This weekend we'll wrestle with the simple idea that Jesus had a steady eye on making disciples.
I'm curious, what is your emotional response to that phrase "making disciples" (discipleship, being discipled, etc.)?
Second, in your estimation of things, "What does Jesus want to pass on to you?" Finally, "What does He want to pass on through you?"
The dialogue will prime us for the weekend, especially because my goal is for the teaching event on Sunday to take on a form unlike ever before.
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My response to the concept of "making deciples" is fairly negative. Just in relation to the fact that the term takes away from the person and puts it into/focuses on "a product." In the sphere of people I interact with I can think of not many other examples where we would "make" something out of someone. It seems "developing, bringing out, discovering" yada yada would be more descriptive terms I feel more comfortable with. If the holy spirit really is masterfully involved, doesn't that mean cultivating and helping people with what is already in them/happening with them? Not so much an outside pushing in from a people level... God can do that much better.
I'd make similar arguments as Theresa. We're not making anything because we all have the ability to be disciples, the CHOICE we have is whether we use it. To increase our impact as disciples, we have to spend time learning The Word as Joe stated in one presentation he gave. Some people have the ability to speak well (Adam, Joe, Vern, Stan) and that will draw in people, but I think you are also discipling with your actions aside from speaking. With how you act, I think you're giving people hope for something better. For example, look at gang leaders. They're not living for Christ, but they're still giving hope of something better to those who will follow.
"Love God and Love Your Neighbor..." My own belief is that Jesus teaches us to love God and then wants us to pass this love on to our neighbors.
As I understand it, discipleship is not some stealth proselytizing done by the people you hang out with--it's a choice: you are so inspired by someone's theology or philosophy or whatever, that you purposefully engage with them to learn from them.
That's what Jesus' disciples did, right?
We can learn & share in all levels of relationship; as relationships go deeper, the lessons that we both learn & share from each other will increase, although this exchange is still likely to on the platform of friendship, and not official "discipling."
Glad to know I'm not the only one who is a little put off by the term discipleship.
I like the way you put it Theresa, "making something out of someone." How do we keep such informality from serving as a veil over a general lack of "discipling"? I think the thing I've grown afraid of lately is, "In my informality, am I actually missing opportunities?" Thoughts?
Steph, what you said makes a bunch of sense, especially with adults who have a decent amount of exposure to Jesus. I was just thinking yesterday, "Does a disciple eventually have to transition from 'having a rabbi' to simply having challenging relationships/friends? Did Peter have a discipler after Jesus? Paul?
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