This year, in our pastoral retreats, youth ministry, and church planning, co-workers have, without prior discussion, all mentioned a hope to help brothers and sisters become rooted in the Bible, and furthermore, to consider implementing discipleship training. Organizing discipleship training, setting curriculum and materials, is actually not difficult: many denominations have published their own distinctive discipleship training courses for us to choose from. But to shape disciples who are truly committed to Christ, it takes more than just knowledge—it requires a willingness to change and let go of oneself, to take Jesus Christ as an example, to love God and others, and to be willing to live out the Great Commission. These are all matters of transformation of life.
For true life transformation, the Word of God is what changes hearts: Bible study and exegesis training are essential. Practicing the Great Commission—evangelism and outreach, establishing resolve—is a given. As for letting go of oneself and growing in Christlikeness, this will vary according to each person’s growth experiences, gifts and weaknesses, and spiritual journey. Of course, spiritual disciplines like devotion, prayer, and retreat are important processes for shaping our lives and establishing an intimate relationship with God. But such transformation cannot be produced by simply following a set of instructions from a book.
The way our Lord Jesus first called His disciples gives us a hint:
“Again the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, ‘What do you want?’ They said, ‘Rabbi (which means Teacher), where are you staying?’ ‘Come,’ he replied, and you will see.’ So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ).” (John 1:35–41)
These two disciples (one of them being Andrew) followed the Lord Jesus upon John the Baptist’s referral. The Lord did not immediately present a discipleship training syllabus but instead asked what they sought. From the perspective of these followers, what they valued most was not the course requirements, but rather who this teacher was, what his life was like, and to see his dwelling—to see how he lived. The Lord Jesus welcomed this desire, spending time and space living together with them, so that they came to recognize Jesus Christ’s true identity: “We have found the Messiah” (John 5:41). The setting of discipleship training that leads to genuine life change must be immediate, transparent, concrete, and lived out in daily life.
Our discipleship training today, of course, points brothers and sisters towards knowing God. Besides formal courses, it also requires informal life experiences—connection and mutual care through mentors’ life sharing, so that lives are shaped. For example, among youth, it is in those relaxing moments, and through the small, trusting accumulations of support in matters of relationships, future, family, and friends, that guidance and care happen. Reflecting on my own spiritual learning journey, I never took any systematic discipleship training course. Instead, I encountered many pastors, seminary students, Christian teachers, fellowship counsellors, and peers who became my role models, guiding me step by step in my spiritual growth. “Life influencing life” is precisely what this means.
In the coming new school year, many children, youth, and university students will be moving up to the next fellowship group. This means even more young people need to be nurtured, committed to Christ, and even to become youth workers for the next generation and beyond. Youth is a time of both rapid growth and great influence. The needs of young people here in the UK are already before us. Are you willing to step out and, with your own life, pass on and build up this generation of youth as disciples of the Lord?
Rev. Alice You