What is a healthy disciple?

Is your church filled with healthy disciples?

Just as a church needs healthy leaders to become a healthy church, it must also have healthy members. It cannot be a healthy body if its members are unhealthy. Today, more than ever, the Christian community must raise the bar back to the biblical standard of measure for disciples. The only true standard is Jesus Christ.

A healthy disciple, then, is growing in Christlikeness. In “The Divine Conspiracy,” Dallas Willard said that “a disciple of Jesus is one who is with Him to learn from Him how to be like Him.” Jesus not only taught the 12 disciples, He showed them how to be His followers. He modeled for them how to treat others, how to minister, how to share the good news that leads to salvation from sin, and so much more. Although disciples today cannot be with Jesus physically, we can certainly be with Him as we learn His teachings and follow His example.

During the next four issues, we will look at personal discipleship. But the Bible does not advocate “lone-ranger” Christians. A relationship with a healthy church provides an environment in which a follower can be nurtured, encouraged, taught and equipped to be on mission with God.

First, we will explore definitions and characteristics of a healthy disciple. We will look at the process of discipleship and who must accept responsibility for the process. The second article will focus on Jesus’ example of personal discipleship and the importance of being alone with God in a quiet time for Bible study and prayer. A bag of M&Ms — a disciple’s maturity, multiplication, ministry and mission — will be explored in the third article. And, finally, we will look at evidences of health in a disciple.

Definition of a disciple

What is a disciple? According to Webster’s dictionary, a disciple is a person who is committed to the teachings of another. The word disciple literally means learner or pupil. A disciple of Jesus has made a clear, intentional choice to follow Him. A disciple is a learner for life and obediently applies the teachings of Jesus as he lives life daily.

References to Jesus’ disciple or disciples are found about 260 times in the gospels. It denotes only the 12 disciples just a few times; but most references are to all disciples then and now. Discipleship is the word that we most often use to define the process or journey that a believer takes to follow Christ. Though the word discipleship is never used in most translations of the Bible, it is certainly implied throughout the New Testament.

Discipleship has also become the word used to describe the ministry or program that a church provides for small group studies and church member training. In our articles, discipleship will be used in reference to the process.

If discipleship is the process, then is the church responsible for the disciple’s healthy growth? Or is the disciple responsible for his own discipleship? Both. Look at the following statements to clarify:

• Discipleship is more than just studying books; it is about knowing God’s Word, finding its relevance and living it out (applying) it daily.
• Discipleship is more than saying a blessing at meals, a “goodnight, Lord” prayer or a public prayer; it is about your intentional, continual talking-to-God and listening-to-God lifestyle.
• Discipleship is more than being a member of a small group; it is about your relationship with God and with fellow believers.
• Discipleship is more than a program; it is a process that begins when you choose to accept God’s gift of salvation, and continues in a lifelong relationship of love, trust and obedience to Christ
• Discipleship is more than being a member of a church; it is about accepting God’s call to daily give up your self-lordship and give Him control of your will and your life, to abandon your hopes and dreams for His, and to invest all that you are and everything you have in Him.
• Discipleship is more than your investment; it is about all of the gifts and tools that God has provided for you. He has given you the Bible, prayer and your church. But you also have the Holy Spirit to teach you, to guide you and to transform you more and more into the likeness of Christ as you make your life available to Him.

So, how does a healthy disciple look? Because Jesus is our standard, listen to just five of His teachings:

1. You really are My disciples if you follow the teachings of Jesus to receive Jesus as your Savior and have freedom from sin (John 8:31–32). If you are a healthy disciple, you not only know Christ as your Savior but you live your life in obedience to Him. You were saved from sin to serve Him because you chose to follow Him and to know His teaching. He promised His disciples an abundant life (John 10:10), but He also made it clear that to follow Him is costly and often difficult.
2. All men will know you are My disciples if you keep my new command to love one another (John 13:34–35). If you are a healthy disciple, you have healthy, loving relationships. Jesus addressed us as His children in these verses; He repeated love one another three times — just like a mother gives repeated instructions to her children. To love as Christ loves requires spiritual discipline that builds Christlike maturity.
3. He cannot be My disciple if God does not have first priority — even over family members and self. And a person who does not carry His cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:26–27). If you are a healthy disciple, God will always come first in your life. You will give up your life hopes and invest everything you are and have in His purpose and plan for your life.

Seeing evidence of Christ

4. You will show yourselves to be My disciples when you bear much fruit (John 15:8). If you are a healthy disciple, others will see evidence of Christ in your life. Because you are growing in Christlikeness, you can be their role model and say with Paul, ”I urge you to imitate me (1 Cor. 4:16), and “You became imitators of us and the Lord” (1 Thess. 1:6). (Watch for more about fruit-bearing in article 4.)
5. “Go, make disciples and teach them to obey My teachings.” Jesus expects Great Commission disciples who share the Good News as they go. As others receive Jesus they are discipled to go and win others, to disciple them to go. (Matt. 28:19–20).

Are you a healthy disciple? Have you responded to the call of Jesus Christ? Are you on a lifelong journey to follow Him in faith and obedience? Are you denying yourself while allowing Him to be the living Lord of your life? Do others see evidence of fruit-bearing in your life? Do they want to be like you so they can know Jesus and be more like Him?  Are you a Great Commission Christian?

Do you need to develop or improve your basic spiritual disciplines, healthy habits or discipleship practices?

Find insight and encouragement in the next installment about healthy disciples.

To find more discipleship resources and information about healthy church leaders, visit www.thealabamabaptist.org.

EDITOR’S NOTE — Sonya Tucker is an associate in the discipleship and family ministries office of the Alabama State Board of Missions.