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What is Discipleship?  Who is it for?

By definition, a church is a place for disciples of Christ.  It's a  community, really, where disciples come together, actually live together, in ways to build their mutual faith in Christ.  

"For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few."  Matthew 7:14

Disciples are people who are seeking the narrow, hard way.  Discipleship apparently doesn't come naturally to us.  Even after three years of living together Jesus found it necessary to say to one of His disciples, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip?" (John 14:9).

• A Disciple is more than a passive follower.  Discipleship suggests intentionality and commitment, a seriousness of purpose that carries accountability.
• A disciple is not the Master but rather the learner.  A disciple is not expected to be the "expert" or the "leader" in the sense of reaching a point of attainment or completeness or mastery.  Disciples are really apprentices, learning and practicing as their faith develops.  A developing prayer life is a good sign of an apprentice whose faith is maturing.
• While a disciple may always be a "work in progress" to one degree or another, disciples are not expected to stay in the classroom, waiting for some future state of readiness before testing their wings.  Disciples are not made in test tubes or cloistered behind walls.  They are "in the game", active participants in their walk of faith.  The aim of Discipleship is behavior in action, not knowledge.
• Disciples are in community.  While private study and prayer are important components of Discipleship, the bigger picture shows us that important learning and application components can come only through interaction in communities of disciples (including communal study and prayer) and through service to the larger world around us.
• Discipleship is a progression that lasts a lifetime.  From the earliest awakenings of faith to the higher levels of spiritual maturity, we should always be seeking to grow our faith.  Accordingly, it will be helpful to view this lifelong progression in terms of a Discipleship Model that is relevant to the context in which our church is planted.

What Is A Discipleship Model?

Do We Need Discipleship In A New Church?

What Discipleship Activities Are Appropriate For A New Church?

What Results Should We Expect?

When Does Discipleship Become Important?

Go on to Discipleship: How To Start