The discipleship process
"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to keep all that I have commanded you. And, behold, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world ” (Matthew 28: 18-20).
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In the Huskirke project, we provide a series of exercises in the biblical basis for making disciples of all nations. Based on Jesus' method of discipleship, we review how Jesus took a bunch of ordinary men and trained them to follow him - and in doing the same with others. We call it
"The Discipleship Process - From Fisherman to Preacher".
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With respect for the fact that God works in many ways and that all people have a personal journey with God, there are also in the Bible some characteristics of the spiritual development that Jesus' disciples go through, and which we believe is an example to follow - for us who seek to follow him:
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"He that followeth me shall never walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12).
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The discipleship process is based partly on training from Onward ( read more) and partly on two major works in the literature on discipleship: The Discipleship Gospel, by Bill Hull, and Robert Coleman's "The Masterplan of Evangelism".
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Discipleship - A supernatural process
It is clear from the Bible that the discipleship process is a supernatural process. That is, it is not something we can do on our own. God works through the Holy Spirit from beginning to end in people who go through a process of transformation, believing in and following Jesus. Transformation is not something that lies in human power, but only in the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Small steps in faith
In short, the process is very simple, in that people take small steps to follow Jesus, and God he does the rest. The Holy Spirit leads the process and guides us, and Jesus is our goal and he we fix our gaze on (Hebrews 12: 2).
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A matter of focus - not time
Although there is often a certain time aspect to the discipleship process, time is not the only or most important factor in the spiritual development from fisherman to preacher. All too often one sees older Christians who are babies in the faith and who have not reached that far in the process, even after decades. It's most of all about setting. As Jesus says:
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"And if any man would follow after me, he said, If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, and daily take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life, life because of me will save it ” (Luke 9: 23-24).
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With these words from Jesus, the discipleship process is a matter of:
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1) cross-bearing self-denial - how much are we willing to deny our self - or selfishness ?.
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2) To let go. How much are we willing to let go / lose the things that keep us from following Jesus?
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Principles of the discipleship process
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The discipleship process is based on the following biblical principles for:
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It is God who does the work in people through the Holy Spirit, but he does it in cooperation with other disciples. (1st chorus 3: we sow and water, but god for things to grow).
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Jesus shows the way.
"I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:14). "He that followeth me shall never walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). We follow Jesus in making disciples in a way that must be read immediately in the gospels.
e.g. discipleship is primarily relational and takes place more by serving with and between people than in a classroom. -
Common standard for all. All nations must learn to obey everything (Matthew 28:20). Discipleship is not just an option for those who want.
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Adapted, but not subordinate to Danish culture. (Paul became like a Jew to Jews and like a Greek to others - to win as many as possible).
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Simple reproducible method. "What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to trustworthy people who will be able to teach others as well" (2 Timothy 2: 2).
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CONTACT THE HOUSECHURCH PROJECT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE DISCIPLESHIP PROCESS.
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