Meaning of Discipleship

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, - Matthew 28:19

Jesus, in this verse, gives us our orders. He gives us a job to do (He doesn't ask us, He commands us!). But how can we "make disciples" if we do not know the meaning of being a disciple? This is one of the first things we must learn if we are going to be effective workers for Jesus. So what exactly does it mean to be a disciple?

The meaning of being a disciple, in my opinion, is best described in Luke 9:23-24: "If anyone desires to come after Me. let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." Jesus gives us the ingredients of discipleship:

Let him deny himself- This means to lose sight of self and refuse self. We must completely submit our entire lives to Jesus.

Take up his cross- The cross meant death. Galations 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Follow Me- Follow Jesus where? Everywhere! When? All the time!

In conclusion, we must ask ourselves two questions. First, am I a disciple? If the answer is yes, that brings us to the second question. Am I teaching others to be disciples?