discipleship trio

discipleship is such an essential part of a christ-follower's life, but we throw the word around so casually. what is discipleship?  many times we can be focused on sharing the gospel, but fail to live life with one another.  we get holed up in our own lives, focused on our own problems, and aimlessly wondering about our own lives trying to figure this whole "christian" thing out, alone.

that is not the way that the christian life was designed.

jesus himself is a relational being: three in one.  father, son, and holy spirit in perfect union and perfect community with each other.  

2 corinthians 5:19b-20a tells us that as christ-followers, the message of christ is our responsibility to share.

"...and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.  therefore, we are ambassadors for christ, God making his appeal through us...."

in 2 timothy 2:1-2 , paul says to timothy, 

"but you, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in christ jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witness entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."   

in matthew 28:18-20, jesus tells his disciples, and jesus came to them saying, 

"all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all that i have commanded you. and behold i am with you always, to the end of the age."

and 1 thessalonians 2:8 reminds us that we are to give ourselves, not just the gospel,

"so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us."

this is discipleship.

you don't have to have it all figured out. you don't have to know a bunch of stuff. you don't have to be an expert teacher.  you just have to be willing to walk beside someone and see them grow.  we can take the perfect example from jesus.  who called a group of 12 guys, not a mega congregation.  he walked beside 12 guys day in and day out, seeing that they grow in their relationship with the father.

let's look at our own lives.  discipleship, living life side-by-side, is essential to our growth and spiritual maturity.  we need a paul, a barnabas, and a timothy to meet with each week.

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paul

a wiser christ-follower who invests in your life

barnabas

a christ-follower our age and same spiritual maturity to help hold you accountable

timothy

younger christ-follower you commit to walk beside and see grow in their relationship with christ

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i currently need a paul in my life.  i have barnabas and timothy, and what a blessing they are in my life.  but i desire to have a paul come along side and help me grow.  it takes courage to ask to be discipled.   

you are a PAUL to someone, you are a BARNABAS to someone, and you are a TIMOTHY to someone.  

if you don't step out and take a step of obedience in discipleship, you are preventing someone of having a discipleship trio. here, i am guilty. let's grow together.