The Importance of Discipleship

This week I had the privilege of teaching at the Armada Commission, a school for ministry preparation where those called to ministry can train and prepare within driving distance of their homes and families. Our topic for this week was "Discipleship," and it was a joy to interact with these disciples who are fired up and ready to go forth and change the world.

Discipleship has become passe in the churches of today, but it is still the mandate given to us by God in the Great Commission. Discipleship is our only means of reproduction in the Kingdom of God. Churches who fail to make disciples are nothing more than social clubs soothing the religious conscience. This is not who we are supposed to be.

There are some key elements to discipleship that we should all be out to master.

• discipleship is all about relationship, make the most of the relationships God gives you
• discipleship is not cloning, and we should see the differences that keep us from being blindsided
• discipleship causes increase in both the student and the teacher
• discipleship allows us to fulfill the "Prime Directive" and reproduce the image and likeness of God in our disciples

As we go forward in this time of real "harvest," let's not forget that, as Pastor Wayne always said, "We are here to make disciples, not decisions."