The “D” Word
The “D” word of Christianity is disciple, or discipleship. When we hear the word disciple we immediately think of The Twelve, that unlikely band of nobodies Jesus called to follow him and change the world. But they were just the first in a long train of disciples of which you (hopefully) are one. When we look at the first disciples of Jesus, we see that their call to discipleship was a call to be with Jesus.
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him’” (Matthew 4:18-20).
“As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him” (Mark 2:14).
“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve-designating them apostles-that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach” (Mark 3:13-14).
“Jesus’ call to discipleship,” writes Peter Maiden, Director of Operation Mobilization, “is not an invitation to participate in a programme or even to share in a cause but to be with a Person, so that he can make us into the people he wants us to be. The call to discipleship is the call to relationship, a relationship that will gradually make us all God intended us to be. We were made for relationship with God, but sin put distance between our Father and us. Jesus has come from the Father and, at great cost, has opened the door to relationship again. Discipleship is the outworking of that restored relationship.”
As I step into 2012 I want, more than ever, to follow Jesus in a life of discipleship. I want to walk with him. I want to watch him. I want to listen to him. I want to be with him. I want to savour him. I want to imitate him. I want to love him. And I want to enjoy this relationship with him in the company of other disciples who share this passion. I want to follow Jesus with you. Over the last eighteen months or so God has been working in the hearts of the leaders of RUC making us acutely aware that following Jesus is what church is about. It’s the only thing that really matters. We are committed to discipleship.
Join us as we seek to follow Jesus!
Currently – one of the key opportunities for discipleship within our church is through our small groups. If you haven’t already – please consider joining a small group in 2012!
Fill in this webform and let us find a suitable small group for you!
