"Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me. "
Matthew 11:29
LEARNING AND GROWING
Read It: 2 Peter 3:18
What does it mean to be a disciple? What does a disciple look like in real life? What do we have to do today to be disciples? Those are good questions. We're going to try and answer them over the next four weeks as we look at the subject of discipleship and some of the fascinating ing people Jesus called to be His disciples. Let's start with a definition. The Greek word for disciple means learner. A disciple is a student. That means he has some data, some information he needs to receive from his teacher or discipler. A disciple needs to hear and to know what the teacher wants known. But gathering information is not enough. So the disciple must also practice what he is learning and develop the skills his discipler wants him to perform. The process of discipleship is not concerned alone with how much data you can absorb. It is also concerned with how much you can do. So if a disciple does not move from data to execution, the process has failed.
The Apostle Peter said we are to grow in grace, not just knowledge. A surgeon goes to medical school and learns all the parts of the body and all the equipment used for surgery. But they don't turn him loose until he has done an internship. The professors know there is a major difference ence between learning in a classroom how to cut somebody open and cutting ting somebody open. What difference does it make whether the process of discipleship works or not? Just ask someone lying on an operating table! Now let me give you a definition of New Testament discipleship. It is that process of spiritual development that occurs in the framework of accountable relationships in the local church, whereby Christians are progressively gressively brought from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity. Then they are able to repeat the process with others. That's a mouthful, so we'll break it down this week and next as we answer the questions above. Note especially the last part of that definition. tion. Discipleship is meant to be reproduced. As you become a more mature disciple, you teach others what you have learned-not to make them like you, but to make them like Jesus. Think About It You can come to church every Sunday, year in and year out, and actually be worse off if you aren't doing what you're learning.
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