“Christianity without discipleship

is always Christianity without Christ.”

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

If you grew up in church, you probably experienced discipleship. But maybe not! I grew up in traditional Southern Baptist churches, and experienced numerous excellent children's and youth ministries. Yet, I didn't think of myself as having had any true discipleship until I reached college and joined the Baptist Student Union (BSU). There, through the leadership of a wonderful BSU Director, I began to learn about how to live according to God's Word and to make other disciples.

Don't get me wrong - I was given true Biblical instruction by wonderful church leaders before college, but it wasn't aimed at my new walk with Jesus. The instruction just continued where it been the day before. In other words, it was as if the assumption was that I didn't need different or new instruction now that I was saved. It was expected that I would continue on learning in the classes and worship services as I had prior to conversion.

Thus, I have often wondered about other believers who come to faith later in life. How do they learn about following Jesus? The sermons I hear at various churches are great for edification and instruction, but I wonder if they are geared more towards mature believers. Do new believers wish there were a step-by-step guide to get started? Like, how do you pray? How do you begin reading the Bible - do you have to start at the beginning and read straight through? Are there other questions that you would have if you didn't have the benefit of growing up where Christianity is in the very fabric of your culture? What are we NOT telling these new believers because we take it for granted that they already know?

With that said, here are 5 reasons why discipleship needs to be an emphasis of our churches today!

1. Jesus told us to go and make disciples.

The most important reasons that we should have an emphasis on discipleship is that Jesus told us to go and make disciples. That alone should be reason enough. A disciple of Jesus is one who follows His teaching and does as He says. So, if He says to go - we need to go!

2. We cannot assume that every new believer has the same knowledge as those of us raised in church.

God calls people from every walk of life and every culture. So, to assume that the new believer joining your church knows what to do next is dangerous to their growth as a follower of Christ. In fact, we should not assume they even have a Bible! They might be the grandchild of Billy Graham and have a rich Christian heritage to disciple them, or they may come from circumstances where the Bible was never mentioned or was even hated. Thus, we need to get to know our new siblings in Christ so that we can meet them where they are without assumptions.

3. By definition, a follower "follows." So, we need to be leading the way.

The apostle Paul said that he tried to imitate Christ so that those coming behind him could imitate him as he imitated Christ. The best way to disciple others is to lead by example. We need to be demonstrating love for one another and showing God's love to our neighbors. Then, they can begin by imitating our example. But that also means we need to let new believers into our day-to-day faith. Let them see how we read the Bible and how we pray.

4. Discipleship trains us in how to make other disciples.

The Great Commission tells us to go and make disciples, but Jesus was speaking to those who had followed Him, and thus knew Him. We cannot go and make disciples of someone we do not personally know. Though new believers can and should tell others about their salvation, they need those of us who have walked with Jesus longer to show them the next steps to take to get to know Him even deeper. They, in turn, will be able to go and help others come to know and follow Jesus.

5. Sanctification is a continuous process.

Sanctification - the process of God forming us into the image of Jesus - does not happen automatically with salvation. It is a daily walking out of our faith and listening to God and obeying Him. New believers need guidance and instruction when beginning this walk, just as we do as we continue to walk with Jesus as more mature believers. The apostle Paul uses the analogy of a baby drinking milk and then growing to eat meat. Are we feeding our new baby believers milk, or expecting them to eat the same meat that the rest of us are eating every day?

Thus, I would encourage churches who have the resources to have formal discipleship classes for new believers. These classes can be ongoing or even self-paced as new members are added to the church. (The Ruby Tent has a great new class you could use!) Having a formal class will provide the comfort of a place to ask questions of what to do next.

If your church is small or does not have the resources for a formal class, be sure that you connect new believers to someone that can mentor them in the faith and meet them where they are. This does not require money, but the commitment of the more mature members of the church.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. - Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

Notice that the last part of the Great Commision says "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Let us not forget this part of our calling as we tell others about Jesus!

Lastly, this is why my mom and I began The Ruby Tent. We wanted to create a place where women could help each other grow in their faith. By providing our first Bible Study - First Steps of Faith - we hope to teach new believers the four foundational steps to take as you begin your walk with Jesus.

Look for more resources to help women grow in their faith from The Ruby Tent below!

Want to learn more about the spiritual disciplines that are foundational to your growth?

Check out our first Bible Study Devotional - First Steps of Faith: Learning to Walk with Jesus. It is a 20-day study on building four of the foundational aspects of your walk - prayer, Bible Study, Church attendance, and relationships.

Also, be looking for that BIG ANNOUNCEMENT regarding this study, coming soon!!

Join us for our Bible in a Year challenge!

Want to read the Bible each day as part of your quiet time? One way to do this is join in our challenge to read through the Bible in a year with our community of sisters. You can jump in any time! Just click here to sign up. You will receive a daily email with the chapters to read that day, and a short devotional to go along with your reading.

Have you recently trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

We want to know about it and celebrate with you! We also have a small gift for you - a short devotional to get your walk with Jesus off on the right foot. Let us know about your decision here.

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