Discipleship
The United Methodist Church Mission
The stated mission of The United Methodist Church is to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world” (ref. Matthew 28:19). In truth, it is God who makes disciples, but we are called to be disciples—to help ourselves and invite others to grow and be formed into reliable disciples of Jesus Christ within community, in co-mission with God.
What is a disciple?
Millions believe in Jesus, the person who lived historically in time and was reported by the Judeo-Christian writers of the Bible to have been given many exalting titles. Many of those millions would also consider themselves followers of Jesus, just as in his time there were throngs of people who came to hear him and in many cases followed him around when he came to thier town. Not all “believers” in or “followers” of Jesus Christ are true disciples, however.
The word we understand as “disciple” from the Bible comes from a Greek word, as translated from the original Hebrew word talmid. In the context of the times, this word was used to describe those closest to Jesus, including those we refer to as “the 12 disciples.” This word’s meaning is closer to what we would call an apprentice. An apprentice spends continual time observing and studying with a “master” (a rabbi in Jesus’ day), learning from and seeking to emulate that “master” (i.e., acting like them and doing what they do).
What is a disciple not?
Though “disciples” is often loosely used to describe congregants in a church, a disciple is not the same as:
- being a “good” person (as noted by others or oneself)
- having been “saved” (i.e., having confessed and accepted Jesus as one’s personal savior)
- a “churchgoer” (i.e., one who attends church regularly)
- a church member (i.e., one who has taken vows of membership in a Christian church
even though a disciple’s experience could include any or all of the above.
The goal of discipleship
Jesus was a holy man, indeed in our vernacular as United Methodists both truly human and truly divine. If the goal of an apprentice is to be like “the master,” it stands to reason that Christlikeness is a goal, if not the goal, of discipleship. The acknowledged founder of Methodism, John Wesley, called this goal “perfection.” What Wesley meant by this was complete “holiness of heart and life,” which includes all the behavioral attributes of Jesus. Wesley understood that this didn’t mean being without sin; rather, holiness of heart and life is the goal toward which a disciple should be aiming, within a lifelong process he called “sanctification” (one of Methodism’s three major aspects of God’s grace).
Becoming a disciple of Jesus
As Wesley believed, becoming a disciple of Jesus is a lifelong endeavor, echoing the idea that it is very much like an “apprenticeship.” Where this most effectively happens is within the life of a local congregation of Christians. Indeed, it would be much more difficult to become a true disciple isolated from our other Christian siblings.
The role of the local church is vital in that, as Wesley advised, we who are called Methodists are to “watch over one another with love.” This involves a certian degree of accountability, one to another.
Becoming a disciple also takes intentionality on the part of the individual. God will not force discipleship on someone. God wants us to choose to be like Jesus and will, through the Holy Spirit, help us along that journey to become more like him. But one has to continually work at it.
What does this mean? Well, just like musicians or pro athletes don’t just automatically inherit the skills necessary to reach the height of their profession, Christian disciples must practice, practice, practice, in order to get better at becoming like Jesus. God, of course, through the work of the Holy Spirit, helps along the way, but this takes determination and often sacrifice.
How Newark UMC supports discipleship growth
First, and maybe most importantly, Newark United Methodist Church is a loving, accepting community. It is within such an environment that one’s own discipleship can grow and be expressed. There are both service and leadership opportunities within the myriad ministries of this church, which allow one to grow in those particular areas.
Newark UMC offers weekly small groups modeled as a re-traditioning of the early Methodist “band” meetings, which were initiated by John Wesley. These are called Covenant Discipleship (CD) groups. Groups of between four and seven craft their own aspirational covenant document, which includes acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion. Each CD group meets for one hour each week to engage with one another, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in sharing how each member has attended to these four acts.
Also available is a one-on-one mentoring relationship with a UMC Discipleship Ministries-certified coach. During flexible regular sessions, a discipleship coach will help the one who is being coached 1) identify ways in which that person can grow through specific actions, then 2) set a plan for follow-through, and 3) report back and discuss during the subsequent session. This method is meant to help individuals identify and implement thier own unique discipleship-growth pathway and become intentional in living it out.
Just as the church helps form and grow disciples, surely, mature disciples help grow and strengthen the church in its mission.