Discipleship What Does Mean

to You?

Discipleship is an interesting word. The root word is disciple, meaning a follower of a teacher, leader, philosopher, and for us as believers, Jesus. Most of us are familiar with this definition. Let’s take this one more step. What does it mean to follow? It means going in the same direction with a common goal, to become more like Jesus.

Discipleship is the process of guiding, developing, and leading someone to become Christlike. Process indicates that discipleship is a journey. Molding, changing, transforming are all processes leading us to a deeper and more intimate relationship with Jesus and becoming more like Him in how we live, how we view the world, and how we engage with others in daily living.

What sets missions discipleship apart from discipleship? Missions discipleship weaves God’s missional heart with a Biblical worldview. One can be disciplined, establishing disciplines such as studying, praying, and giving but can miss connecting their part in God’s redemptive plan for all people leading to missional living.

The process of missions discipleship includes building relationships, studying Scripture, striving for obedience, and serving together. This is what Jesus did with the twelve. They were a messy bunch who lived life together. Jesus accepted them as they were and taught them things they did not yet understand. The twelve as well as other significant followers of Jesus changed the world by engaging with others the way He engaged with them.

Who will you engage in missions discipleship?