Discipleship

The modern church has created a generation of believers who understand salvation by faith (Ephesians 2:8) but miss their role in God's plan to create that faith in others. We know that faith is a gift from God, but we've forgotten that Romans 10:14-17 shows us how God typically delivers that gift: "How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"

Here's the disconnect: we celebrate that our faith came through God's grace, but we act like other people's faith will come through divine osmosis. We wait for God to save our neighbors while ignoring the fact that He's chosen to work through our words and our witness to open hearts and minds to His truth.

Too many Christians think about Ephesians 2:8—that faith is a gift—and conclude their job is finished. But Romans makes it clear: "How will they have faith if no one speaks?" The implication is unavoidable: we need to spread the word. It's not our crafty words that will save others—our crafty words just open the door to having the conversation. Once we can have a dialogue, it's the words of Christ, the Word of God, that saves folks. Let them respond to His words, but let's make sure we're not afraid to speak.

But here's why being afraid to speak is actually a deeper problem than most Christians realize: belief alone doesn't save anyone. James 2:19 reminds us that "even the demons believe—and shudder!" Having intellectual belief in God isn't enough. We need saving faith—faith that moves beyond mental agreement to life transformation. As James explains, "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26). He's not teaching salvation by works; he's teaching that real faith produces real change.

This matters because right now is the only time you'll ever have to demonstrate faith. Later, when we're all dead, everyone will have faith. Everyone will believe in God after they meet Him. Now is the only time that demonstrating faith will matter. Those who don't know Him wish they could see more faith come out of you. God Himself wants to see us show our faith more boldly.

Sharp Edge: If you're waiting for the "right moment" to share your faith, you're missing the point entirely. It's never the "right time" but the best time is always now.

Jesus didn't just make disciples—He equipped disciples to make disciples. Look at His strategy with the Twelve: He didn't leave them as spiritual infants drinking milk forever. He moved them systematically from followers to leaders, from students to teachers, from consumers to reproducers. By the time He ascended, these ordinary men were ready to turn the world upside down.

The progression was intentional: teaching, modeling, sending, and reproducing. Jesus taught them truth, modeled ministry in front of them, sent them out to practice, then equipped them to train others. When Peter preached at Pentecost and 3,000 people were saved, that wasn't beginner's luck—that was the fruit of Jesus' discipleship process. Peter had moved from spiritual milk to solid food (Hebrews 5:12-14), from someone who needed to be fed to someone who could feed others.

This is what Paul meant when he wrote about "sharing our lives with one another" (1 Thessalonians 2:8). Real discipleship isn't just downloading information or attending Bible studies. It's life-on-life investment where mature believers pour themselves into newer believers until those newer believers can pour themselves into others. It's not addition—it's multiplication.

Jesus' model was never about creating permanent dependence. He didn't want the Twelve following Him around forever, asking Him to solve every problem and answer every question. He wanted them to become the kind of people who could reproduce what they had received. That's why He said, "Greater works than these you will do" (John 14:12). He was training replacements, not just followers.

The early church exploded because Jesus had equipped disciple-makers, not just disciples. Every believer understood that their job wasn't finished when they got saved—it was just beginning. They had been equipped to equip others, and that's exactly what they did.

Sharp Edge: If the people you're discipling can't disciple others, you're not finished with them yet.

Here's the hard truth: you can't give what you don't have. If you want to make disciples, you first need to be a disciple—not just someone who knows about Jesus, but someone who's actively following Him and growing in spiritual maturity. This isn't about perfection; it's about progression. You don't need to have it all figured out, but you do need to be further along than the person you're helping.

Start with your own transformation. Real discipleship begins with letting Christ change you from the inside out. This means regular time in God's Word, honest prayer, accountability with other believers, and a lifestyle that increasingly reflects Jesus' character. People can spot a fake from a mile away, but they're drawn to authentic transformation. Your life becomes the curriculum.

Learn to reproduce what you've received. Think about the spiritual truths, habits, and breakthroughs that have shaped your walk with Christ. Can you explain them to someone else? Can you help another person develop the same spiritual disciplines that have helped you grow? If you can't articulate how God has worked in your life, you're not ready to help others experience that same work.

Practice relational discipleship. This isn't about formal programs or classroom settings—it's about sharing your life with someone who needs what you have. Invite them into your daily rhythms. Let them see how you handle conflict, make decisions, and respond to pressure. Show them what it looks like to follow Christ in real-world situations, not just Sunday morning scenarios.

Focus on multiplication, not just addition. From the beginning, help the person you're discipling understand that they're being equipped to equip others. Don't create dependence—create independence that leads to reproduction. Ask questions like: "Who in your life needs to hear this?" and "How would you explain this to someone else?"

The goal isn't to create a permanent student-teacher relationship. The goal is to work yourself out of a job by raising up someone who can do what you're doing. This is where the term “iron sharpens iron” actually fits.

Sharp Edge: If you've been a Christian for years but you're still spiritually immature, don't try to disciple anyone yet. Get discipled first, then reproduce what you receive.