We need to think in terms of two phases of making disciples, rather than distinct tasks of evangelism and discipleship. In fact, if many of us reflect on how we were “evangelized,” it could be better described as being discipled in the context of a loving family or community of believers until we publically confessed trust in the gospel we had seen lived out in others.

Just last weekend I went away with our elders for a time apart to re-examine our priorities as a church. The word “discipleship” started as one of many things on a “to do” list, and the more we talked and prayed, the more that word pushed its way to the top of the list.

That was all well and good, but almost immediately the discussion turned into a program — how could the elders begin “discipling” people, and how could that, in turn, multiply discipling throughout the congregation? Before we got too far down that road, I encouraged the group to substitute the phrase “making disciples,” from the Great Commission, for the word “discipleship.” That makes us stop and think biblically and comprehensively about just what Jesus’ mandate should mean in the life of our congregations.

A disciple of Jesus is a person who has heard the call of Jesus and has responded by repenting, believing the gospel, and following Him.

The positive reaction of our elders to the call to “make disciples” is part of a healthy refocus by many PCA churches. The importance of discipleship as a core activity of church life is certainly not new, but it doesn’t hurt to ask ourselves whether this clear biblical mandate has been relegated to a Wednesday-night men’s group, or some such program. Several months ago Presbyterian & Reformed (P&R) Publishing invited me to speak to this question in a booklet for its “Basics of the Faith” series. Here is a brief summary of what I wrote, trying to form a list of key issues to be included in a discussion of “making disciples” in our churches. I hope this serves as a conversation starter that leads to reflection and action on the part of ministry leaders.

1. True believers must think of themselves as disciples of Jesus.

Somehow, the idea that being a disciple of Jesus is not essential to salvation has taken root in the minds of many Christians; they see discipleship as an extra step or deeper commitment. This kind of thinking has no doubt helped in identifying discipleship with programs that are intended for believers who are interested in and willing to move forward in their walk of faith. Discipleship is, in common understanding, optional — important to be sure, but not essential to salvation. No doubt we will need to confess that we are weak disciples or new disciples or struggling disciples, but it is vital that believers understand we are disciples. Owning that vital truth is a key step to a more productive discipleship.

2. The life of a disciple of Jesus begins with the call of Jesus.

In the story of the earliest call to discipleship, Mark tells us that Jesus took up His public ministry by preaching repentance and faith in the good news. He then called four fishermen to follow Him, which they did immediately (Mark 1:14-20). In the next chapter He called Levi to leave behind his tax-collecting business and follow Him, which Levi did. Later that day Jesus spoke of what He was doing in terms of the call: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Mark 2:13-17). Based on these passages, and consistent with other Scripture, I define a disciple of Jesus this way: A disciple of Jesus is a person who has heard the call of Jesus and has responded by repenting, believing the gospel, and following Him.

We should not think of the call to salvation in Christ and the call to discipleship as different categories. They are simply two ways to understand the same supernatural work of effectual calling.

We should not think of the call to salvation in Christ and the call to discipleship as different categories. They are simply two ways to understand the same supernatural work of effectual calling. This is a key way in which Reformed theology should inform our approach to discipleship. In most of the discipleship literature I have read, there are only occasional references to the Holy Spirit’s work and the need for regeneration. But it is the enabling power of the Holy Spirit through what we know as the “effectual calling” that brings us into the new life, just as it is the Holy Spirit’s power that enables us to walk in the new life. Paul said, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). Our role in making disciples needs to be understood in terms of how we work as instruments of what the Holy Spirit is doing in those people’s lives.

3. Discipleship is not a distinct category or activity, but a synonym for Christian living.

One way to think of discipleship is to consider it as the human response to the Spirit’s work in sanctification. The ordinary path of Christian growth is learning what it means to be Jesus’ disciples and understanding the resources God provides to help us grow. Within this broader understanding of discipleship, it is certainly appropriate to have special study seasons or specific programs designed to help people in their walk with Christ. However, along with specific ministries that might be labeled “discipleship,” there needs to be a general consciousness that everything in the church should be viewed through the lens of making disciples.

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