Sermon Tone Analysis

Discipleship Models

There is no shortage of materials and resources on the topic of discipleship, and yet there isn’t clarity or consensus on what discipleship is.

Each church or ministry operates with its own understanding of the biblical text.

Author Michael Wilkins has identified five prominent models that shape how discipleship is understood today.13

Disciples are learners

The Greek word for “disciple,” mathētēs, comes from the verb to learn and was used to describe “one who puts himself/herself under the teaching authority of a great teacher though it has no reference to whether or not the person is a Christian.”14

The use of the term in Scripture seems to mean more than a learner, though, and includes a posture of following and personal devotion (e.g., Acts 11:26).

Disciples are committed believers

This view sees discipleship as a step taken after salvation.

This model looks at Jesus’s challenge to “count the cost” and focuses on those who left all to follow Jesus in comparison to the crowds and “ordinary” believers.15

This model is commonly used today but also has some problems.

First, when Jesus invites others to count the cost, is it a call to salvation or to a deeper commitment (see Matt. 19:16–22 and Luke 14:25–33)?

Second, assuming this model implies that there are less mature Christians and more committed Christians, it is difficult to give biblical support for a “two-class system” of Christians.16

Disciples are ministers

This model sees the disciples as those whom Jesus called to ministry, and so they are the ones called to serve others in ministry and missions.

This model is prominent in church traditions that make a strong distinction between clergy (pastors) and laity and have a strong hierarchical structure.

Wilkins says that this model has problems in that it too creates a two-tiered structure and is difficult to support with the use of “disciples” and other words in the New Testament.

Disciples are converts; discipleship comes later

This model separates salvation from discipleship.

To “make disciples” means to make converts, and then discipleship is something that begins later.

The problem is that the disciple-making commission also included “baptizing” and “teaching” in its command.

Wilkins asks if it’s even possible to be a disciple without being involved in discipleship.

Disciples are converts who are in the process of discipleship

This model sees discipleship not as an optional second step but as what it means to be a Christian.

As Jesus called others to him, he also sent people out to make other disciples, meaning,

“Growth in discipleship was the natural result of the new disciple’s life.”

This is a widely held view of discipleship, though the emphasis can vary among such things as a personal commitment, a disciple’s impact on society, growth within the community of believers, or a focus on missional ministry.

What model best characterizes the one you heard in church?

What model do you feel this church is best at?

Which one resonates with you as you understand discipleship?

Why do you hold that view?

Perhaps the best way to start unpacking how we think about discipleship is to finish this sentence:

If someone is a true disciple of Jesus, then he or she . . .

How we respond to this prompt is telling about how we think of discipleship and how we present its essence to others.

This is especially true when we teach young people.

We are quick to reduce complexities into short phrases so that they can be understood.

When we do that, we may inadvertently be presenting a form of discipleship that may not be faithful to Scripture or that offers only a partial view.

Terry Linhart.

Teaching the Next Generations: A Comprehensive Guide for Teaching Christian Formation (pp.

10-11).

Baker Publishing Group.

Kindle Edition.