Quote: "Discipleship, like evangelism, is a biblical mandate. Neither is optional in the believer’s life. While many Christians are tempted at times to put on special outreaches and “do evangelism” in an effort to ease their consciences as it pertains to spreading the good news, most know that being a witness is an around-the-clock job in which they are never off duty. The same could be said of discipleship. For the Christian, discipling should be a way of life - an every moment adventure. Discipleship cannot be approached as a new area of personal growth that one emphasizes for a season. It is not an elective or an add-on to a ministry program. Being a disciple and discipling others is at the very heart of the New Testament definition of effective Christian life." - Harv Herman
Q1: Why is discipleship a biblical mandate?
Q2: What does that mean to you as a college student?
Quote: "Being a disciple of Jesus is an act of willfully carrying out His wishes, not only a confession of allegiance." - Harv Hermon
Q3: Why must being a disciple and discipling others be more that just a formal confession?
Though there is a great cost to discipleship, there is also great reward, including but not limited to, deep peace, extreme joy, and new found purpose. Read Philippians 3:7-9 together as a group and discuss some of the benefits of discipleship that help make the cost worth it all.
7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. - Philippians 3:7-9 NLT
Q4: What are some of the benefits of being a disciple and then discipling others?
Quote: "Teaching someone about Jesus is one thing, modeling before them a Christ-like life is something else altogether. If our discipleship is only teaching, then the integrity gap can grow to outrageous proportions. Discipleship is teaching and much more. A disciple must live what is taught, and live in such a way that others are trained in living righteously." - Harv Hermon
Q5: How must we model the discipleship process?
Q6: Who is watching you be a disciple? How is your life affecting them today?
Read 1 Corinthians 10:31-33
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.
Q7: What is the first motivation that Paul suggests every disciple should have? What is the second?
Q8: What role does relationships play in the disciple making process?
Q9: The author talks about discipleship as being a process. How would you describe this process?