What is a disciple? | Vision & Mission
Over these weeks I am reflecting on our vision & mission. It is available printed at church and on our website, and fits on one side of A4 with relevant Bible verses on the back.
Our mission statement is – making, growing, sending disciples of Jesus.
Before I look at each of those actions – making, growing, sending – what is a disciple anyway? Here’s what I mean: a disciple is an apprentice of Jesus, who worships him in Spirit and truth, who serves him sacrificially, and who bears witness to him faithfully.
Disciples are apprentices of Jesus. Apprentices spend time with their master, watching, listening and learning – not out of interest but so they can do what he does. They follow, they learn, they imitate. As disciples we should be growing closer to Jesus and more like him every day.
Disciples of Jesus worship him in Spirit and truth. We worship him – and only him. There are many gods, many idols, many things we can worship and some we do worship. We need to identify and put aside the idols, the fake Jesuses, the pretenders – and worship him. The Spirit helps us do that, filling us with faith and love – and teaching us the truth through Scripture – all so we can worship Jesus.
Disciples of Jesus serve him sacrificially. It is costly because it’s hard to fix our eyes on him when there is so much distraction. It is costly because we swim against the tide of the world around us. It’s costly because there is spiritual opposition. It’s costly because he calls us to serve one another – even the people we find really challenging. If serving Jesus costs everything, then if it doesn’t hurt, we aren’t.
Disciples of Jesus bear witness to him faithfully. Jesus told his disciples – and through them, us – ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’ (John 20.21, NIV). Before he ascended to the Father he said, ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1.8, NIV). How could we not share the precious truth, the overwhelming power, the extravagant love of God in Jesus?
A disciple is an apprentice of Jesus, who worships him in Spirit and truth, who serves him sacrificially, and who bears witness to him faithfully. What kind of disciple are you? None of us is a perfect disciple – but are you growing? Are you growing closer to Jesus and more like him day by day? And if not, what are you going to do about that this week?
Let’s pray.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
thank you that because of your great love
we can be called children of God.
Help us to make new disciples of Jesus:
sharing and showing his way, truth and life.
Teach us to grow as his disciples:
faithful to your Word and full of your Spirit.
Send us out into the world as his disciples:
worshipping you with our whole lives.
Pour out your Spirit upon us:
fill us and make us new day by day,
that we might bring you glory and praise.
Amen.