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The Importance of Discipleship: Why We Should All Be Discipled and Be Discipling Someone Else
Discipleship is a word you’ll hear a lot at The Crossings, and if you stick around for any length of time, you’ll discover it’s not just talk or a program, it’s the beating heart of everything we’re about. Genuine discipleship is the process of following Jesus closely, letting others pour into you, and then intentionally pouring into someone else. In a world obsessed with self-discovery, Jesus calls us to a better purpose: “Follow me and teach others to do the same.”
Why is discipleship so crucial? Start with the words of Christ Himself, right before He ascended into heaven: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV). Notice, Jesus didn’t say, “Make converts” or “Gather big crowds.” He said, make disciples, multiplying followers who grow, deepen, and are equipped to help others follow Him too.
For the early church, discipleship wasn’t a class to graduate from, but a lifestyle. It meant relationship, accountability, being known, being challenged, and sharing life and faith, day in and day out. Paul gives Timothy this model: “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2, ESV). That’s four generations of disciples right there, Paul, Timothy, faithful men, others, each building up the next.
Unfortunately, it’s easy to settle for a shallow faith. Many Christians today believe as long as they attend church, listen to sermons, and maybe join a study, they’re okay. But if you want your faith to grow deep roots, you need both sides of discipleship: being discipled and discipling someone else.
Being discipled means submitting to wise, mature believers who can call you higher, challenge your blind spots, help you learn and apply the Word, and walk with you through the valleys and victories of life. It’s humbling, and it requires intentionality, no one drifts into maturity by accident. Find a mentor, a group, or a trusted friend who can help you grow, it will make all the difference.
But don’t stop there. Every follower of Christ is also called to make disciples. It doesn’t mean you have to be a pastor, a scholar, or have it all figured out. If you’re a step ahead of someone else, you can encourage, pray for, and share what you’ve learned. Maybe it’s teaching the basics of reading the Bible, meeting for coffee to discuss Scripture, supporting a young parent, or leading a small group. Your experience, your story, and your willingness to serve could change someone’s eternity.
Discipleship isn’t a spiritual pyramid scheme or just a way to fill ministries. It’s the lifeblood of the church. When everyone is being poured into and pouring out, the entire body grows up “into him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15, ESV). Spiritual orphans, those who wander from church to church, never really known, are replaced by a family marked by real transformation, real sacrifice, and real, multiplying life.
At The Crossings, our vision is clear: No one disciples alone. No one gets forgotten. Everyone moving forward, together, following Jesus and helping the next person along the way. If you haven’t taken the next step of finding a mentor or offering to disciple someone else, now is the time. Let’s lean into discipleship because Jesus didn’t just call us to believe; He called us to follow, grow, and multiply.
Pastor Justin |
