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The Process of Discipleship

Text: Matthew 10 : 1- 4

Right from the start, Jesus knew that there would come a time when He would need people whom He could send into the harvest field. He initiated an on-going training process called “discipleship” .

1. Discipleship – At first glance

The process seemed simple enough. Let us look at some of the basics:-

a) It involved a process of “calling” or “invitation” to an individual

What an honour to be called by Jesus to be His disciple. They were distinguished from “the multitudes”.

b) The would-be disciple must be prepared to leave all to follow Jesus

All must be prepared to make some “sacrifices” for Jesus! This was a standard rule applied to all would-be disciples as a pre-requisite.

c) They must attend to Jesus in every way

i) They would look after all the physical aspects of being together as a band of followers.

ii) They must attend to the teachings Jesus gave to the multitudes, or to them privately.

iii) They must cultivate their faith along the way.

iv) They must seek to cultivate their personal lives after the Example of Jesus.

2. Discipleship – At a deeper level of appreciation

The discipleship process was obviously more complex than most would have thought.

a) Great expectations

i) They must have a great capacity for work.

ii) They must have a strong enough faith to meet the challenges.

iii) They were expected to have hearts of compassion on the multitudes.

b) Tough challenges

i) They had to face critics.

ii) They had to deal with skeptics.

iii) They had to cope with those who never seemed committed.

c) More Responsibilities Entrusted

The work of the ministry never seemed to diminish. In fact the horizon envisaged seemed to grow larger by the day!

FROM DISCIPLES TO APOSTLES

The disciples had been exposed long enough to the teachings of Jesus and to the demands of the ministry. They were now adjudged ready to enter into a new phase of training. They were going to be “sent forth” by Jesus to minister on their own. The word “apostle” has this essential idea of being “sent forth” to fulfil a specific commission.

“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him,
He gave them power over unclean spirits,
to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness
and all kinds of disease.”
Matthew 10:1

“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him…”

Did the disciples fully understand the significance of their being “called”? How similar this calling was in comparison to the way in which the great servants of God were called to serve in Old Testament times.

A careful study of the calling, empowering and sending forth of the disciples help us to see unmistakable parallels:

1. The significance in the Old Testament was God Himself

a) He had the prerogative to call whom He would.

b) He had the power to give to those He called to serve Him.

2. The significance in the New Testament was Jesus

a) He too exercised the prerogative to call whom He would.

b) He also had the power to give to His apostles that they may serve Him mightily

Could the disciples see who Jesus was even as they were called and commissioned to minister? If Jesus wasn’t the Messiah-King, His sending them forth to minister would turn out to be a great fiasco!

THE PROMISE OF POWER FOR MINISTRY

When God called Moses and told him that He had been chosen to lead Israel out of the land of Egypt, he cried out,

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh,
And that I should bring the children of
Israel out of Egypt?”
Exodus 3:11

When God called Jeremiah and sent him forth as a prophet, he gasped and said,

“Ah, Lord God!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”
Jeremiah 1:6

How did the disciples feel as Jesus commissioned them to be His apostles? They had just been primed to understand the greatness of the harvest field. They had seen with their own eyes how difficult and demanding the ministry was! But wait, wasn’t there the promise of power for ministry from Jesus? Faith must rise to the challenge of the hour!