Call to Make Disciples
Invite us to co-design with you a discipleship paradigm, strategy, and plan for your unique context!
Like the early disciples, today disciples are apprentices of Jesus (Dallas Willard)… imitating and learning from Jesus who is still alive and active in our world. Like the early disciples of Jesus, disciples today are called to walk in conformity with Christ and His call through a relationship of trust by knowing, following and uniquely serving Him. They are called to bring Christ Jesus’ transformational rule, reign, and resurrection power to bear on all people, places and problems of our broken world. Further, each disciple is called with all other disciples to be Jesus’ physical presence on earth as a member (a crucial part with a function… not a name on a list) of Christ’s body.
Making disciples happens through intentionality and repeated practice of five crucial components:
- Conversion, amendment of life, transformation and baptism into Jesus Christ
- Fluency and Strong Foundation in the Holy Scriptures as the living active Word of God: Jesus’ disciples learned from him by being with Him… 24/7… hearing what He said and watching what He did. We must do the same. We can only know what Jesus said and did through the writings found in the Bible, particularly the Gospels. However the remainder of the Old and New Testament bring focus to the Gospel of Jesus, and provide greater meaning, context, depth, breadth, and understanding of Jesus’ life. In addition through the Scriptures, those trusting in Jesus continue to experience His presence and transformational power because Jesus is still alive.
- Imitation through authentic and intentional relationships: Jesus demonstrated the kingdom life through his words and actions. As disciples, we need to be formed in conformity with Him. We do this through observing the kingdom life of His disciples today who live in relationship with our God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These relationships are characterized by genuine and humble conversation. and in turn, the making of more disciples through modeling Jesus’ life through similar intentional relationships with others.
- Formation through the practice (repetition) of spiritual disciplines: …particularly worship and conversational prayer (talking and listening)… as a means of grace in order to be formed into Jesus’ image
- Equipping and empowering of the Holy Spirit in order to walk in conformity with Christ and His call: …in order to walk in conformity with Christ and His call. Still today, Jesus calls His disciples to know, follow and serve Him. This implies a seeking, listening, revelation of His call for all of life in one’s family, work, community, world, and gathering of believers.
Invite us to design with you a discipleship paradigm, strategy, and plan with these four crucial components!
These components are not a checklist, nor are they a way to earn salvation or our Lord’s love. Salvation is a gift received through trust in our living God and His Son, Jesus.