Why Discipleship?

MAKING DISCIPLES: A COMMAND TO OBEY

As believers in Christ, we have been commanded to “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).

MAKING DISCIPLES: A WORK TO DO

God didn’t just save us from something; He saved us for something. Paul wrote that we are His “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do” (Eph 2:10). When we make disciples, we fulfill the purpose for which we were created and accomplish the good work God has planned for us to do.

MAKING DISCIPLES: A WORLD TO REACH

Malachi 1:11a says, “My name will be great among the nations, from the rising of the sun to its setting.” A prerequisite to Jesus’ return is that His disciples will share the Gospel with all the peoples of the world (Mark 13:10). We are to make Him known to all nations and this is best accomplished by making disciples who will make disciples (2 Tim. 2:2).

MAKING DISCIPLES: A LIFESTYLE TO MODEL

Jesus prayed for those who would be “with Him” and spent more time developing the twelve than He spent with the crowds (Mark 3:14). Jesus didn’t just tell His followers to make disciples; He modeled discipleship for them. If devoting His life to the development of a few was important to Jesus, then it should be important to us! Jesus said, “My Father is glorified by this, that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples” (John 15:5).

Jesus came so that we might have abundant life (John 10:10). A part of the abundant life is the joy of sharing the love of Jesus with others and helping them to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

Here are some important components and facts about our Discipleship Groups:

• Designed for accelerated spiritual formation

• High accountability

• Scripture reading and memorization

• Gender specific, closed groups of 3-5 believers

• Meets weekly or bi-weekly

• Open meeting location (church, coffee shop, restaurants, bookstores, homes, etc…)