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Discipleship
What is a disciple
What is holistic disciplemaking
What is a functioning disciple?
How long does it take to become a functioning disciple.
How to
become a functioning disciple
How do the 'gifts of the Spirit' fit into becoming a functioning
disciple?
Bible
Resources
Bible study resources
Discipleship
Links
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REACH
Ministries International,...Discipleship
What is a
disciple?
A disciple is a student, a learner. When
a person becomes a Christian they become a disciple. And, just as some
students are more diligent than others, disciples differ in the amount
of time and effort they spend in learning from their Master.
In the Bible, the word disciple is used both as a noun and a verb. Some
authorities have the following interpretations of the noun.
The meaning applies to one who professes to have learned certain
principles from another and maintains them on that other's authority.
(Unger's Bible Dictionary)
[In the New Testament] A "disciple" was not only a pupil, but an
adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher; cf.
<John 8:31; 15:8>.
(Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) (Copyright (C) 1985,
Thomas Nelson Publishers)
The word is found in the Bible only in the Gospels and Acts. But it
is good Greek, in use from Herodotus down, and always means the pupil of
someone, in contrast to the master or teacher (didaskalos). See <Mt
10:24; Lk 6:40>. In all cases it implies that the person not only accepts
the views of the teacher, but that he is also in practice an adherent.
The word has several applications. In the widest sense it refers
to those who accept the teachings of anyone, not only in belief but in
life. Thus the disciples of John the Baptist <Mt 9:14; Lk 7:18; Jn 3:25>;
also of the Pharisees <Mt 22:16; Mk 2:18; Lk 5:33>; of Moses <Jn
9:28>.
But its most common use is to designate the adherents of Jesus.
(a) In the widest sense (<Mt 10:42; Lk 6:17; Jn 6:66>, and
often). It is the only name for Christ's followers in the Gospels.
But (b) especially the Twelve Apostles, even when they are
called simply the disciples (<Mt 10:1; 11:1; 12:1>, et al.).
In the Acts, after the death and ascension of Jesus, disciples are
those who confess Him as the Messiah, Christians (<Acts 6:1-2,7; 9:36>
(feminine, mathetria); <11:26>, "The disciples were called Christians").
Even
half-instructed believers who had been baptized only with the baptism of
John are disciples <Acts 19:1-4>.
(from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, Electronic Database
Copyright (C) 1996 by Biblesoft)
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The term DISCIPLE is also used as a verb; an action to be taken.
We have also the verb, matheteuo, "Jesus' disciple" (literally, "was
discipled to Jesus," <Mt 27:57>); "Make disciples of all the nations"
(the King James Version "teach," <Mt 28:19>); "had made many disciples"
(the King James Version "taught many," <Acts 14:21>); "every scribe
who hath been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven" (the King James
Version "instructed," <Mt 13:52>). The disciple of Christ today may
be described in the words of Farrar, as "one who believes His doctrines,
rests upon His sacrifice, imbibes His spirit, and imitates His example."
(from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, Electronic Database
Copyright (C) 1996 by Biblesoft)
So, a disciple is an active student of Jesus' teaching
and one that applies what they learn to everyday life.
RMI refines the disciple concept to a functioning
disciple. See that page for more details.
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How do the 'gifts of the Spirit' fit into
discipleship?
The discipleship training syllabus provides
special training for each of the 'gifts of the Spirit' in the following ways:
(Note: copy the relevant material into this
space.)
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