Explore Discipleship

Baptism - a public declaration to follow Jesus usually by immersion in a lake, pond, pool, river or tank.

Christ - a translation of the Greek χριστός (chrīstós), meaning "anointed one".

Conversion - a decision to follow Jesus and the spiritual fruit that follows.

Holy Spirit - רוח הקודש - ruarch ha kodesh - the Spirit of God that speaks into, and takes residence in, our lives.

Jesus - יְהוֹשֻׁעַ - yeshuah - a common Hebrew name that was also given to Mary's first son.

Jesus Christ - Jesus the Anointed One.

Messiah - מָשִׁיחַ - Hebrew for the "anointed one"

Repentance - a sincere turning from an old life to a new life in Jesus.

Spiritual fruit  - is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Galations 5:22-23 

Spiritual gifts - a manifestation of The Spirit given to an individual for the benefit of others.  1 Corinthians 12

Jesus did not badger people into saying a sinner's prayer. 
He did not follow a four-minute formula.

Jesus walked beside people and spoke graciously into their lives.

He spoke into their pain and false beliefs.

He demonstrated love.
He performed miracles as evidence of His deity.

He healed the sick. He raised the dead. He cast out demons.
He did not come to condemn the world.  John 3:17
He did not give pressured ultimatums.
He spoke, taught and lived the truth in love.

He invited people to follow Him.

We are called to be Christ-like in our communication of God's love for everyone.

What is “conversion”?

Put simply, a decision to follow Jesus.

A decision to turn from my old life to a new life in Jesus.

How do people come to Jesus?

Some are drawn by God - because he knows their hearts and their pain.

Some have a hunger for truth and walk into a church of their own volition. 

Some are faced with serious trials and they seek refuge in God. They find a loving God who genuinely cares for them.

Some hear the Word of God taught accurately and they grow in understanding.

Some come through friendships with Christians.

Some are proselytized/evangelised.

Why Jesus ?

While Jesus was teaching, he shared with the disciples that he and the Father are one.  In effect he is God incarnate.  He is the physical embodiment of God on earth.

Jesus refers to himself as the 'Son of Man' ... the 'son' of The God Most High - El Elyon - God the Father.  He was born to a woman.  He came as a baby and grew to a man.  He came to live, teach, die and rise again to conquer death.  He essentially paid the price for our selfishness and disobedience and re-opened a direct channel of communication with God.

"The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11  Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves”  John 14:6  … 11. 

Why did Jesus need to die for my sin?

Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.   There is no condemnation for those who walk in His love.

Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sin. He was the perfect sacrifice. A man without blemish.

John chapter 3 says ...  

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Jesus said in John 8:12 "I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life".

People who accept Jesus' mission may say a simple prayer

Some people openly acknowledge God's sovereignty, their sin and their need for Jesus death and resurrection in order to open a living, loving line of communication through the Holy Spirit.

"Father, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to follow you and trust you as my Lord and Savior."

alternatively

"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my heart and mind. Make me the kind of person you want me to be."

But that is only the beginning. 

Most people demonstrate a marked change in character. Their lives are flooded with joy, reverence and repentance. They recognise God's holiness and their need for God's holiness.  Their lives are characterised by a profound reverence, humility and love for others.  Some receive overt gifts of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12)  Some are granted gifts later in life.  Pentecostals call this the “baptism of the Holy Spirit”.

Walking beside new believers is the key element of discipleship. Discipleship takes time.  

All believers demonstrate a marked hunger and respect for God's Word and that's where true discipleship kicks in.  It becomes our privilege to walk beside new believers and share the truth of God's Word and help them grow in understanding of who God is and His commitment to their growth and development

Some may enter into a period of difficult spiritual warfare marked by tension, conflict and even physical pain.  They may need help to navigate the attacks.  They may need deliverance from spirits that have taken residence in their bodies.

If there is evidence of spiritual conflict then seek help from mature believers or head to Neil Andersen's "The Bondage Breaker" to break every chain.

Discipleship demonstrates a genuine love for someone's growth and development in Christ.

The decision to follow Jesus is demonstrated publicly through baptism.

Baptism becomes a powerful anchor-point in the life of a new believer.

Baptism is expressed differently in different churches. Conservative churches, from colder climates, tend to use a sprinkling of water on the forehead.  More relaxed churches, from warmer climates, use full immersion baptism.  

The decision to follow Jesus and subsequently get baptised is one that I make, it's not a decision that my parents can make on my behalf.

The symbolism in baptism is simple ... we die to our old lives and are raised from the water to new life in Christ.

Jesus was baptised by John in the Jordan River.  The story is told by Matthew, Mark and Luke in their respective gospels.  It's a pretty good example to follow.  It's probably what Jesus had in mind when he commissioned his disciples to go and make disciples, baptising them and teaching them all that He commanded.

What then?

Following the spiritual-high of conversion the fruit of The Spirit (Galations 5:22-23) become evident in a believers life - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - AND so does the awareness of the opposition of the evil ones. The evil ones don't like losing ground to God and they step up their opposition.

It's important at this stage to understand the full armor of God and learn to defend against their attacks.

Put on the whole armor of God 

10 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."

Note all those wonderful verbs ...

• Stand firm.

• Fasten the belt of truth

• Put on the breastplate of righteousness

• Put on shoes ready to share the gospel of peace

• Take up the shield of faith

• Take the helmet of salvation

• Take the sword of the Spirit - the Word of God

• Pray at all times in the Spirit

• Stay alert with all perseverance.

Nurturing new disciples to go the distance and disciple others, takes time, love and prayer.  It's not a four minute prayer.

Discipleship is making disciples who go on to make more disciples.

It's what Jesus taught.  It's what his disciples did. 

Believers are often given a spiritual gift for the benefit of other believers.  It is not a gift they can use selfishly for their own edification.  Rather, they become a conduit for God's Spirit to work through them for the benefit of other believers in their community or congregation.

1 Corinthians 12 says it best ...

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

As a discipler we can help newer disciples discover their spiritual gift/s through prayer and blessing.  Spiritual gifts are not like Marvel Comic's super-powers.  Spiritual gifts don't draw attention to me.  Rather they are expressed through loving service to others drawing the beneficiary deeper into their walk of faith.

How do I disciple others?  

Easy:

1.    get to know your bible well and be available for God to use

2.    seek the Spirit's direction and pray for people to nurture

3.    meet with them regularly for coffee, meals, discussion, bible studies and prayer

4.    get to know them and help build their spiritual defences

5.    over time, identify the gifts they've been given

6.    pray for avenues for them to deploy their gifts

7.    teach them to disciple others

and repeat.

It may take 2-5 years to get someone up to speed on God's word and ready to disciple others.

I believe God came to earth

as a man named Jesus,

to tell me he loves me,

to die on the cross for my sin,

and to restore a right relationship

between me and the Father.

I believe He rose from the dead on the third day,

and he ascended into heaven

so that His Holy Spirit can reside in my heart

and lead me into a deeper understanding

of the Father’s love.

I profess Jesus as my Lord and saviour.

I declare that I will love and serve Him

with all my heart,

with all my mind,

with all my soul and

with all my strength.

I commit again today to 

put on the full armour of God and be

the man that God intended me to be,

the father that God intended me to be,

the husband that God intended me to be,

and to live out His love in the wider community

before He comes again.

I believe in God the Father

I believe in God the Son

I believe in God the Holy Spirit

Our God is three in One.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of the saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.