Discipleship is ultimately saying, “Do as I do.”

 (By Rick Lambert)

When I began my studies in the life of the second-century church father, Polycarp, pastor of the church of Smyrna, I was drawn to the powerful effect of true discipleship.  I observed a progression that began in Matthew 4:19-21 "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

The concept of training faithful men, as Paul commissioned his protege, Timothy, in II Timothy 2:2 is beautifully exemplified in Polycarp’s life.  Jesus called John and John discipled Polycarp in the same fashion that Paul trained Timothy.  Polycarp took what he had learned and invested it into Irenaeus, who in turned entrusted what he had learned to another champion in the Church, Hippolytus. 

I see over three hundred years of influence out of true discipleship, beginning with that seaside call of Jesus.  The truest expression of discipleship is the act of passing on what you have learned regarding the greatness of God, the accomplishments of Christ, and the power of the Spirit in our lives.

Discipleship should never be limited to a booklet or outline.  It’s the privilege of passing on what you have learned to another.  Over the years, I have noticed that growth took place in those I was discipling not because I could effectively convey what was in a book or commentary, but more what God was doing in my life.  Truly, effective discipleship is growing together.

Discipleship is ultimately being sanctified by the Holy Spirit of God. It's God training you, and imparting to you the power to walk in the reality of his glorious presence; it’s feeding our spiritual desires. Do you desire to know God?   Does your heart cry out to love Him with all of your being?  Then you must be discipled by him.  He will use others, but it will be his Word and his Spirit that will make you a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, and bring you into the joy of resting in him and his promises.

Look at it this, who desires for you to live in the reality of victory over sin more than you?  Our gracious God, of course.  But he desires to be the one to do it so that you would experience the deeper levels of joy in him. However, if you are not being discipled by him, you'll spend your lifetime in the disillusionment of self-effort.

The privilege for the disciple-maker is not simply passing on knowledge, but having the joy of describing what is true about God; how to experience the closeness of fellowship and the blessings of God's promises.  It’s not an academic exercise, but is transferring the lessons in the faithfulness of God from one life to another.  It’s ultimately saying, “Do as I do.”