Why Discipleship? (part III)

Discipleship is the way in which people and the church as a body grow concurrently.

We are called to discipleship because it is the way in which the church grows. It is Biblically mandated, as well as shown in examples throughout scripture and the secular world. Hebrews 10:24 says “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Ephesians 4:11-13 says that God gave each one of God’s people individual gifts, for the benefit of the body, “so that the body of Christ might be build up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Romans 15:1-2 tells us “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” In the same way that Deuteronomy 6:7 commands parents to speak of the Lord’s decrees to their children and instruct them in the ways in which they should go, we too are called to holy admonition of one another. In other words, the role of each member of the body is to strengthen, train, and build up the other members of the body. Furthermore, those who are stronger are called to bear up the weaknesses of the weaker.

Discipleship leadership and growth is also demonstrated through scripture: Joshua learned from Moses, Elisha trailed Elijah for years, Jesus led his twelve disciples, Paul trained Timothy and together they led the churches. Even in secular community, parents raise their children, training them in the ways in which they should go; doctors have residency; successful politicians have mentors; and graduate students have doctoral advisors. Discipleship, or the act of relational growing, is not only scripturally mandated and essential to the person of Christ, but is also the way in which we were designed to grow.

Without discipleship, the growth of the church stagnates, or, as Bonhoeffer said, is Christianity without Christ.