What makes a disciple of Christ? This lesson looks at some of the characteristics of those who are truly disciples of Jesus, and emphasises the point that one member of the church is not a disciple of another member of the church, rather all members are fellow
Jesus invites us, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me"
manthano [to learn]
matheetees [a disciple]
matheetuo [to teach]
One might assume from this that, if you are somebody’s eager student, then you are that person’s "disciple". Whilst it is a good thing to be taught good things well, that does not make you the DISCIPLE of every person who teaches you. Discipleship includes being taught, but it
As disciples of Christ, we follow the example that Christ left us, and his example was perfect
It is also a good thing to follow the good example set by other disciples. However, following the Christian example of others does not make you THEIR disciple; it only makes you a FELLOW disciple of Christ with them
Jesus expects obedience from his disciples, and those who do not abide in his word are not really his disciples
We are not, of course, disciples of everyone we obey. Even the elders who shepherd the church, whom we are commanded to obey, are themselves disciples under Christ
Jesus counts those who follow him as his "friends"
It is a good thing also, to have close and loving personal relationships with fellow Christians for we are God’s family
Christ should be your Master, and your commitment and devotion to him should be total
We are also expected to be affectionately committed and devoted to one another
In things to do with religion, Jesus Christ must be our only Rabbi, the only master teacher we follow
Like Joseph of Arimathea, and like the church in Damascus, let us be disciples of the Lord, not disciples and followers of mere men
The terms DISCIPLES, CHRISTIANS, BELIEVERS, BRETHREN, SAINTS, are equivalent terms in scripture
As an example of this point, note that "when the disciples came together to break bread", that meant the whole church
The disciples were not a
Once a disciple of Christ, always a disciple of Christ, and never a disciple of anyone else
D I S C I P L E S
Three questions about being
"disciples" of Jesus Christ.
1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A DISCIPLE?
The word disciple basically means
one who learns. In the Greek
New Testament, the words for
learn and disciple are similar and
related words:
manthano [to learn]
mathetes [a disciple]
mathetuo [to teach]
Mtt 16:21-24, Lke 14:25-27, Jhn 8:31 >
Disciples however are not merely to
learn by rote. They are expected to
live what they learn, and to be
committed to the Master who taught
them.
2. WHOSE DISCIPLES SHOULD WE BE?
Mtt 23:6-10 > In things to do with
religion, Jesus Christ must be our
only Rabbi (master teacher).
Mtt 27:57, Acts 9:1-2, 1Co 1:12-13,
1Co 3:4-5 > Like Joseph of Arimathea,
and like the church in Damascus,
let us be disciples of the Lord,
not disciples and followers of
mere men.
1Co 11:1, Php 3:17, 4:9, Heb 13:7 >
It is a good thing to follow a good
example, but following the example
of others does not make you their
disciple --it only makes you a
fellow disciple of Christ with them.
1Co 4:14-17, Rom 16:13 >
It is a good thing to have good
relationships, but having a close
personal relationship with a fellow
Christian does not make you that
person’s disciple, nor does it make
that person your disciple. It only
makes you like a father, son, mother,
daughter, brother, or sister of
that person in Christ.
3. ARE ALL CHRISTIANS DISCIPLES?
Acts 11:26, 18:27 > The following are
quivalent terms in scripture --they
generally refer to the same group
of people:
Disciples, Christians,
Believers, Brethren, Saints
Acts 20:7, 1Co 10:16-17 >
As an example of this point, note that
"when the disciples came together to
break bread" [KJV], "the disciples"
meant the whole church. The disciples
were not an elite among the church
members. All the church members were
disciples.
Mtt 28:18-20, Acts 19:1-9 >
To talk about "discipling" church
members is therefore an error, since
no Christian is undiscipled. One is
"discipled" right from the time one
is converted to Christ and ready to
immediately obey him. §