As we read the Bible and seek discipleship, we need to remember the disciples knew things many of us did not know when we became Christians. They could grasp elements of God’s Truth that we cannot even begin to consider because we do not have the foundational knowledge they possessed… and they still had their struggles. How can we think this is so easy and all it takes is a raised hand or a nod of acknowledgement and we are good to go? No wonder we live in a culture where an upraised thumb icon makes us think we are actually friends with someone.

Discipleship should be recognized as the most important engagement of our Christian existence. I say that because it’s what Jesus told us to do, it strengthens our relationship with Him by making us more like Him, it equips us to make disciples, and there is nothing but positive impact when we obey God’s Word. When we have strong discipleship, we release our pastors in the local church to do what God called them to do, which is to equip the saints to do the work of ministry!

The word mathēteúō, which is the word used for “disciple” in the Great Commission, carries a depth of study that means “to enroll as a scholar”. In this 2nd part of the series, we delve into the knowledge possessed by the disciples and the early church resulting from this deeper level of study and foundational experience. This may surprise some, but the Old Testament, known to Jesus and the Disciples as the Law, The Prophets, and the Writings comprise 75% of the Bible.

Today and for many days going forward, I am going to explore the depths of discipleship. I am talking about the meaning of discipleship, the importance of discipleship, and the lack of it in our modern era. I am on a journey… and if you want to come along, you are welcome to witness and experience my firsthand account of learning how to be a disciple in an InstaPot world!