Discipleship! What is it?
In our modern times we can liken it to an apprentiship in the Bible, though it is refered to as discipleship. A disciple is one who learns from someone who has more experience than themselves eg: an apprentice electician will learn from a qualified electritian, who is the one who knows and has experience about that trade that is why he is classed as 'qualified.'
Is Discipleship Biblical?
Absolutly!
For discipleship we need a teacher or instructor and a learner or a pupil. Throughout the Bible we see that Jesus is called Teacher which is often translated Master and means, instructor he is also called Rabbi which is a title used by Jews to address their teacher. Here are a few references: John 1:38, John 3:1-2, Matthew 8:19, Matthew 9:11, Mark 12:14.
In many places we find not only the disciples calling Jesus by these titles but we see the other Jewish leaders using the same terms for him. Matthew 12:38, Mark 12:13-14. We also see the Jewish leaders acknowledging that Jesus had disciples.
Matthew 9:11, Luke 19:39,
The whole purpose of having a teacher or discipleship relationship was to educate someone so they could become 'qualified' and then be able to go and do the same and make their own disciples. Which is what we see in
Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen"
He is saying I have taught you, now I want you to go teach others, copy what I have demonstrated to you. Discipleship, like an apprentiship is not just sitting in a classroom reading a heap of books and answering questions. It is not about knowing information (that is a part) but its about doing the do. Jesus didnt give 10 point sermons on healing, he showed the disciples how it was done and then got them to do it for themselves.
This is why many Christians live a defeated and ineffective life. They have not been discipled. If you are intrested in knowing more about discipleship you can contact us on our Contact Us page.
For discipleship we need a teacher or instructor and a learner or a pupil. Throughout the Bible we see that Jesus is called Teacher which is often translated Master and means, instructor he is also called Rabbi which is a title used by Jews to address their teacher. Here are a few references: John 1:38, John 3:1-2, Matthew 8:19, Matthew 9:11, Mark 12:14.
In many places we find not only the disciples calling Jesus by these titles but we see the other Jewish leaders using the same terms for him. Matthew 12:38, Mark 12:13-14. We also see the Jewish leaders acknowledging that Jesus had disciples.
Matthew 9:11, Luke 19:39,
The whole purpose of having a teacher or discipleship relationship was to educate someone so they could become 'qualified' and then be able to go and do the same and make their own disciples. Which is what we see in
Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen"
He is saying I have taught you, now I want you to go teach others, copy what I have demonstrated to you. Discipleship, like an apprentiship is not just sitting in a classroom reading a heap of books and answering questions. It is not about knowing information (that is a part) but its about doing the do. Jesus didnt give 10 point sermons on healing, he showed the disciples how it was done and then got them to do it for themselves.
This is why many Christians live a defeated and ineffective life. They have not been discipled. If you are intrested in knowing more about discipleship you can contact us on our Contact Us page.