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Church Conundrums: Discipleship

Pastor Dan

A young, tired man stood beside a river and said, “I wish there were some way to relieve this dryness in my mouth.” This young man was on a long and arduous journey and was very concerned about keeping up his pace. By God’s grace, a wise man nearby came to the young man and said, “Son, if you stoop down to the water, you can drink as much as you want, and the dryness will go away.” The young man replied, “Sir, I do not have time to do what you have said. I have to keep up with my preferred pace on this journey.” The wise man said, “Drinking from this water will help you to keep a better pace over time than choosing not to invest the time in stopping to drink.” The young man now has to make a decision: Will he continue to try to keep pace, or will he invest time in stopping to drink water? 


18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18–20



The Bible is full of examples of discipleship. We have Moses with Joshua, Eli with Samuel, Elijah with Elisha, Jesus with the Twelve, and Paul with Timothy, to name a handful. There are similarities in these relationships and realities we need to embrace if we hope to strengthen the church and be the men and women of God we are called to be. 


First, discipleship always has a cost. It requires an intentional sacrifice of time, study, prayer, love, and patient perseverance. Second, discipleship is not as complicated as we tend to think it is. Look at Jesus’ example:


13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach

Mark 3:13–14


Discipleship requires someone to initiate the relationship, teach, correct, live an exemplary life, love each other, and be humble. There are many objections to discipleship, especially in our day and age. I will list a few.


No one is wiser, more holy, or knowledgable than I am in God’s Word. 


  • God is the only perfect one in any discipleship relationship. You are stumbling forward in sanctification just like everyone else. Find someone willing to grow in learning God’s word with you and disciple each other. OR… Find someone who you can pour into and watch how they will, over time, be able to pour back into your life. 


I don’t need to be discipled. I have been fine thus far and have grown all on my own.


  • Being fine or okay does not mean you are being healthy or doing what is best for you. It is a logical fallacy for you to think that because you have survived thus far and possibly even grown, there is nothing else you need to do. God’s pattern for your life is that you would be disciples. 


I am too busy to be discipled (or to disciple). 


  • We make time for what is important to us. You need to pray God would convict you of your idolatry regarding your time and that you would willingly sacrifice to engage in a dischipleshop relationship. 


I have trust issues when opening up to others. 


  • First, I understand this sentiment. It is hard to open up after being hurt. However, God is the one who is in control, and He has allowed the hurt you have experienced in the past for your good…not so that you would shut down and close everyone off from your life. While you do not need to open up about all of your feelings and struggles, having an intimate relationship with someone and growing in God’s word together should not be avoided because of past relational trauma. Do not allow the enemy to win in this area of your life! God’s got this!


There is an anemic culture of discipleship in the modern church. We have become so individualistic, private, and proud that even the idea of needing to be discipled could be offensive to some. We are the generation dying to be discipled but too busy to care. We are desperate for deep relationships and to be truly known by others, but we are too broken, jaded, and hurt to open up again. So, we become fearful, self-protecting pessimists who secretly love the idea of gospel companionship but selfishly hold onto our overprotection and idolized time. 


28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. 

Colossians 1:28–29


It is time for a change. It is time to be the Christians we are called to be and build relationships with one or a few others who can know, love, and disciple us. Will you join me in growing in this way? Will you be the change that turns the tides of the times and willingly sacrifices for those who desperately need you, whether or not they realize it or appreciate it? Will you join me in the toil and struggle of presenting everyone mature in Christ?


You may say: I can’t disciple. I’m not trained, equipped, mature enough, etc. Let me encourage you, my friend. All you need is to humbly gather with another believer or two, share what you know and are growing in, and study God’s word together. Ask many questions, pray for each other, support and love each other. Watch what God does as we plant these seeds for a future harvest!


May God bless your week as you seek His kingdom first!


Grace and Peace,

Pastor Dan 

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Colossians 1:28

"Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ."

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