The Missing Third Strand Of Discipleship

"When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles..." (Luke 6:13)

When your pastor looks out over the congregation each Sunday, what do you think he is thinking about? Many things, but I can assure you one of the thoughts crossing his mind is, “How can I equip, encourage, train, minister and meet their needs with one or two hours and messages a week?” Jesus answered the question and gave us a process.

Jesus ministered to the multitudes and this would be similar to our weekend services. Certainly our congregational times together provides some degree of discipleship.

Jesus taught the 12 and this would be similar to what many call small group meetings, cell groups, or even Sunday School classes. Small group meetings provide a deeper degree of discipleship compared to our corporate gatherings, but again, this time is almost always more fellowship oriented than discipleship focused.

Is there something else we should consider? An additional step that will bring believers into a passionate relationship with God and each other and help them grow into spiritually mature saints?

Oswald Chambers wrote, “Discipleship means personal, passionate devotion to a Person - our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a vast difference between devotion to a person and devotion to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause - He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself. To be a disciple is to be a devoted bondservant motivated by love for the Lord Jesus. Many of us who call ourselves Christians are not truly devoted to Jesus Christ.”

Let’s take a look at the life and teaching of Jesus and see if we can deepen our understanding. Near the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus prayed, "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do" (John 17:4). What was the work Jesus speaks of?

In His prayer Jesus did not mention miracles or the multitudes, buildings or fundraising, prison outreaches or childcare, meals-on-wheels or far-reaching missions – all worthy projects and much needed - He did however refer to the men whom God had given to Him more than 40 times. His ministry reached thousands and has impacted millions, but His work was the twelve. For over three and a half years Jesus poured His life into 12 men and focused on three of them (Peter, James and John).

CORE Discipleship Groups provide for the missing third-strand of discipleship - to make disciples by teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded. It is within this much needed addition to already existing church discipleship processes that we can truly be about the Great Commission.

The Apostle Paul described discipling in these words: "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others" (2 Timothy 2:2). Based on Christ's instructions, Paul established a pattern for the preservation and communication of the Good News. Teaching is to be passed on to faithful believers without addition or alteration. More simply put, we are to find a faithful Christian who is willing to be discipled and stay with that person no matter what until they are observing all that Jesus commanded. This is the process of CORE Discipleship Groups.

CORE Discipleship Groups follow our Lord's Commission to invest our lives in the lives of a few - it is the third strand of the Great Commission that we focus - to teach others to observe all that Jesus commanded.

The heart of a CORE Discipleship Group is learning to live a surrendered life. The goal of a surrendered life is to be conformed into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) - becoming a disciple of Jesus. Unfortunately, most Christians have never experienced a nurturing, loving, caring, equipping discipleship relationship, never entered into a life-transforming relationship where Jesus is Head and God's Word and the Holy Spirit trusted to bring about heart change and where a more spiritually mature saint of God purposely remains from beginning to end.

CORE Discipleship Groups follow Jesus' model of discipleship by imparting life, not just teaching about life - it is spiritual parenting. It is showing, telling, supervising and releasing disciples to make disciples who can then repeat the process once more. It is both an adventure of a lifetime and a lifetime of adventure.

Are you someone who hungers and thirsts for a real relationship with people whom you can share your deepest joys, dreams, plans, pains, and sins without hesitation? A place where safety, confidence, encouragement, confrontation, strength, challenge, and growth are purposely designed so that you can grow and learn to become all God desires without fear of rejection or condemnation?

My encouragement to you today is for you to follow Jesus’ final exhortation: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19,20).

Live Christ Deliberately!

Doug Morrell