techniques, there are some tools that may make it easier for you to listen and obey God. One in particular has been very handy for me. Learn what it is and how to use it.