In the past year or so I've made several threads in this subforum, though I've frequented CF for over a decade now. I've done so because I hate how hijacked this forum has been by posters offering pseudo-biblical and often outright false teaching on the mechanics of living as a disciple of Christ. This seems to be happening, as far as I can tell, because those posting regularly here receive little to no push back, no critical analysis of, the things they post.
I've been a discipler of men for over three decades now, as well as a teacher and preacher. At my current church, I've served as an Elder for the better part of a decade. I'm not new to the work of discipleship and to knowing and communicating the doctrines and spiritual principles of the faith. Out of this long labouring in discipleship, I can tell you that a great deal of what is posted as spiritual truth/wisdom on this Discipleship subforum is very close to unmitigated gobbledy-gook. A very recent thread OP in this subforum provides an excellent example of what I mean:
"Real Teachers, give The Cross all the Credit.
Listen for this....and when you are hearing....."do this, do that", keep this, keep that law, commandments, self effort, God only saves some..... self effort, self effort, self effort"""" you are not listening to a person who God called to Teach, Preach, Evangelize, Pastor, or be a Missionary."
This same poster, sharply condemning those who tell people to "do this, do that, keep this, keep that law, commandments, self-effort," warning believer's to avoid those who teach such things, writes the following prescription for disciples of Jesus:
"The best place to start your discipleship, subsequent to being born again, is to do 3 things.
1. Keep your mind on Christ, and learn to praise God and study Paul's epistles.
2.) Live each day knowing you are going to eventually meet Jesus, and Jesus is going to ask you....>"What have you done in my Body". What did you do for me, after you were saved, and from that day till NOW. ?????...Discipleship....is what you do for God and Christ,
3.) Find a good New Testament Teacher...So, find a good Teacher, and get your Pauline Theology together,...Learn to HEAR this, Reader...
All of the things I've underlined contain verbs - action words - prescribing for believers things they are to do. This poster, though, warned that those who do this, "who tell people do this, do that" are not called by God to teach, preach, evangelize, pastor or serve as a missionary! Why, then, is he attempting to do the very thing he says disqualifies a person from being a teacher? Do you, reader, see the self-contradictory character of such teaching? I hope so. There's a great deal of this very careless thinking and handling of God's word on this subforum. Beware!
What is discipleship? Here's a bare-bones, scriptural answer to this question:
Emulation is a crucial, primary aspect of discipleship, not of the one discipling, but of Christ. (Ro. 8:29)
Matthew 10:24-25
24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master...
Luke 6:40
40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.
Romans 8:29
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
1 Peter 2:21
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
2 Timothy 2:2
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
I. Conditions of Discipleship.
Matthew 10:37-39
37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Matthew 16:24-25
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Luke 14:33
33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
The basic idea here is that the disciple of Christ has an “all-in” attitude, a commitment to following Christ before and above all else, no matter the cost. This attitude to discipleship is vital, for, as Christ points out here, the cost is high. One must daily embrace the crucified life, denying one’s self for the sake of Christ, which is the sole avenue to the joyful, fruitful life of fellowship with God.
John 8:31-32
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
A growing knowledge of Scripture is essential to discipleship (Psalms 1; Psalms 119:105; Psalms 119:11; Matthew 4:4; Philippians 4:8; 1 Peter 2:2, etc.). It is not knowledge alone that is the goal of discipleship, however, but “abiding” in it. That is, immersing one’s self in God’s word through memorization, meditation, study and obedience to it. As Jesus explains here, doing so is key to being free – free of the power of the World, the Flesh, and the devil, and free to live in the holy, Christ-centered way God intends we all should live.
II. How is Discipleship accomplished?
Jesus discipled by:
1.) Teaching.
Matthew 5:1-2 (NKJV)
1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.
2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them...
2.) Demonstration.
1 Peter 2:21
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps...
Providing opportunity for emulation.
3.) Luke 10:1-9
III. Discipleship is the necessary next step after salvation.
Hebrews 5:12-14
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
IV. Replication.
2 Timothy 2:2
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
Discipleship has not been truly accomplished if replication is not the result. At the end of a course of discipleship, the disciplee ought to be able to disciple another in turn.
I've been a discipler of men for over three decades now, as well as a teacher and preacher. At my current church, I've served as an Elder for the better part of a decade. I'm not new to the work of discipleship and to knowing and communicating the doctrines and spiritual principles of the faith. Out of this long labouring in discipleship, I can tell you that a great deal of what is posted as spiritual truth/wisdom on this Discipleship subforum is very close to unmitigated gobbledy-gook. A very recent thread OP in this subforum provides an excellent example of what I mean:
"Real Teachers, give The Cross all the Credit.
Listen for this....and when you are hearing....."do this, do that", keep this, keep that law, commandments, self effort, God only saves some..... self effort, self effort, self effort"""" you are not listening to a person who God called to Teach, Preach, Evangelize, Pastor, or be a Missionary."
This same poster, sharply condemning those who tell people to "do this, do that, keep this, keep that law, commandments, self-effort," warning believer's to avoid those who teach such things, writes the following prescription for disciples of Jesus:
"The best place to start your discipleship, subsequent to being born again, is to do 3 things.
1. Keep your mind on Christ, and learn to praise God and study Paul's epistles.
2.) Live each day knowing you are going to eventually meet Jesus, and Jesus is going to ask you....>"What have you done in my Body". What did you do for me, after you were saved, and from that day till NOW. ?????...Discipleship....is what you do for God and Christ,
3.) Find a good New Testament Teacher...So, find a good Teacher, and get your Pauline Theology together,...Learn to HEAR this, Reader...
All of the things I've underlined contain verbs - action words - prescribing for believers things they are to do. This poster, though, warned that those who do this, "who tell people do this, do that" are not called by God to teach, preach, evangelize, pastor or serve as a missionary! Why, then, is he attempting to do the very thing he says disqualifies a person from being a teacher? Do you, reader, see the self-contradictory character of such teaching? I hope so. There's a great deal of this very careless thinking and handling of God's word on this subforum. Beware!
What is discipleship? Here's a bare-bones, scriptural answer to this question:
Emulation is a crucial, primary aspect of discipleship, not of the one discipling, but of Christ. (Ro. 8:29)
Matthew 10:24-25
24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master...
Luke 6:40
40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.
Romans 8:29
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
1 Peter 2:21
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
2 Timothy 2:2
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
I. Conditions of Discipleship.
Matthew 10:37-39
37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Matthew 16:24-25
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Luke 14:33
33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
The basic idea here is that the disciple of Christ has an “all-in” attitude, a commitment to following Christ before and above all else, no matter the cost. This attitude to discipleship is vital, for, as Christ points out here, the cost is high. One must daily embrace the crucified life, denying one’s self for the sake of Christ, which is the sole avenue to the joyful, fruitful life of fellowship with God.
John 8:31-32
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
A growing knowledge of Scripture is essential to discipleship (Psalms 1; Psalms 119:105; Psalms 119:11; Matthew 4:4; Philippians 4:8; 1 Peter 2:2, etc.). It is not knowledge alone that is the goal of discipleship, however, but “abiding” in it. That is, immersing one’s self in God’s word through memorization, meditation, study and obedience to it. As Jesus explains here, doing so is key to being free – free of the power of the World, the Flesh, and the devil, and free to live in the holy, Christ-centered way God intends we all should live.
II. How is Discipleship accomplished?
Jesus discipled by:
1.) Teaching.
Matthew 5:1-2 (NKJV)
1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.
2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them...
2.) Demonstration.
1 Peter 2:21
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps...
Providing opportunity for emulation.
3.) Luke 10:1-9
III. Discipleship is the necessary next step after salvation.
Hebrews 5:12-14
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
IV. Replication.
2 Timothy 2:2
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
Discipleship has not been truly accomplished if replication is not the result. At the end of a course of discipleship, the disciplee ought to be able to disciple another in turn.