What does it mean to be a disciple? We have established the Biblical mandate to make disciples and explored what a disciple is. Essentially, we are to accept the teachings of Christ and assist in spreading those teachings to others because God entrusted us with this mission. So, now we have our mission, how do we make it happen?
In order to spread the teachings of Christ to others we have to enter into relationship with them. Heartland’s Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG), the thing around which we as a community are called to rally, is “To Advance a Discipling Movement in Our City by Inviting Everyone Into a Life-Changing Relationship Over the Next Five Years.” The Strategic Plan and the BHAG are unpacked in greater detail here. Let’s highlight a few things. Heartland’s expression of this mission is through a discipling movement where one person disciples another, and that one disciples another, and that one disciples another, etc. reaching beyond our group, beyond our church community, into our city and beyond.
The word inviting is used very intentionally. We are not trying to sell our specific brand of theology. We are not pushing people to do or believe things they are not ready for. We are extending an invitation, which requires that we are willing to have someone come along side us in our faith walk. This leads us to the phrase “life-changing relationship.” There is that relationship word again. The Apostle Paul tells us how the Apostles did relationship, saying “...Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
This relationship is not so much about a mentor and mentee, but two people (or a group of people) come alongside one another and intentionally and consistently practice four things:
- Abiding...in Jesus as our lead discipler
- Grounding...ourselves in the Bible as the main text
- Shaping...our lives together through prayer
- Committing...to an accountable relationship
Author Greg Ogden writes that, “This intimate, highly invested experience brings together three ingredients that the Holy Spirit will use to form Christ in you: vulnerability, truth and accountability.” (Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ)
Ogden goes on to say that in order to form a true discipling relationship you have to be vulnerable with one another. You have to “open your life in a self-revealing way to other believers, giving permission for the Spirit to work in you.” The truth necessary in this relationship is revealed in God’s word, the Bible. Accountability is huge. Ogden explains that “accountability involves entering into a mutual covenant with others in which you are giving each other authority to hold one another to your commitments.”
To sum it up, two or more people immerse themselves in the Word and meet together regularly to ask one another, “What’s God telling you and what are you going to do about it?”
Which relationship(s) in your life can you become more intentional about, moving from friends or acquaintances to fellow disciples?
