Back to Basics: Christian Living - An Introduction to Discipleship

Welcome to Our Teaching Series on Christian Discipleship

This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our "Back to Basics: Christian Living" teaching series. Over the coming weeks, we will be exploring the vital topic of Christian discipleship—what it means to truly follow Jesus Christ in today's world.

This discipleship series represents Part Three of our comprehensive exploration of the Christian life:

• Part One established the foundation of Christian living—understanding our identity in Christ, salvation, and the basics of our faith
• Part Two examined living as a Christian—the practical outworking of our faith in daily life, including prayer, Bible study, worship, and godly character
• Part Three now focuses on discipleship as a Christian—the calling to follow Christ wholeheartedly, grow in spiritual maturity, and reproduce our faith in others

Throughout this series, we will delve deeply into what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, exploring both the biblical foundations and practical applications of discipleship. We will examine the cost of following Christ, the disciplines that foster spiritual growth, the importance of Christian community, and our responsibility to make disciples who make disciples.

Each week will build upon the previous teaching, creating a comprehensive understanding of the disciple's journey. Whether you are a new believer seeking to understand what it means to follow Christ, or a mature Christian desiring to deepen your walk with God, this series will challenge and encourage you to embrace the fullness of Christian discipleship.

We invite you to join us on this transformative journey as we return to the heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ…

The Call to Discipleship!

In a world filled with competing voices and endless distractions, the call to follow Christ rings out with clarity and urgency. Christian discipleship is not merely a programme or a set of religious activities—it is the very heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. As we embark on this teaching series, "Back to Basics: Christian Living," we return to the foundational truths that have transformed lives for over two thousand years. The Great Commission remains as relevant today as when Jesus first spoke it: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" [Matthew 28:19-20 KJV].

The Biblical Foundation of Discipleship

The concept of discipleship is woven throughout the fabric of Scripture. When Jesus walked the dusty roads of Galilee, His invitation was simple yet profound: "Follow me" [Matthew 4:19 KJV]. This was not an invitation to casual admiration or Sunday morning attendance—it was a call to radical transformation. Jesus made it abundantly clear that discipleship comes with a cost. He declared, "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple" [Luke 14:27 KJV]. True discipleship demands nothing less than our complete surrender to Christ as Lord.

What It Means to Be a Disciple Today

Yet what does it mean to be a disciple in today's world? The essence remains unchanged from the first century. Jesus provided the defining characteristic when He said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed" [John 8:31 KJV]. A disciple is one who abides in Christ's teaching, who lives according to His Word, and who bears fruit that glorifies the Father. The distinction between being merely a believer and being a disciple is significant—while many profess faith in Christ, true discipleship requires ongoing commitment, growth, and obedience.

Abiding in Christ: The Essential Relationship

The foundation of Christian discipleship rests upon our relationship with Christ Himself. Jesus used the metaphor of the vine and branches to illustrate this vital connection: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" [John 15:5 KJV]. Abiding in Christ is not optional for the disciple—it is essential. Through daily communion with God in prayer, through meditation upon His Word, and through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, we draw the spiritual nourishment necessary for growth and fruitfulness.

The Multiplication Mandate

Discipleship also carries the mandate to multiply. The apostle Paul understood this principle when he instructed Timothy: "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" [2 Timothy 2:2 KJV]. We see here a beautiful pattern of multiplication—Paul discipled Timothy, Timothy was to disciple faithful men, and they in turn would teach others. This is the engine of church growth and kingdom expansion that Christ intended when He gave the Great Commission.

Community & Fellowship in Discipleship

Christian discipleship cannot occur in isolation. The writer of Hebrews reminds us: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" [Hebrews 10:24-25 KJV]. Fellowship with other believers provides accountability, encouragement, and the sharpening effect described in Proverbs: "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend" [Proverbs 27:17 KJV]. In Christian community, we bear one another's burdens, celebrate victories together, and grow in grace through mutual edification.

Bearing Fruit for God's Glory

The fruit of genuine discipleship becomes evident in transformed lives. Jesus declared, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" [John 15:8 KJV]. This fruit manifests in the character qualities Paul described as "the fruit of the Spirit": "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance" [Galatians 5:22-23 KJV]. Such fruit cannot be manufactured through human effort—it grows naturally as we abide in Christ and walk in the Spirit.

The Call to Servant Leadership

Perhaps one of the most counter-cultural aspects of Christian discipleship is the call to servant leadership. Jesus turned worldly notions of greatness upside down when He taught: "But whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" [Mark 10:43-45 KJV]. Paul echoed this in his letter to the Philippians, pointing to Christ's example of humility and self-emptying service [Philippians 2:5-8 KJV]. True disciples follow their Master's example, seeking not their own glory but opportunities to serve others.

The Journey Ahead

As we journey through this teaching series, we will explore the full spectrum of Christian discipleship—from the initial call to follow Christ, through the daily disciplines that foster spiritual growth, to the joy of making disciples who make disciples. We will examine the cost and the rewards, the challenges and the triumphs, always anchoring our study in the unchanging truth of God's Word.

Our Calling & Privilege

The path of discipleship is not easy. Jesus never promised it would be. But He did promise His presence: "lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" [Matthew 28:20 KJV]. With Christ as our guide and the Holy Spirit as our counsellor, we can confidently answer His call to "Follow me." The world desperately needs authentic disciples—men and women who have truly counted the cost and chosen to take up their cross daily, who love God with all their heart and their neighbours as themselves, who bear lasting fruit for God's kingdom, and who faithfully pass on the teachings of Christ to the next generation.

This is our calling. This is our privilege. This is discipleship—getting back to the basics of Christian living…

Key Takeaways:

• Discipleship is a call to radical transformation - Jesus' invitation to "Follow me" demands complete surrender and ongoing commitment, not casual admiration
• Abiding in Christ is essential for fruitfulness - Without remaining connected to Jesus (the vine), we cannot bear lasting fruit or accomplish anything of eternal value
• Discipleship requires community - We cannot grow in isolation; fellowship with other believers provides accountability, encouragement, and mutual edification
• True disciples make disciples - The Great Commission calls us to reproduce our faith by teaching others, who will in turn teach others (2 Timothy 2:2 KJV)
• Servant leadership reflects Christ - Greatness in God's kingdom comes through humble service, following Jesus' example of self-emptying love
• Bearing fruit glorifies God - The evidence of genuine discipleship is transformed character displaying the fruit of the Spirit
• Christ's presence sustains us - Though the path of discipleship is costly, Jesus promises to be with us always, even to the end of the age