But I’ve Never Been Discipled! by QUINA ARAGON for The Gospel Coalition
Quite a few of my friends say they’ve “never been discipled”—and so they are hesitant about discipling someone else.
In addition to belonging to a church and attending Bible study, they serve in various capacities. Yet when it comes to the idea of discipling someone, the task seems daunting and mysterious.
How can we create a discipleship culture in our churches when so many of us feel ill-prepared?
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What Is Discipleship?
The word “disciple” means “learner.” Disciples in the New Testament were people who answered Jesus’s call to “follow me” (Matt. 4:19, 21; 9:9; John 1:43; 21:19). Discipleship—the practice of following Jesus by learning, trusting, and obeying his Word—is essential to the Christian life.
The on-ramp to the highway of discipleship is turning away from your life of sin and trusting in Jesus—his words and his work (Mark 1:15; John 6:29). That first step of trust then sets in motion a lifetime of following him in word and deed.
Do you live a life surrendered to Christ? Do you follow him? Then you are a disciple of Jesus, whether or not you’ve had an ideal mentorship experience.
Discipleship Misconceptions
Still, I’ve heard many Christians express, with both frustration and insecurity, “I’ve never been discipled.” Though we should certainly heed the call to spiritual mentorship in the church (Titus 2:3–5), could it be that we’ve developed unhealthy conceptions about what discipleship relationships must look like?
Sometimes our misconceptions of discipleship cast unfair expectations on ministry leaders, our church family, and even ourselves.
You might not have the opportunity to meet with an older man or woman at Starbucks (especially in a pandemic!) once a week to study Ephesians. You might not have a Bible study leader checking in on you every day. Your church leaders probably don’t have the training required to address all aspects of your past trauma or mental illness. This doesn’t mean you’re not “being discipled.”
