Reflecting on Values: Christian Discipleship for All Ages

by Alice Beltran

What is a disciple? – a follower, one who subscribes to the teachings of a master and assists in spreading them. Therefore a disciple must also be a learner who spreads what he has learned.

So a Christian disciple would be follower of Christ.

When I think of “Christian Discipleship”, the first Biblical story that comes to mind is Matthew 4:18:

“When Jesus Christ was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon Peter & Andrew fishing and Jesus’ invitation to them was “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Going a little farther Jesus saw James and John, sons of Zebedee. – Jesus called and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him”.

Since we are also Disciples of Christ we have also been “called” to follow Jesus. Recall also Matthew 28:18-20:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus says “come follow me” and he also says to us “Go and make disciples”. Both words, ‘come’ and ‘go’, necessitate action. They require movement.

But some of us say “I am not equipped”, “I am too shy”, “I am not good with words”.

Recall in Jeremiah 1 when the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying- “I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”  Jeremiah responded, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.”  The Lord said, “Do not say, I am only a child, you must go to everyone I send you to—do not be afraid, for I AM WITH YOU.”

And Psalm 119:105 tells us “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

So how do we  go about making disciples here at Faith?

Trusting that God is truly present as He was with Jeremiah and Scripture is truly God’s Word as the Psalm says, we make disciples through our Sunday School, youth and college-age groups, adult Bible classes throughout the week, and our Christian Preschool that operates 5 days of the week.

These are not just classes but communities within our larger church body where we learn and grow and are reminded to ‘Go’…to take what we learn and share it with those we encounter in our daily lives.

So I encourage you to participate in making disciples here, teach a class, participate in a group, or suggest an innovative way to even better promote making disciples.

Let’s participate, support, have a hands-on experience and especially pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and God’s blessing on all our efforts.