The Apostle Paul’s Model of Discipleship
Be imitators of me just as I also am of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Generally speaking, there hasn’t been any shortage of Biblical teaching about the desire/need that every follower of Christ has to discover/live God’s plan and purposes for their lives. Yet, even with an abundance of good teaching, knowing and living God’s plan remains an elusive, and seemingly unreachable, goal for many. The results have been devastating for individual believers and the church of Jesus Christ. Individual believers drift aimlessly through life, fighting off the resultant boredom, frustration, and apathy by grabbing onto whatever trend is currently sweeping through the church. Meanwhile, the corporate church, being the gathered expression of these individual believers, has turned inward lacking the direction, vitality, and sense of purpose essential for effective witness in the world.
The problem has not been with what was presented but the context in which it has been presented. For most, the embracing of God’s plan for their life will require monumental life change that can be accomplished only by God’s grace over a period of months or possibly years. Dying to self, re-ordering life priorities, learning to love, developing a Biblical worldview, living in community and finding one’s place of service within the body of Christ will require intentionality, a plan, hard work, perseverance, much prayer, Biblical instruction, encouragement, and accountability.
The kind of life change we envision will not take place in a 6 or 8 week seminar but under the direction of a loving shepherd, in a meaningful relationship with other believers (community) over an extended period of time. It will also be important to create the necessary structure and environment, whereby people will have a platform to live out their call. This will include networking with existing churches and ministries but most likely will require everyone to develop entrepreneurial skills and expertise. Innovative, creative ministry, directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit, unencumbered by tradition and unnecessary regulation, yet held in accountable relationships that provide theological integrity, financial accountability, and legal compliance. It will be ministry out of the box.
The Apostle Paul’s Model for Discipleship
The apostle Paul provides a model for ministry in his letters to the churches, a model that we can follow as we seek to help others discover and live out God’s plan for their lives. The letter to the Colossians is a good example.
· Paul was clear about his own call (as an apostle to the Gentiles) and the authority that he had because of that call. As shepherds to God’s church, we have been called/authorized to shepherd God’s people. Our authority rests in our call and in our faithfulness to teach the Word of God.
· Paul gave thanks for the people that God had entrusted to him, even though many times they were difficult, immature and a rebellious bunch. He was thankful for their faith in the Lord Jesus, their faithfulness to Christ in the midst of trials and persecution and for their witness, which could potentially result in martyrdom. We need to be thankful for all whom God would entrust to us in this process of discovery.
· Paul prayed “without ceasing” for the churches he planted, that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, bear fruit in every good work, be strengthened with all power and that they would attain all steadfastness and patience. Prayer releases the power of God and brings spiritual insight, understanding, and wisdom. We will need to pray “often” for those who are in this discovery process.
· Paul also spent significant time teaching them sound doctrine, about God, about their identity in Christ and how they were to live as the people of God. We cannot assume that people know and understand even the basics about God, the world in which we live, our identity as believers in Jesus or what God requires of us as a response to His love and grace that we receive as a result of our salvation.
· Upon the completion of teaching sound doctrine Paul always called for a response. In the majority of his letters, he would begin with what was true about God or them as believers in Jesus and then would say because these things are true live in this way. God expects that His commands will be obeyed. We need to remind ourselves and others that obedience is not optional but is to be practiced at all times and in all circumstances, even when it is difficult or costly for us personally.
· Finally, Paul spent much time encouraging, modeling and holding the churches accountable to those things they had been taught and also, in the commitments they had made to God and each other. Life change, developing new habits and changing the way we think takes time and perseverance. We must create for people an environment where they can experiment, fail, succeed and mature in faith.
It is a great privilege to be used by God to help other disciples of Jesus grow in faith and godliness. It can also be frustrating and discouraging if we don’t see any movement in people’s lives. If you haven’t always had the results you desired when discipling others give Paul’s example a try. It is a model that works even today. “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”
Author
Pastor Bruce is the Executive Director of God's Living Stones. He lives in Omaha, NE, with his wife Barb. They have two adult children.
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