What you’ll learn today

In this article I’m going to tell you all about 5 chapters of the Bible that focus on discipleship: Hebrews 11, Matthew 10, John 13, Acts 2, and Philippians 2. A disciple is someone who faithfully follows the instructions of their master. For Christians, our master is Jesus Christ, who is the “author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). As you read these chapters I hope that you gain knowledge, understanding, and encouragement to develop your discipleship!

Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11 is jampacked with examples of believers who had faith in God despite backbreaking challenges. This chapter is written as a highlight reel of victories. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gedeon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, and Samuel are all highlighted. These believers put God’s Word first even facing mighty circumstances. They choose to rely on God, The Almighty. Verse 11 stands out to me today, and it says that Sara “delivered… a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.” Sara was fully persuaded that what God promised He was also able to perform. We walk in the footsteps of these outstanding, faithful, disciples. It’s encouraging to know that God will work in us powerfully like He did for them when we put Him first.

Matthew 10

Matthew 10 names the 12 disciples (apostles): Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus, Simon, and Judas. In this chapter Jesus sends these 12 to preach the kingdom of heaven to Israel, and he gave them holy spirit power to cast out evil spirits, heal the sick, cleanse lepers, and even raise the dead back to life. This is the holy power of God. Because we were born again through faith in Jesus Christ, we also have holy spirit – given and received freely – and can do the same works as these men. Trust in God wherever you go and have no fear, have strength and power in Jesus Christ’s name.

John 13

In John 13, Jesus washed the 12 disciples feet – even Judas, who he knew would betray him. Jesus told them in verses 14-15, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” Then in verse 34 Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love on another.” Learn more about loving one another in my recent post Love One Another. This commandment should be our whole identity as followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus loved Judas and washed his feet despite his imminent betrayal, and now we have an example of how to treat others whether we like them or not. We love not because we are good, but because He is good.

Acts 2

Acts 2 documents the pouring out of the holy spirit to the apostles, who then spoke in tongues so that those who witnessed it heard them speak of the wonderful works of God in their own native tongues. This was miraculous because the apostles weren’t fluent in the languages that they spoke, but by inspiration of God they still communicated God’s Word in at least 17 different dialects or languages. Verses 9-11 say “Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamia, Judaea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya, Rome, Jews, proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians.” Not only this, the 12 stood up simultaneously and Peter preached the gospel and over 3,000 people were born again and received holy spirit. The new church continued obeying the doctrine of the apostles, which was the doctrine of the Jesus Christ, and ate together, prayed together, and shared of their surplus to meet each other’s needs. This community was built upon a firm foundation, Jesus. And if we do the same actions with the same heart as the new church did 2,000 years ago, we will have comparable results. The closing verse 47 says, “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved”; whether someone gets born again is up to them, and only God knows who that will be. Our job as Christians is to faithfully present the gospel with love so that others get the opportunity to experience the wonderful works of God. That’s discipleship.

Philippians 2

Philippians 2 provides specific doctrine for Christians on how to be disciples in the church. Something that sticks out to me immediately is verse 2 which says, “fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” How much division is there in the modern day church? Not to say this is the most divided time ever, but there is still much more work to be done. As modern churches compete over the membership of hundreds, they alienate thousands. Shouldn’t we rejoice when someone is won to the Lord, regardless of where and by who? Do we think so highly of ourselves that we try to lord over one another instead of helping one another? “… in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (verse 3). I understand this is difficult sometimes: if it wasn’t then it wouldn’t have to be written down. But we can be so much more united than we are today by deciding to work together, love one another, and replace competition with thankfulness. We are family because we are children of God, and therefore we are on the same team and should have the same goal. We have an irrevocable RSVP to the same destination to be with the Father, so let’s keep spreading the Word of God, together with love.

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