What is Discipleship?
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In Jesus’ last words while on earth, he gave those who had believed and trusted in him the charge to go and make disciples (Matt 28:19). But what did he mean by this? Many know about Jesus on a surface level, but Jesus calls us into something deeper: real and life changing relationship with God and others.
At Mason InterVarsity, we want to be a community that follows Jesus with one another in discipleship relationships where we encourage, equip and challenge one another in love to grow toward maturity in Christ. |
In his book, Discipleship Essentials, Greg Ogden defines being a disciple of Jesus this way: “A disciple is one who responds in faith and obedience to the gracious call to follow Jesus Christ.” Faith is trusting in the promise that all we need we already have in Jesus-- restored relationship and acceptance with God on the basis of Jesus’s righteousness for us. Ogden adds, “Being a disciple is a lifelong process of dying to self while allowing Jesus Christ to come alive in us.” This is seen in the Spirit giving us new joys, desires and delights as we are captivated by the beauty of grace, and in the fight to love and obey Jesus even when our old self pulls us towards sin.
Just like the first disciples, Jesus calls each of us by name, knowing where we are and aware of our hesitations and questions; our doubts, fears, and hopes. It is here, in God’s gracious invitation, that we find the essence of discipleship: “Follow me.” Jesus calls us to learn from him, to acknowledge him as Lord of our life, and to trust him in obedience as he leads us day by day to new depths of joy in him. In discipling relationships we seek to as a community, walk together with one another in trusting Jesus for our identity, purpose, and eternal future as we hold on to the promises of his Word.
Just like the first disciples, Jesus calls each of us by name, knowing where we are and aware of our hesitations and questions; our doubts, fears, and hopes. It is here, in God’s gracious invitation, that we find the essence of discipleship: “Follow me.” Jesus calls us to learn from him, to acknowledge him as Lord of our life, and to trust him in obedience as he leads us day by day to new depths of joy in him. In discipling relationships we seek to as a community, walk together with one another in trusting Jesus for our identity, purpose, and eternal future as we hold on to the promises of his Word.
