Why we believe discipleship is important for the Christian
It is God’s intention for all Christians, regardless of their stage in life, background, or culture, to move forward in maturity and to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
We must, if we are going to be serious about discipleship, commit ourselves to a disciplined kind of life. That means doing things like praying, reading and memorizing Scripture, sharing our faith, and studying God’s Word, even when we don’t feel like it.
“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7-8).
We have the privilege of playing powerful roles in the journeys of our brothers and sisters. God intends not only that we have friends among believers, but that we are actively involved with someone who is discipling us and then someone or a group of people that we are discipling.
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” (Ephesians 4:15).
Replication is the responsibility of every Christian. In other words, we were meant to be disciples who make disciples, who make disciples.
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2).
God’s will for our lives is not only that we make converts, but that we make disciples. It’s not only that we see people born again, but that we see them matured into disciple-making Christians.
Join us at HOPE Baptist so that we can grow in your personal walk with Christ and then enable you to do the same for someone else.