The Mandate of Discipleship - Introduction

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The Mandate of Discipleship

Going from being a disciple to making disciples (Matthew 28:18-20)

Introduction

Our theme verses for MIF: 2019 are from Matthew 28:18-20: "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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, 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.”

While every disciple is a believer, not every believer is necessarily living like a disciple. The question that needs to be answered is, “What is a disciple of Jesus Christ and what does one look like?” Many may think that the term disciple refers only to the early followers of Christ or to an extra-spiritual Christian, a next-step-up Christian! But God still desires and expects every Christian to be a disciple today.

The word “disciple” is used at least 261 times in the Greek New Testament, appearing only in the gospels and Acts. The Christian experience of the first-century church may seem radical to many in the church today, but to those early believers, being a disciple was normal Christianity. They were empowered and motivated by the Holy Spirit, and they turned their world upside down for the sake of Christ. They were true disciples of Jesus Christ.

The questions we want to delve into this week are these:

• “What are the requirements of being a disciple?”
• “What are the features and the daily disciplines of a true disciple?”
• “How does a disciple become a disciple-maker?”

T.H.

Article series: Discipleship - Missions in Focus 2019