Making disciples is strategic. And we are called to be disciples.

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 28:19-20

A disciple is a person who has decided to be with someone else in order to learn from them how to do what they do. A disciple of Christ is one who chooses to be with and dependent on Christ in order to learn from Him how to live his life as Christ would live his life. Being a disciple of Christ is not merely completing a curriculum or believing the right things and thus something that can be completely mastered. It is a process that begins with a choice to follow Christ now and begin “reigning in life” with Him (Rom. 5:17), and never ends as we “reign with Him forever and ever” (Rev. 22:5). If we are to become a disciple of Christ, then He must be our Discipler, our Teacher our Example and not someone else. In the process of Christian discipleship, a more mature believer comes alongside a less mature believer to help them connect and remain connected with Christ.

In order to bring clarity to what discipleship to Him entails, Jesus exhorts us to count the cost of becoming His disciple (Luke 14:26-33). Jesus makes very clear what the only approach to discipleship to Him is that results in success: it is choosing to place Christ ahead of friends and family and possessions; it is believing there is nothing more important than discipleship to Jesus; it is responding in obedience to Christ’s call to “follow Me.” Likewise, one is also wise to consider the much greater cost of non-discipleship to Jesus. (John 6:66-68)

At Midland Bible this process of Christian discipleship will take on many forms. It may be one-on-one, one-on-a-few, or one-on-many. It may be a specific bible study or a time of being mentored on how to do life. It will involve discovering God’s unique purpose for you and then being equipped and plugged-in to accomplish that purpose. It will ultimately extend beyond learning about God to discovering how to experience Him more deeply. It will include passing the process on to others; of not only being discipled but also discipling others. This process of discipleship is what the local church is to be about.

We said earlier that one should count the cost of being a disciple of Christ before making the choice.

One should also count the cost of rejecting this invitation.