At Three Rivers, in Grove, OK, we recognize that discipleship is the central component to the Christian life and the life of the church. Whether a new convert or a mature believer, every Christian is a disciple, with the expectation that they will be trained, equipped, and engaged in making new disciples for God’s kingdom. Churches that are more concerned about catering to seekers than training disciples are failing in their calling and responsibility.
As Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” The call to follow Jesus Christ is the call to “deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow him” (Mark 8:34). In essence, a disciple is a learner – someone who patterns their life after another. As Christians we are called to pattern our lives after Jesus Christ, who humbled himself to the point of death even death on a cross (Phil 2:5-8). Those who have been chosen by God, effectually called by the Holy Spirit, and redeemed by Jesus Christ are in the process of being conformed more and more into his image and likeness (Rom. 8:29-30). Therefore, every aspect of our lives should reflect Jesus Christ. Whether it be in our careers, marriages, families, relationships, how we spend our free time, or what we do with our money – all of life should be informed by God’s word and lived in a way that resembles our Savior.
At Three Rivers, we recognize that Sunday morning is instrumental in the formation of disciples. Nothing can replace gathering together with God’s people, week by week, and worshipping him in the corporate gathering of the church. Sitting under the preaching of God’s word, participating in the means of grace, and being accountable to a local body of elders under the authority of Christ is essential for growth in discipleship. There is no such thing as lone-wolf Christianity.
Apart from Sunday worship, discipleship involves doing life together. It includes godly men and women shepherding the next generation in the faith. The Apostle Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). As Paul imitated Christ, he wanted Christians to imitate him. Paul also said to Timothy, his young protégé in faith, “Follow the pattern of sounds words that you have heard from me in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:13). These two verses embody what discipleship is all about. It is about imitating and following the examples of mature Christians who are imitating Christ. This is done in a variety of ways at Three Rivers: one-on-one relationships, small groups, or larger gatherings. Whether it is getting coffee with a friend, cultivating personal relationships by participating in church events, sharing a meal together, or joining a small group Bible study, we believe that true discipleship takes place in the mundane, day-to-day, ebbs and flows of life.
In order for the church to flourish each person should be in process of being discipled and discipling someone else. Disciples are disciple-makers!
For more information about how you can grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, please reach out to Pastor Spencer: spencer@3riverspca.com
