“The Key To Discipleship Is?”

The Key To Discipleship Is Faith Is?

Biblical, Jesus-empowered, Gospel-centered, grace-infused discipleship transforms a person’s mind and emotions. This beautiful, God the Holy Spirit-enabled act results in a life that progressively reflects Jesus.

I graduated Magnum Cum Laude with a Masters of Divinity Degree, with a concentration in Apologetics, from Southern Evangelical Seminary under Norm L. Geisler, Ph.D.

I am currently a doctoral student at Northern Seminary under Scott McKnight, Ph.D. My doctoral emphasis is the ‘New Testament in Context.’

I share this with you not impress you, but to you let you know that I value the life of the mind.

I am a full-fledged, card-carrying theology nerd. But I’m also a spiritual romantic in that being loved by and loving Jesus is my highest treasure.

But if all my theological, philosophical, apologetic learning is not integrated into my life by faith in Jesus to mature me holistically as a person, then I have wasted my time.

It’s possible to be a biblical literate and emotionally immature.

The overarching goal of discipleship is to partner with the Holy Spirit to produce communities of love:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.  Ephesians 3:16-17 NIV

I suggest that we have told me to read the bible, pray, join a small group, serve, and share your faith but we have and under-developed people in how to live by faith in the Indwelling Lord Jesus.

Spiritual disciplines are useless if we are not living by faith in the Indwelling Lord Jesus.

The Pharisee’s knew the Old Testament in its entirety by the age of 12, yet Jesus told them,

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.  John 5:39-40 ESV

Jesus doesn’t just want us to learn about Him.  Jesus wants to know, experience, and trust Him (John 17:3)!

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15:5 NIV

Discipleship to the Apostle Paul was about cultivating emotionally-mature people because of their direct dependence and trust in Jesus:

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.  Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT

Can you imagine a local church like this?  Jesus wants to fill our planet with local churches filled with people like this.

So, how do we fix our broken discipleship methods?  By teaching people to trust in, and live from, the Indwelling Life of the Lord Jesus.

 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV

For more of my views on discipleship, check out my book, Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future.

Marinate on that,

Pastor Derwin