Grant Kaul, Senior Pastor
The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2
How many apps do you have on your smartphone? Of course, you can add or subtract apps at will, but it does not affect the functionality of your phone. This is because your operating system runs your phone and manages your apps. All computers must have an operating system to run other programs.
When it comes to discipleship in the local church, developing disciples is not an app we add to our OS, but a core function of how we operate. When we fail to focus on seeing people come to know Christ and grow deep in Him, we have an operating system failure.
So, how do we operate? How do we define discipleship? Let me give you a definition: Discipleship is the intentional and relational process of maturing Christ-centered believers and mobilizing them for ministry. This is the mandate of Jesus, who modeled it for us in His earthly ministry with His disciples (Matt. 28:18-20).
Simply stated, we are involved in discipling others when we help fellow believers take their next steps in their walk as followers of Christ. Like raising children or coaching a team, discipleship is much more relational and organic. It occurs when we are intentional in our relational investments, whether in our small groups, classrooms, or conversations with other believers. Discipleship occurs when we talk and train others about how God and His word develop our worship, character, relationships, ministry, and careers.
Investing in the spiritual development of believers so they can maturely walk with Christ is not part of what we do; it is at the heart of what we do. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Even though there are many applications, discipleship is the operating system behind everything we do.
No matter where you are in your walk with Christ, Discipleship is an excellent next step, and we have great opportunities to walk with you in Discipleship! Learn more at www.fellowshipwaco.org/discipleship.
