When we read the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), we can mistakenly read it as a call to evangelize, to proclaim the gospel message. And while that is part of Christâs commission to us, it is only part of it. To make disciples is to teach and train our fellow believers to become mature followers of Jesus; to help them âobserve everything [Jesus] commandedâ us (Matthew 28:20), as they grow in their knowledge of, obedience to, and love for the Lord.
But growing in spiritual maturity isnât one thing. It is the culmination of all the formal and informal instruction, guidance, and encouragement we receive in all times and places and every area of life (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Acts 20:17-24). The best word to describe this is edification (1 Corinthians 10:23; Ephesians 4:16), a word that conveys the idea of building one another upâof helping one another mature in our faith.
We Don’t Grow in Isolation
I sometimes struggle with the âone anotherâ aspect of discipleship. It feels a bit too much like school group projects, which were always the worst since I usually ended up doing all the work, while my partners got to reap the benefits. Iâm much more comfortable thinking about spiritual growth from an individual perspective. And I know Iâm not alone in this. Many of us think about spiritual disciplinesâpractices that help us grow in our faithâin this way. We gravitate to what we can on our own. So when we read and study the Bible, pray, read books like this one, listen to podcasts, journal, or do anything else we might do regularly to grow in our faith, we do it alone.
There is a place for solitary activitiesâfor time alone with God. Jesus modeled this, especially in prayer (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; 6:46; Luke 6:12). Careful contemplation and reflection often require solitude. But solitary activities alone are not enough to grow us into the image of Christ. Discipleship is not fully experienced individually because it is not possible to edify yourself. Edification requires community. It requires the church, the people of God, working together to build one another up in the gospel (Romans 14:19; 15:2; Ephesians 4:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Discipleship is Life Together
Discipleship is a (healthy) group project. No one person is required to do all the work. We all have a part to play, and we all benefit. So we learn together through preaching and teaching (Ephesians 4:11-13) and Bible studies. We bring one anotherâs needs to God in prayer. We explore, discuss, and apply books together. And we serve our communities together. As we watch one anotherâs lives, we learn by example what it means to follow Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:1). We learn to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). We learn to faithfully walk through suffering, grief, and hardshipâthings only experience can teach.
This is discipleship in its truest sense. It is life together, worshiping Jesus by growing together. Because when we are together, we can consider how to spur one another on to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). We build one another up and encourage one another in relationship (1 Corinthians 12:26; Galatians 6:2). We grow deeper in our understanding of our identity as believersâas people who are new creations in Christ, created for good works (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10).
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