We’ve considered how the church is the Covenant Community (two weeks ago) and the Gospel Community (last week). This week we’ll consider how the church is the Discipleship Community – comprised of learners and followers of Jesus, growing in maturity and multiplying in numbers. There should be no difference between ‘Christian’ and ‘Disciple’ – those who are baptised into God’s covenant and gospel community – the body and bride of Christ – are his disciples. Adults in the church are disciples because they choose to follow Jesus. Children in the church are disciples because their parents choose to teach Jesus and model Jesus to them. When Jesus commands us to ‘make disciples’, he’s not commanding us to make finished products. He’s commanding us to make learning 'works-in-progress', which we all are. Baptism doesn’t represent a final touch, but a new identity and purpose in Christ and in his body, the church.
