The Holy Scripture is always the best to get a good grasp about discipleship. Here are the things expected to be achieved in a Christian discipleship:
1. Jesus, the first in all things (Matt. 6:33; Mark 8:34-38). The disciple of Christ seeks first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Our life should be focussed on Christ and not in our own lives. We have to learn how to love God above all things.
2. Follower of Jesus (John 8:31-32). We are to be obedient like a child. As the “Christian” word implies, we should be a follower, a believer of Christ. It will be very difficult for us to be a disciple without believing whom we are following. We are to have the desire to follow Jesus and his words as recorded in the Bible. Jesus himself become the perfect example of obedience as He lived a life on earth of complete obedience to the Father even to the point of death (Philippians 3:6-8).
3. Fruitfulness (John 15:5-8). We are to follow Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to work, bearing its fruits through us. As we follow and obey the Lord and learn to walk in His ways, our faith will continue to dig deeper and deeper. The change expected in us as the Holy Spirit bears its fruits can be seen in the way we live, talk, and worship God. Thus, our faith can be seen both inside and outside.
4. Loving other people (John 13:34-35). The evidence of our being a member of God’s family is love (1 John 3:10). 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 tells us more about love thus, it show us that love is more than just emotion; but an action. Furthermore, we are instructed to think and value others more than ourselves and to look out for their interests (Philippians 2:3-4).
5. Evangelism – Making disciples of others (Matthew 28:18-20). The mandate of discipleship is evangelism. We are to share our faith and tell people who have no personal relationship with Christ about the wonderful changes Jesus Christ has made in our lives. Whether we are a young Christian or an old Christian, sharing Christ’s goodness should be a part of our being. We don’t have to be a long time Christian to be able to share the gospel. At the time we accepted Jesus Christ, we can immediately share the gospel and to others by telling other people what change did he made in you. You may not know a lot of Bible verses, but you have experienced the love of God, and that is exactly what we are to share.
