WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
OCTOBER 28, 2024
TOPIC: THE CHURCH MUST EMPHASIZE DISCIPLESHIP
BY T. O. BANSO
“Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1 New King James Version).
When the church was persecuted in Jerusalem, the believers were dispersed and went everywhere. Only the apostles remained in Jerusalem. But the dispersal wasn’t the end of their faith in Christ.
They didn’t say because their pastors (apostles) remained behind in Jerusalem, and no pastor was around to teach or lead them, they couldn’t practise Christianity again. They didn’t wait for the apostles to come and start a fellowship or Bible study group.
The Bible says, “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:4-8 New King James Version). Note the phrase “Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”
Phillip was a deacon, but when he got to Samaria, he became a mighty evangelist. He took Samaria by storm, so much so that the apostles heard about him in Jerusalem and sent Peter and John to confirm what they had been hearing.
Phillip’s job while in Jerusalem was serving food with the six other deacons appointed for that purpose (Acts 6:1-6). There is no record that he stood before people to preach the gospel, led any Bible study group, or performed any miracle! But, when he got to Samaria, where there were no apostles, he preached the Word and miracles started happening.
How could these believers, who were dispersed, have preached the Word? They must have known the Word. What did the apostles do that did not let the dispersal lead to the end of the early church? What did they do that made the church turn adversity into an advantage? What did they do that made ‘ordinary’ believers become preachers? They devoted much time to teaching and discipleship of believers in an atmosphere of love.
The Greek word translated as disciples is mathētḗs. It means a learner, disciple, or pupil. The word mathētḗs is from math – the “mental effort needed to think something through” (Helps WORD-Studies). Mathētḗs means “a learner; a disciple, a follower of Christ who learns the doctrines of Scripture and the lifestyle they require; someone catechized with proper instruction from the Bible with its necessary follow-through (life-applications)” (Helps WORD-Studies).
The Greek word for the verb “to disciple” is mathēteúō – “helping someone to progressively learn the Word of God to become a matured, growing disciple (literally, ‘a learner,’ a true Christ-follower); to train (develop) in the truths of Scripture and the lifestyle required, i.e. helping a believer learn to be a disciple of Christ in belief and practice” (Helps WORD-Studies). Jesus told His apostles to make disciples.
Jesus said, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20 New King James Version). Note the phrase “Make disciples of all the nations.” How?
The Amplified Bible explains this: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.” From this scripture, to make disciples means to help people learn of Christ, believe in Him, and obey His words.
Acts 11:26 says that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. The followers of Christ were first called disciples before they were called Christians by outsiders, probably to ridicule them.
As new believers were being added to the early church, the apostles concentrated not on church building but on building believers to become disciples or followers of Christ so would mature and be like Him in character. “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:41-42 New King James Version).
Verse 42 in the Living Bible says of the new believers: “They joined with the other believers in regular attendance at the apostles’ teaching sessions and at the Communion services and prayer meetings.” The church must develop teaching sessions and encourage new believers to attend regularly so that they can grow. “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2 New International Version). As believers grow, they can be fed the solid food of the Word of God. “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14 New International Version).
The church must give top priority to discipleship so that believers will not remain babies forever, as the writer of Hebrews complains in Hebrews 5:12, “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” (New International Version). Paul told the Corinthians, “I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able” (1 Corinthians 3:2 New King James Version). This shows they were not growing spiritually as they should.
Acts 8:1 says, “Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles” (New King James Version). If this happens to your church today, will the members go everywhere, preaching the Word, as it happened in the early church, or wait for the Pastor to come and plant a church in their towns and cities? Acts 8:4-5 says, “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them” (New King James Version).
During His earthly ministry, Jesus went about preaching but didn’t neglect discipleship. He had many followers, but He had twelve disciples, minus Judas, who stayed with Him till His arrest. Matthew 10:1 says, “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease” (New King James Version).
Luke 9:1-2 says a similar thing: “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick” (New King James Version). Jesus spent enough time with His disciples pouring Himself into them though He ministered to others, too.
The church must emphasize discipleship. We must develop a programme for new and old believers to grow and become like Christ so they can disciple others. This is important so that when they are supposed to be teachers, they will not need someone to teach them the basic principles of God’s revelation again.
The church must design a systematic and sustained programme of discipling believers so they can stand in the Christian faith anywhere they go and whatever happens, as it happened to believers in Jerusalem when the church and not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:11-16 New International Version).
The church must prioritize and accord great importance to discipleship. We must not major in the minor and minor in the major. Discipleship is a major assignment.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, help Your church not to minor in discipleship, but major in it. Help the leadership of each assembly to design a discipleship programme that develops new converts and members into disciples. Touch the hearts of new converts and members to submit themselves for discipleship.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
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Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
