From INHERITANCE Issue #4 - Winter 2009

The Gospel message is truly amazing. How humbling it is to know that our heavenly Father by His grace sent His Son to die for wretched sinners like us. For those of us who trust in Jesus Christ as our perfect substitute and embrace Him as Savior and Lord, our sins have been forgiven and we share in Christ’s righteous and holy standing before God the Father.

But until our reunion with Christ in heaven, we will continue to struggle with sin, waging war daily against the devil, the world, and most of all our own sinful flesh.

It is evident that we cannot live a godly life on our own strength. We need help. The Holy Spirit is our ultimate source of transformation, yet God chooses to use people to accomplish His great purposes.

Paul Tripp, a Christian counselor and author, writes in Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change that "God transforms people's lives as people bring his Word to others" (21).

The Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, convicts our hearts and changes us. Tripp also reminds us that we are Christ's ambassadors and “it's not just what we say that God uses to encourage change in people; it's also who we are and what we do" (134). Of the numerous contexts in which believers may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, my focus here will be within the personal discipleship relationship.

The Command for Discipleship
In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), Jesus calls believers to "make disciples of all nations." This command does not consist of only proclaiming the Gospel but also making disciples of Him. We are to impact believers in such a way that they grow in their love for Christ and understanding of what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus, living for Him and His glory alone.

Believers must understand that a life devoted to following Christ is not only one that embraces Jesus as Savior but also one that bows the knee before Him as Lord and King.

Most of us have certain perceptions and assumptions of what discipleship entails. Some of us may think of it as a mere friendship shared between two believers who hang out regularly. Others may view discipleship as a formal interaction in which the discipler preaches at his disciplee, dictating their decisions and choices in life.

Scripture is clear in its description of discipleship, and as we grow in our understanding of God’s Word, we can obtain a biblical perspective on what it truly is. Discipleship is a unique tool that the Lord uses to sanctify, or purify, His children.

Passages of Scripture that clearly encourage discipleship amongst believers include the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples (Luke 6:12-16), Paul and Timothy (1 Tim. 1:2), as well as the command for older men and women to teach those younger than them the ways of the Lord (Titus 2:2-8).

Examples of Discipleship
Jesus Christ is our greatest example of a discipler. During His earthly ministry, He invested in the lives of twelve men. Though His disciples had their wealth of shortcomings, Jesus faithfully loved them and patiently instructed them in the ways of the Lord. As a result of Jesus’ ministry, the disciples were able to continue the legacy of discipling other men for the advancement of the Gospel.

Another valuable picture of discipleship is the example of Paul and Timothy. Paul called Timothy his “true child in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2), taking him under his wing and constantly encouraging him to live in light of the Gospel and God’s glory. In his last letter to Timothy, Paul wrote, "the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2). Even with his impending death, Paul’s charge to Timothy expressed the necessity of entrusting the word of God, especially the Gospel, to others who would faithfully cherish and proclaim it.

In Titus 2:2-8 we see that the Lord commands older and more spiritually mature men and women to teach those who are younger in their faith, instructing them in the Word so that they might live for God’s glory. Ultimately all things, including discipleship, exist to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31). The discipler is usually, though not always, older in age as well, which proves to be helpful in shepherding someone through a lifestage that they themselves have experienced, such as marriage or childrearing.

From these examples in Scripture, it is clear that discipleship is essentially comprised of three aspects – love between believers, instruction from the Word of God, and the example of older and more spiritually mature saints. Because Scripture encourages discipleship relationships, we should desire to participate in it.

Benefits of Discipleship
One of the benefits of a discipleship relationship is the personal interaction that comes from meeting in a smaller, more intimate setting. This relationship can be specifically tailored in such a way that is helpful and advantageous for the lives of those involved.

A discipleship relationship allows opportunities for both participants to share their joys and struggles, and their difficulties and triumphs. The discipler may recognize and pinpoint areas of heart change that are necessary for spiritual growth in their disciplee.

This proves to be invaluable as we may be blinded to our own sins and lose sight of the most important issue – the heart, which is the focus of our Lord (1 Samuel 16:7).

A Divine Coincidence
I was blessed to have been discipled during my college years by my sister in Christ, Naomi Yu. We first met through a campus ministry called Asian American Christian Fellowship during the winter quarter of my first year (Naomi’s third year) at University of California, San Diego.

We bonded quickly after discovering that both of us owned Cheetah-brand basketball shorts. I didn’t know anyone else outside of my family that wore them! There was an instant connection, and believe it or not, that is how our friendship began.

After we became better acquainted, Naomi took the initiative and asked if I would like to meet with her for discipleship purposes. I gladly agreed because I was aware of her love for God and her desire to help others grow spiritually. She was pivotal in my transition to college as she faithfully spent time with me every week.

Our discipleship meetings lasted for hours as we enjoyed "playing and praying" together. “Playing” referred to doing recreational activities together, playing basketball (while wearing our Cheetah-brand shorts), swimming, hiking, etc. “Praying” encompassed the time we spent in reading and studying Christian books together, sharing our thoughts and lives with one another, and lifting one another up in prayer before the Lord.

Joys of Discipleship
What I cherish most about our discipleship time was the impact that Naomi had in my life as she came alongside me and encouraged me to grow in my understanding and love of the Lord.

I appreciate the unhurried time that was spent reflecting on the truths that the Lord was teaching us individually as well as what was going on in our lives. She would often ask me questions to see how things were going, follow up on areas that I had been struggling with, keep me accountable with my spiritual disciplines, as well as lift me up in prayer. 

She eagerly listened as I shared joys and burdens that the Lord had brought into my life, and I am grateful for her support and care through the ups and downs. I especially treasured our times of prayer together, knowing that the Lord is faithful to transform us into women who love Him more and more each day.

Through our discipleship, I experienced much of Naomi’s love for me, grew in my knowledge and understanding of God’s Word, and learned from her example of how she lived out her Christian life throughout her college years.

By God’s grace, Naomi continues to tirelessly serve the Lord and spend much of her time investing in the lives of those around her. She has been a blessing to many as she strives to live out the Gospel every day.

Having been tremendously blessed through my discipleship with Naomi, I followed in her footsteps and discipled a younger sister in Christ during my last year of college.

I praise God that our discipleship relationship very naturally blossomed into a close friendship through our times of meeting together. Though the season of discipleship eventually came to an end, Naomi still remains one of my dearest and closest friends.

We may not have as many opportunities to “play and pray” like we used to, but God has been faithful in preserving our friendship through the years and growing us in our love for Him.

May we all follow in our Lord’s example of participating in a discipleship relationship, whether as the discipler or the disciplee, for His glory and our good.