What is a disciple?
According to Strong’s Concordance, a disciple (from the Greek mathétés) is a “learner or pupil.” Jesus original disciples were supposed to learn directly from Him, but they were not intended to be His only disciples. When he initially called them to follow Him, He informed them of what they would become:
“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, [Jesus] saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
~ Matthew 4.18-20, ESV
Peter & Andrew were fishermen by trade. They cast out large nets in an attempt to draw in a great number of fish so they could eke out a living. Jesus was calling them to draw people to Him so those people could live abundantly. While Jesus was alive, He taught both by direct instruction and by His own example, so that when He ascended to heaven, His disciples could continue not only to draw people to Jesus, but to teach them His commandments:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all 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. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
~ Matthew 28.19-20, ESV
To “make disciples” involved going out into the community and teaching all that Jesus taught. The apostles were intended to be lifelong learners (or pupils) of Christ, but they were also to make lifelong learners as well. Jesus knew the apostles would not live on the earth forever, so the disciples they made were intended to go out and make more disciples.
If you are a disciple (follower) of Christ, this is now your job too! You will need to seek to learn from Christ for the rest of your life. As you are learning there are other things you need to do:
- Prepare to Share. The world in which we live is a hostile place. Adversaries abound. Prepare your mind and heart to stand firm in the truth. As Peter writes, “always [be] prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”
- Go Fish (Share the Gospel). I have little experience with fishing, but I know that in the U.S., most people fish with a rod and reel. In Jesus’ time, fishermen typically used a net to draw the fish into the boat. You and I area called to draw people, not to ourselves, but to the saving power of Christ. I recently read a post by a preacher named Wilson Adams, who pointed out that the first two letters in the gospel read “go.” Are we read to go and share the good news?
- Teach Jesus’ Commands. To make disciples of Jesus, we have to teach the commandments of Jesus. The Lord has preserved the teachings of Christ in the gospels we have, and His apostles wrote several letters to churches and individuals by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Are we teaching what He taught or are we teaching the rules of mankind? Hopefully we are encouraging people to study Jesus’ teaching and example.
- Trust Him to be with you. Jesus promised His apostles He would be with them. He also sent them the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit so they could perform miracles and confirm the message. While we no longer have the ability to perform miracles, Jesus and the Holy Spirit still dwell within our hearts (Romans 8.9-11). We are going to face opposition. It’s inevitable. If you trust in yourself, you will eventually fall. If you trust in the power of Christ within you, you will be able to continue to share His love with others.
You might feel like you “don’t know enough” to teach. If that’s the case, it’s time to dig in and learn. Prepare yourself to teach. Regardless of how comfortable you are with teaching, at this moment, you know the basic gospel message, and can share that with others. If you find yourself falling short in some area, start studying how to answer! In fact, there are people that may only connect to the gospel through your witness because of who you are and the example of your life.
You might also feel like you aren’t bold enough, brave enough, strong enough to share… and you’re right! You aren’t intended to be the source of strength. Jesus is the one who strengthens and equips you. Trust in His power and the power of the gospel.
Are you ready to go fish? Begin where you are. You don’t have to travel to the far reaches of the planet to share the gospel; there are plenty of opportunities right within your own circle of influence, and your own community.
I hope you’ll join us this month as we copy scriptures with examples of people sharing the gospel and teaching the commandments of Jesus!
To download a printable copy of the plan, click the link below:
Sara McBroom has once again provided her amazing tracing and copying sheets for your little scripture writers. To download, click the link below:
If you have questions, please comment below!
For reflections on each day’s scripture, drop by the Elihu’s Corner Facebook pageor Instagram (@elihuscorner).
**Special thanks to Sara McBroom and Liz Smith for assisting me each month with these plans**
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