“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” – Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV).
The discipleship model in the carpentry industry is well-structured, much like a master craftsman passing essential knowledge to an apprentice, ensuring that knowledge of angles, joints, and materials doesn’t fade from memory but becomes a living skill. The same applies to the Christian faith. Without evangelism and discipleship in the body of Christ, Christianity would soon become history.
In today’s anchor text, Jesus gave His disciples His final mandate, known as the Great Commission. He instructed them to make disciples by teaching others the same things He taught them. It was not just an instruction but a divine pattern for passing the gospel from one person to another. Discipleship equips you to continue this mandate.
Ephesians 4:11-12 shows that Jesus gave ministry gifts to the local church to train believers through a system of discipleship. You are a believer today because someone was discipled and preached the gospel to you. This gospel should not end with you. As you have received it, the responsibility is on you to be discipled and pass this same gospel on to the next generation.
Another thing to note is that without discipleship, there can be no actual growth. The growth structures for the believer and the local church are built on discipleship. In Acts 2:42, the early church embraced this model by devoting itself to the Word, fellowship, and regular prayers. As they remained faithful to this process, the results became evident. Miracles increased, love flourished among them, and the church multiplied in number. Every expression of growth they experienced was rooted in discipleship. (Acts 2:42-47).
Finally, discipleship guarantees the continuity of the Christian faith. Paul emphasised this in 2 Timothy 2:2, instructing Timothy to teach others the same truth he had received. Discipleship ensures that the message of the gospel remains pure and alive in every generation. In 2 Timothy 1:5, the Apostle Paul commended Timothy’s faith, the same faith in his mother and grandmother. When you play your part in sharing the same message, the gospel continues to spread with unwavering fervour.
Dear believer, you are part of this divine chain of faith. Be intentional about building others through discipleship.
Say this: I give myself to the training of discipleship, and I play my part in the furtherance of the gospel in my day.
Bible Reading Plan: Jeremiah 9–10; Hebrews 7:1–19