The following are Pete B's notes.
A Vision for Discipleship :: A Culture of Discipleship
Discipleship is a key value for us in Barlanark, but what is it?
Firstly, a Christian is a disciple, a follower of Jesus. So discipleship is following Jesus, growing as a Christian.
John Piper says this about discipleship:
“So I think what is important is not the terminology, but the reality. People need to become Christians and people need to be taught how to think and feel and act as a Christian. That is, a disciple, a follower of Jesus, one who embraces him as Lord and Savior and Treasure.”
So, discipleship is about learning how to live for Jesus, in our thoughts, feelings and actions.
One way or another we’re going to teach each other what it looks like to live for Jesus, by the way we share our thoughts, feelings and actions. It’s inevitable that in a church we will influence each other, so we want to be intentional about how we do it.
Back at our ‘Vision Day’ in January we looked at what Jesus said it meant to be a disciple:
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27
People die on crosses, so Jesus called his followers to die to themselves, and follow him. He meant that his followers, his disciples should let go of everything, and follow him.
‘Let go. Follow Jesus.’
That’s the start point, but what next? After leaving everything behind, what do his followers do next?
Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is, Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31
Jesus made it clear and simple: Love God, love others.
This then, is the heart of our discipleship. We want to encourage each other to love God and love others.
‘Let go. Follow Jesus. Love God. Love others.’
“Churches don’t need programs so much as they need cultures of discipling, cultures where each member prioritises the spiritual health of others.” Mark Dever
Often discipleship is seen as something for certain folks in a church, maybe the super serious Christians who love to learn, or maybe it’s a program for people who are particularly struggling, maybe with addictions or something. But really, discipleship in it’s simple form looks like a church loving each other and helping each other follow Jesus.
In Hope Community Church Barlanark we want to have a culture of discipleship, a culture of love and care for each member, helping each other to know Jesus, and make Him known.
In Romans 12 Paul paints an immense picture of what that looks like.
Paul starts in the first couple of verses by calling Christians to give their whole lives to God in light of what he’s done for them.
In v3-8 we’ve got a picture of a body working together, with different parts that have different functions, that work together for the good of the whole body. It’s a picture of a church, where each member works together using whatever skills and gifts God has given them to work together in unity for the benefit of the whole church.
Then Paul goes on, in v9-21 to show what a culture of love looks like, with loads of practical examples.
- Let love be genuine (v9)
- Love one as family (v10)
- Share hospitality (v13)
- Get along with each other (v16)
- Don’t look for revenge (v19)
Reading this chapter should rebuke us, I know as I read through it that I fall way short in many of these things. But while it should rebuke us, it should also inspire us and encourage us to be this kind of people and this kind of church.
It’s not a tick box exercise. We don’t just make a list and try and do all these ‘loving things’. The point is this is what a culture of love looks like. This is what giving our whole lives to God looks like. This is what loving God and loving others looks like. And it’s all in light of what God has done in sending Jesus to give his life so that his people would be saved.
I’d love to be part of that kind of community of people, of that kind of church, wouldn’t you?!