We are at the point, and have been for a long time, we either follow Jesus or not. Years ago, it was more difficult to see. It did not help, there is an artificial split between clergy and church attenders. In fact, these terms are artificial. Jesus just gave a command, “Follow me,” which led to a a clear binary response. Jesus did not even ask, but commanded Peter to follow him. Thankfully Jesus gave the intent for following, “I will make you a fisher of men.” What did Peter learn from Jesus 1 Peter 2:9 – this is who you are and this is what you get to do. God is building a kingdom of priests.

I have discover a few guiding Discipleship Principles for us. Principles are like guardrails on a road that help us know if we are on the right track. They are not the road, but they help us know if we are still on it.

Barna’s research show most leaders in church have spiritual growth and discipleship at the forefront of their minds. Church leaders were polled to say these top three things:

“Grow to be more like Jesus” is the term most used by people to describe discipleship
“Disciple” is almost always in reference to religion.
“The process of helping Christians grow and develop is discipleship

There could potentially be more, but the principles I see are discipleship must be intentional, relational, transformational, and measurable.

Principles:

1. Intentional. The Jewish context of discipleship is critically important in all of the principles, but I will emphasize it especially here. As I alluded to previously, one of the most clear examples of Jesus’ intentionality is in the calling of Peter. Another good example is the calling of the brothers James and John. “Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him” (Mark 1:19-20, NIV). Notice, Jesus clearly only intentionally calls James and John without calling their father. Discipleship does not occur organically, but intentionally, unless we are talking about something other than following Jesus.

2. Relational. Jesus spent time in prayer, healing people, and speaking to large crowds; however, he spent most of his time with a small group of discipleship. Jesus’ focus was leading his disciples relationally. Luke 10:23 is one example where it is clear Jesus turned to his disciples and explained to them relationally what he meant.

3. Transformational. Sometimes when discipleship is brought up people say it is a life-long process of becoming like Jesus. I get this to some degree, but when Jesus called people into a discipleship relationship there was a beginning and an ending. This makes sense within the understanding of the Jewish context of discipleship. When a rabbi called someone to follow them it was to transform them into a rabbi. Jesus clearly did not call any of his disciples to remain disciples, but to transform them into disciple-makers. The root word of disciple is discipline and this is how you see transformational difference.

There are a few steps a disciple will take in this process to get to transformational growth.

Steps:

1. Receive – Taking in the gospel (milk) “Adding to the Kingdom: Acts 2:47 “received with glad and sincere hearts

2. Give – Acts 3:6 “Silver and gold I do not have but was I do have I give”…

3. Serve – Acts 6:7 “The word of God began to increase and number of the disciples greatly multiplied…”

4. Train – Ephesians 4:11-13 Equip the saints for ministry…

4. Collective and individual growth. Most of the time ministries seem to focus on only individual growth. Grow your spiritual life. “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). It is true, disciples have individual growth, but they also should grow corporately. For example “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21-22). John 15:15-17 Jesus says, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.” This is what maturity looks like: Ephesians 4:16 – (Held together as it grows together) From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

This is how you lose maturity you once had: Colossians 2:19 – (Lost connection) They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. “People usually drift away from their community of faith before they drift away from faith.”