One of the problems we often face is transmitting what we have learned through both experience and study to the next generaton. The next generaton loses widsom and knowledge if it is not properly disseminated. This also pertains to our faith. As faithful servants of Christ, we must with all earnestness seek to share our faith with the generations that follow. We can take comfort in the knowledge that we are not alone, that we do not have to reinvent the wheel, and that we stand upon the shoulders of giants. We also must ask ourselves some questions: what is discipleship? what does it involve? how do we go about this most Godly and honorable endeavor?
Why is discipleship important?
Discipleship is important for a variety of reasons namely because information that is not transmitted, taught, communicated and committed to memory will be lost. This is nothing new. It is important because it is the passing on of eternal truths to others.
10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version Jdg 2:10.
Another generation arose who did not know the Lord! This could not have occurred in the manner that it did if the preceding generation had followed God’s instructions. In Deuteronomy 6:6 God commands His people to do this:
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version Dt 6:6–7.
It is imperative that we today, as Christians, take heed to these same instructions. We should never let our children or the children that God has brought into our lives through our extended family and friends, forget the great things that God has done for us. How He has forgiven us, cleansed us, and given us a hope and a future. We have a duty before God and man to be diligent in discipling those God has called to Himself. The Church is entrusted with this great responsibility and is undertaken with great reverence for the doctrines committed to our care.
Do we dumb down the great tenets of our faith? We must teach to the level of those under our instruction, but we should never neglect to share the amazing truths found in God’s word. His word is the final authority for our faith and practice and should be the very text, a living and vibrant text, that we turn to in our efforts. The doctrines of the Trinity, monotheism, the hypostatic union, justification by faith, God’s amazing grace, substitutionary atonement, the fall of man and the righteousness of God must be taught in Sunday School, from the pulpit, bible studies, on the ballfield, at the dinner table, and everywhere that our feet trod.
Mentors
Mentors are essential to discipleship because without them discipleship will not happen or will happen incorrectly. A Godly family is the first and foremost area of discipleship. Parents and guardians are to teach their children what they know of God, how to serve Him, what faith truly is, and how we are to view the world. Parents must know the Scriptures for themselves, know how to critically view our culture in light of God’s Word, and live out their faith before their children. Children are to be trained in the fear and admonition of the Lord and both Fathers and Mothers are entrusted with this responsibility.
Proverbs 1:8–9 (ESV)
8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
9 for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.
God, in His infinite wisdom, also gave the Church pastors and teachers for the edification of the body.
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version Eph 4:11–13.
God commissioned these (shepherds) with teaching and equipping of the saints for the work of ministry. The people in the pews will not likely rise above the level of teaching they receive from the pulpit. A pastor who studies the word, who loves the word, and teaches the word is vital in the discipleship of the church. A starving sheep is no good to themselves or anyone else and cannot be fed by a shepherd who doesn’t know where the pasture is. Paul admonished young Timothy, in 2 Timothy 1:13, to follow the sound pattern of words that he had learned from him. Elders must give milk to the young and meat to the more spiritually mature.
Discipleship points to Christ
True discipleship never points to anyone or anything other than Christ. We lead others but only as we follow Christ ourselves. We take up our cross, deny ourselves, and follow Him, Mt 16:24. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the blessed Trinity, does not speak of himself, but will glorify Christ, John 16:14. When we disciple others, the focus must be on Christ. Far too often, motivational speakers pass themselves off as pastors. They point to themselves, offer self-help speeches, and tickle ears while only giving Christ a passing glance. This must not be so. Christ and Him crucified for our sins. That is the message that ensures a healthy, robust faith for us and future generations. The Apostle Paul said, “Far be it from me to boast to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” and we should emulate Paul here.
Where it begins
The Church is tasked with disciplining the nations, begins with the local church, and moves outward in regard to our spheres of influence. We must not neglect the command to teach those coming behind us to obey all that Christ has commanded. This includes the command to repent and believe. Discipleship begins with a work of the Spirit in the hearts of those being called to Christ and who know the forgiveness of their sins through the preaching of the Gospel. The Gospel is that by which we are saved and that by which we stand in the grace God has so lovingly bestowed upon us.
Discipleship, or mentoring others in the faith, is not teaching people life-hacks, how to make better choices (though making better choices is never a bad thing), or how to have your best life now. It is not about abundance or comfort but is wholly about the faith once delivered to the saints. We must know ourselves and teach others to rest in the finished work of Christ.
Discipleship is hard work, but has eternal rewards.
