Humility in Discipleship

What is Humility?

“Humility can refer to a state of being—generally lowness in status rank or economic means. In this sense, humility is the opposite of importance or wealth. It can also refer to a virtue that involves a modest self-perception. In this sense, it is the opposite of pride and arrogance.” (Gleaves, G. S. (2014). Humility. In D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Lexham Press.)

For the topic of humility in discipleship we will use the definition that humility is the absence of pride or arrogance. So, what is pride? Pride refers to an unwarranted attitude of confidence. While pride can have a positive connotation of self-worth or boasting, it is often used in Scripture to refer to an unhealthy elevated view of one’s self, abilities, or possessions.

Therefore, if pride is a focus on self then humility is focused on others. Discipleship requires a view of others inserts above your own.

What is Discipleship?

“Discipleship is the process of devoting oneself to a teacher to learn from and become more like them. For the Christian, this refers to the process of learning the teachings of Jesus and following after his example in obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit. Discipleship not only involves the process of becoming a disciple but of making other disciples through teaching and evangelism.” (Byrley, C. (2014). Discipleship. In D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Lexham Press.)

Discipleship in the 1st century was to live with you teacher as students. It was life-on-life relationships. This is different than the way it is often thought of today. Today when Christians hear the word “discipleship”, they think of having a one-on-one Bible study. However, you can have discipling relationships while running together, playing golf, weight lifting, knitting, painting, or almost anything else that two Christians can do together. But doing these things together is not enough for discipleship, because these actives alone are just fellowship.

Fellowship is when you share something in common and do it with others. Discipleship can be a y type of fellowship but with the purpose of teaching and training all things. Grist taught us. Sometimes that teaching will be in the form of form teaching and other times the example we set for others.

Who Should Disciple?

Matthew 28:19–20 NASB95

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Characteristics of Humility in Discipleship (Philippians 1:6-20)

Philippians 1:6–20 NASB95

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

1. Confidence in Others (v. 6)

Philippians 1:6 NASB95

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

We must trust in the work God is doing in other people’s life. In business, failure can get you fired, but in the church we disciple people to learn from their mistakes. But we trust in the God that is working through the people’s life that we are discipling.

We make mistakes. Others will make mistakes. But God! But God not only begins the good work in us but also is the finisher of that faith. We are just the tools that God uses to sharpen us, to mold us, to mature us. While we disciple others we have to look are what God is teaching the person not what we are teaching the person.

2. Heart Felt Love for Others (vs. 7-8)

Philippians 1:7–8 NASB95

For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Why is it right for Paul to feel this way about the Philippians. Because he has a great love for them and puts them before himself. Our overarching motivation in discipleship must be love for the other person.

You may ask, “but what about when that person hurts me.” People will hurt you. Expect it when discipline others. However, if you are motivated by love and humility then you will remember that we hurt Christ far more then anyone hurts us.

3. Desire for the Learning of Others (vs. 9-11)

Philippians 1:9–11 NASB95

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

We must want the best for the person we are discipling not ourselves.

4. Sincere (v. 10)

Philippians 1:10 NASB95

so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

The word “sincere” means something found pure when unfolded and examined by the sun’s light. “In ancient Rome fine pottery was relatively thin and fragile and often developed cracks while being fired. Unscrupulous shops would fill the cracks with hard, dark wax, which would be concealed when the object was painted or glazed but would melt when the pottery was filled with something hot. In ordinary light, the deception was usually undetectable, but when held up to the sunlight it was clearly exposed, because the wax appeared darker. Reputable dealers would often stamp their products sine cera (“without wax”) as a guarantee of high quality.”

We are not to put on a happy face in front of others. As people who disciple others we must be willing to be transparent. Yes that means some will use that transparency against us. But we are nothing and Christ is everything.

5. Model-ship (vs. 12-14)

Philippians 1:12–14 NASB95

Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.

We are to be an example to others, not just in what we teach but also in what we do. We teach far more in our behavior than our words. When we understand that we are always living under a microscope and always being watched by others. This will humble us.

6. Honesty and Transparency (vs. 15-17)

Philippians 1:15–17 NASB95

Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.

A godly discipler does not hide when they fall into sin, temptation, or struggles, knowing that we all struggle and others need to learn from our struggles as much as their own.

7. Always Directing Other to Christ (vs. 18-20)

Philippians 1:18–20 NASB95

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Paul was willing to rejoice in those that are spreading slander about him, because the gospel is going forth. His focus was more on Christ than himself. We too must be more focused on Christ than ourselves.

An Eternal Perspective

Paul had had eternal perspective. That is what makes him humble in discipleship. We must have an eternal perspective. This is what led Paul to say:

Philippians 1:21–24 NASB95

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

Paul preferred death to be with the One he loves so much over life to disciple others. Do we love Christ so much that we see death as greater then life?