Definition
and Values of a Disciple
A Disciple of Jesus Christ is . . .
- Saved
by grace (Ephesians 2:8)
- Being progressively
transformed into the image of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13)
- Bearing fruit in Christ
(John 15:8)
- God’s witness
to the world (Acts 1:6-8)
- Devoted to serving
others (Matthew 20:26-28)
- One who acts justly,
loves mercy and walks humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8)
Core
Values for a Disciple of Jesus Christ:
- Becoming
transformed to God’s image by God’s Word and Sacraments.
- Experiencing
the love, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ through prayer and worship.
- Being
empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the relationship with Jesus with
others.
- Serving
others by meeting spiritual and physical needs both in and outside
of the church.
- Equipping others for
the work of ministry and inviting in new people.
- Building relationships
with each other.
- Sacrificially giving
of our time, energy and finances to the work of the kingdom.
What
Is Disciplemaking?
The apostle Paul wrote to his spiritual
son, his disciple Timothy:
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
And the things that you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust
to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” I
Timothy 2:1-2
Disciplemaking and the Church:
In the current North American
context, the mission of the church remains what it has always been:
- to
cultivate communities called by God through the Holy Spirit
- to
pray for, nurture and equip disciples of Jesus Christ
- to
participate faithfully in God’s transformative work in the world
with wise and discerning leadership
- to
be grounded in the practices of listening to Jesus and discerning the
movement of the Holy Spirit
