DISCIPLESHIP: Ophunzila Omwe Atumidwa

Kukaphinzitsa Ena/Kukachita
Chiphunzitso
Reading: Mathew 28: 19 – 20, Acts
1:8 People ask
why is it
What is meant by discipleship
important?
Tanthauzo
and la Kukhala Uphunzila/ Wa chiphunzitso

The Great Commission

Utumwi/ Kutumizidwa Kukagwila Ntchito Yophunzitsa

What is the difference between a Christian and

a disciple?
Kusiyana kwa Nkhilisitu and Wophunzila wa Yesu
Christu Yemwe watumizidwa Kukaphunzitsa

………………………………………
What is discipleship in Christianity?
Tanthauzo la kuphunzitsa mu Chichristu

What are the characteristics/qualities

of discipleship?
Maonekedwe/Makhalidwa a Atumwi ophunzitsa

How would you define discipleship in your life?

Mungafotokoze bwanji Moyo wanu pa ntchito
yomwe Yesu anatituma Kukaphunzitsa

What is the purpose of discipleship?

Cholinga Cheni Cheni cha Kuphunzitsa

What are some examples of discipleship as displayed

by Jesus Christ?
Zitsanzo Zomwe Yese Christu Anaonetsa
pantchito
Yophunzitsa/ Yautumwi
Question: What is the Great
Commission? Kodi Utumwi/ Ntchito
Kutumizidwa Kukagwila Yophunzitsa
Ndi Chiyani
Answe
r
Matthew 28:19–20contains what has come to
be called the Great Commission: “Therefore go and
make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to
the very end
of the age.”
Jesus gave this command to the apostles shortly before
He ascended into heaven, and it essentially
outlines what Jesus expected the apostles and
those who followed them to do in His
absence.
The only direct command in Matthew 28:19–20 is
“make disciples.” The Great Commission instructs us to
make disciples while we are going throughout
the world.
The instructions to “go,” “baptize,” and “teach” are
indirect commands.
How are we to make disciples? By baptizing them and
teaching them all that Jesus commanded. “Mak
e disciples” is the primarycommand of the
Great Commission. “Going,” “baptizing,” and
“teaching” are the means by which we fulfill the
command to “make disciples.”
The command in the Great Commission to
“make disciples” means to teach or train people to
follow and obey Christ.

Many understand Acts 1:8as part of the

Great Commission as well: “But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will
be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The Great Commission is enabled by the power of the
Holy Spirit. We are to be Christ’s witnesses,
fulfilling the Great Commission in our cities
(Jerusalem), in our states and countries (Judea
and Samaria), and anywhere else God sends us (to
the ends of the earth).
Throughout the book of Acts, we see how the
apostles began to fulfill the Great Commission, as
outlined in Acts 1:8. First, Jerusalem is evangelized
(Acts 1 — 7); then the Spirit expands the church
through Judea and Samaria (Acts 8 — 12); finally, the
gospel reaches into “the ends of the earth” (Acts 13 —
28).
Today, we continue to act as ambassadors for Chris
t, and “we plead on Christ’s behalf: ‘Be reconciled
to God’” (2 Corinthians 5:20, CSB).

We have received a precious gift: “the faith that

was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” (Jude
1:3). Jesus’ words in the Great Commission reveal the
heart of God, who desires “all people to be saved
and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2
:4). The Great Commission compels us to share the
good news until everyone has heard.
………………………………………….
Question: What is Christian discipleship? Who
is a disciple

Answer
A disciple is someone who receives instruction
from another person; a Christian
disciple is a baptized follower of Christ, one
who believes the teaching of Christ.
A disciple of Christ imitates Jesus’ example, clings
to His sacrifice, believes in His resurrection, possesses
the Holy Spirit, and lives to do His work.
By definition, a disciple is a follower, one who accepts
and assists in spreading the doctrines of another. A
Christian disciple is a person who accepts and assists in
the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ.

Christian discipleship is the process by which disciples

grow in the Lord Jesus Christ and are equipped by the
Holy Spirit, who resides in our hearts, to overcome the
pressures and trials of this present life and become
more and more Christlike.
This process requires believers to respond to the Holy
Spirit’s prompting to examine their thoughts, words
and actions and compare them with the Word of God.

This requires that we be in the Word daily—studying it,

praying over it, and obeying it.

In addition, we should always be ready to

give testimony of the reason for the hope that is
within us (1 Peter 3:15) and to disciple others to walk
in His way.

…………………………………………
…
Question: What is difference between a
the Christian and a
disciple?
Answe
r
The terms disciple and Christian are related but
not synonymous.

The Greek term for “disciple” in the New Testament is

mathetes, which means more than just “student”
or “learner.”

A disciple is a “follower,” someone who

adheres completely to the teachings of another,
making them his rule of life and conduct.
The Pharisees prided themselves in being disciples
of
Moses (John 9:28). Jesus’ followers were called
“disciples” long before they were ever called
“Christians.” Their discipleship began with Jesus’
call and required them to exercise their will to follow
Him (Matthew 9:9).

Jesus was quite explicit about the cost of following

Him. Discipleship requires a totally committed
life: “Any of you who does not give up everything
he has cannot be my disciple” (
Luke 14:33). Sacrifice is expected: “Jesus said to
his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he
must deny himself and take up his cross and
follow me’” (Matthew 16:24).
Not all of Jesus’ followers were able to make such
a commitment. There were many who left Jesus after
a while. “From this time many of his disciples
turned back and no longer followed him”
(John 6:66).

Jesus used the term disciple but never Christian.

The first instance of the word Christian is found in the
book of Acts: “The disciples were first called
Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). Most Bible
scholars agree that it is unlikely that the believers
themselves thought up the name “Christians.” The
early church had other names for themselves, such
as “disciples” (Acts 13:52; 20:1; 21:4) and “saints” (
Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1; Ephesians 1:1)
and “brothers” (1 Corinthians 1:9;
1 Peter 3:8).
The name “Christian,” meaning “belonging to
Christ,” appears to have been invented by those
outside of the church. It was most likely meant as a
derogatory term.

Only two other times does the word appear in the New
Testament (Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). The idea that the
term Christian was originally a pejorative finds
some support in 1 Peter 4:16: “However, if you
suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise
God that you bear that name.”

Biblically speaking, a Christian is a disciple of Christ. A

Christian is someone who has placed his faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:12). A Christian has been
born again by the power of the Holy Spirit (John
3:3). A Christian “belongs to Christ” and is
daily being transformed into the likeness of Christ
(2 Corinthians 3:18).
A true Christian (and not one in name only) will have to
be a disciple of Christ as well. That is, he has counted
the cost and has totally committed his life to following
Jesus. He accepts the call to sacrifice and
follows wherever the Lord leads. The Christian
disciple completely adheres to the teaching of
Jesus, makes Christ his number-one priority, and
lives accordingly. He is actively involved in
making other Christian disciples (Matthew 28:19–20
).

A true Christian disciple is a believer in Christ

and possesses new life through the indwelling Holy
Spirit. Because he loves Christ, a Christian will also
be an obedient disciple (John 14:15).
Paul describes the reality of
being a Christian disciple: “I have been crucified
with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in
me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for
me” (Galatians 2:20).

………………………………………………
QUESTION: What are qualities of
discipleship?
Qualities of discipleship include going to share
the Good News to non-believers, teaching, loving
God, loving others, standing out, denying ourselves,
being firm in God’s word, fellowship with other
believers, imitators of Christ, dedicated,
steadfast, and investing in missions.
Below I will talk about each quality of discipleship
and how we can implement them in our lives to help
further the Kingdom of God.
1.
Go
To make disciples we need to go, we can not stay in our
comfort zones and hope to exemplify to others what
it means to be a follower of Christ.
Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 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

We read in Matthew that Jesus commands us to go, as

Christians, we don’t have the choice to stay still
and watch from the sidelines, we are called to be active.
2.
Teach
Reading the Great Commission in Matthew
28:19,20 we also hear the command, “teaching them
to observe all that I have commanded you.” We
should be educating others on what we know about
God and his word.
Looking in the Bible, Paul’s letters to Timothy and
Titus are for them to instruct those who do not know
or do not understand the gospel. As we disciple
others, we should take this command seriously
and teach others to help them grow in their walks
with Christ.
3. Love
God
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy
6:5

This is a very important verse we should love

God completely. We even see in the New
Testament that Jesus reiterates this verse in Matthew
when he is asked what the greatest commandment is.
If we cannot love God completely then we cannot
lead others to love God.
Disciples of the Lord must love Him with their
whole heart. They must set aside idols and obsessions
and give their whole heart to the Lord.
4. Love
Others
We get to love others because Christ loved us, and with
this love we want them to know about God’s plan
for salvation. Jesus even tells us that the second
greatest commandment is to “love your neighbor as
yourself” (Matthew 22:39). Throughout the Old
and New Testament, we see the need to care and love
for others.
In John 13, Jesus says that we will be known
as disciples of Jesus, and our love for others is
what will set us apart. Our love for others is an
important quality when discipling others.
5. Stand
Out
As much as we sometimes want to fit in with the
world around us, we as Christians should desire to
stand out and truly look different so others know
that we are followers of Christ.
In the same way, let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works and give
glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

Jesus calls us a light we want to shine because of

our actions and how we love one another. Our actions
and how we set ourselves apart from the world
will be a testimony to our faith sometimes more
than the words we tell those we are discipling.
6. Denying
Ourselves
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me,
let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and
follow me.
Luke 9:23

We as Christians, especially when we are discipling

others, no longer live in a world that has a
“me” mentality. Instead, we live for a bigger
purpose as Christians to help share the gospel by
making disciples.
Jesus encourages us in the New testament to “take
up his cross,” we are not signing up for an easy
life as Christians but get to live as a part of God’s
Kingdom and share the good news with others.
7. Firm in the Word of God
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him,
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you
free.”
John 8:31-
32

God’s word is a guide for us as Christians and when

we are rooted in the scripture then you can more
effectively share the gospel and disciple others. When
we abide in God’s word we can know God.
The Bible is God’s word to us, any Church or
Christian mentor will encourage you to dig into God’s
word.
God communicates to us through His Word.
Without knowing God through His Word, we cannot
effectively teach others about the truth of the
scripture and the benefit in our lives.
8. Fellowship with Other
Believers
God created us with a need for
relationships. Fellowship with other believers can
help us in our Christian walk and can help those we
disciple grow in their faith.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’
teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and the prayers.
Acts
2:42

In the early church, we see an emphasis on

fellowship. We see those in Acts regularly meet
together break bread preach and fellowship, we do
the same thing today in Church and are often involved
in small groups.
The relationship we make in small groups helps
us grow in our faith and we can gain much wisdom
from those around us.
9. Imitators of
Christ
Our goal as Christians is to be more Christ-like, in
all that we do we want to look and act as Jesus did.
When we look like Jesus we can help others to imitate
Jesus as well.
Be imitators of me, as I am of
Christ.
1 Corinthians
11:1

Paul encourages us to look at those of faith who

imitate Christ and learn from them. We want to love
the way Jesus loved, and to teach the way Jesus
taught. It is amazing what we can learn from simply
living as Jesus did, for others and not ourselves.
10.
Dedicated
Reading through the Gospel we can see Jesus said
some pretty hard things to his disciples. He let
them know that he did not have a home-like other
people and animals did, he told them that they
needed to pick him over their family and that they
would be persecuted because they followed Jesus.

When following Jesus and discipling others we need

to be dedicated to what we are doing, we cannot give
half- hearted work when teaching others.
Jesus warned us what it would cost to follow him,
and we need to keep this in mind when teaching
others the importance of what it means to follow
Christ.
11. Steadfast
Our walk with God will be met with many
challenges but how we deal with these challenges
will be an example of our faith.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be
steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work
of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not
in vain.
1 Corinthians
15:58

Paul writes to the Church of Corinth and to Titus to

be steadfast, he tells that our work for the Lord is
not in vain. God will work through us even though
we might not see it, this encourages us to be steadfast
no matter what the circumstance.
12.
Missions
Being a Christian is more than just exemplifying
our faith on Sunday or Wednesday. We should
always be on mission in our day to day life. If we do
not live our life as Christ would every day we cannot
be an example to those who are being discipled.
We are called
scripture. Living to
on be watchful and tolooking
missionsmeans pray
opportunities
throughout for the gospel
exemplifying
for the life of allChrist the
in all
situations. time and
Looking at Jesus’ life and those whom he
discipled gives us a good view of how the
discipleship
the kingdom process
of Godshould
whilework
livingtoday. a We
wayget to
play
in a part in furthering
exemplifying the qualities of and
discipleship.
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. END