Discipleship

The word discipleship has been around for a long time in the Church, in fact since the very beginning. Jesus gathered disciples, that is, those who would follow him all the way. Jesus taught them publicly and privately. Then after three years when they had witnessed all that Jesus had for them, he left them and told them to go into the world and make disciples, baptizing and teaching. We are so very used to these words.

What we are not used to is how to make these words a reality in today’s church. I was never trained in discipleship, that is, making disciples. I didn’t know the “technique.” I was trained to be a Pastor who would preach, teach and administer the sacraments. It was pretty much for those where were already there in the churches where I was to be called.

But Jesus didn’t do any of that as an end to itself. Now, more and more, churches outside of Lutheranism are talking about making true disciples. Notice the word “making.” There is no “born” disciple. Disciples are made. It is a long process, not a quick program. It is a process designed to mold a few folks into those who will in turn, mold a few more folks…so forth and so on. I understand that it take almost 5 years before a congregation begins to see any “result” in discipleship training. Congregations who have been doing this for several years actually have a full time staff person who does only discipleship.

As I reflect back on my years in ordained ministry, it would have been great to have had discipleship training at the core of the churches I have served. That is now for the next generation of Pastors in the Lutheran Church which still doesn’t teach how to make disciples. We have the words, but not the substance. I believe God will open the door for me and a few others to take the steps toward making disciples and in the mean time, I am standing in front of that door.