Discipleship and Leadership: From Theory to Daily Practice

Speaker: 00:00:00

Welcome to Equipped for Purpose. I'm your host, Vincent Ream, and this is the podcast

Speaker: 00:00:11

where discipleship meets impactful leadership. Whether you're new to faith or a seasoned

Speaker: 00:00:16

follower of Christ, this podcast is designed to help you deepen your relationship with

Speaker: 00:00:21

Jesus, grow as a leader, and make a difference in every area of your life. Together we'll

Speaker: 00:00:26

explore practical tools, biblical insights, and real-life strategies to equip you for

Speaker: 00:00:32

the purpose God has called you to. Let's dive in.

Speaker: 00:00:46

Welcome back to Equipped for Purpose. I'm excited to spend some time with you today

Speaker: 00:00:51

diving into a topic that is absolutely central to who we are called to be as followers of Jesus

Speaker: 00:00:57

Christ. We hear a lot about discipleship in the church today, but what does it actually mean

Speaker: 00:01:04

to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Not just in theory, but in our everyday lives. Equipped

Speaker: 00:01:10

for Purpose has a clear mission to equip, develop, and empower followers of Jesus Christ to integrate

Speaker: 00:01:17

deep discipleship with impactful leadership in every area of life. I think that truly following

Speaker: 00:01:24

Jesus isn't just a spiritual add-on. It's the very foundation for living a life of purpose

Speaker: 00:01:31

and leading well, whether that's in your home, your workplace, your community, or your church.

Speaker: 00:01:39

In this episode, we're going to explore what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in our

Speaker: 00:01:44

daily lives, moving beyond just the definition to understand the practical actions that

Speaker: 00:01:51

define a disciple. We'll be drawing on some foundational understandings of what it means

Speaker: 00:01:57

to be a disciple based on definitions we've explored previously and exploring the actions

Speaker: 00:02:04

that flow from that identity. To lay the groundwork, let's quickly revisit our core definitions.

Speaker: 00:02:13

And I've defined a disciple as fundamentally being one who has faith to intentionally place

Speaker: 00:02:20

believing trust and loyalty in Jesus Christ as the Messiah. But it doesn't stop there.

Speaker: 00:02:25

A disciple is also one who is taking intentional and focused daily action to

Speaker: 00:02:31

see the fruit of transformation to be more like Christ. And critically, a disciple is

Speaker: 00:02:37

one who is taking intentional and purposeful action to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Speaker: 00:02:43

Building on that, I've defined discipleship itself as being first, a disciple of Jesus Christ,

Speaker: 00:02:47

and second is seeking replication of disciples. This process of replication of making more

Speaker: 00:02:55

disciples is done through specific intentional actions such as building a relationship with

Speaker: 00:03:00

God through prayer and scripture study, engaging in community with other believers, sharing the

Speaker: 00:03:07

gospel, and pursuing transformation in Godly character.

Speaker: 00:03:12

Now, historically, making disciples has been a core command for the Church. As noted in an

Speaker: 00:03:19

article I read titled Making Disciples Obstacles and Opportunities in Urban Congregations,

Speaker: 00:03:26

the United Methodist Church, for example, crafted a mission statement in the early 2000s. And it

Speaker: 00:03:34

read, Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. However,

Speaker: 00:03:41

the understanding and practice of evangelism and discipleship haven't always been clear or

Speaker: 00:03:47

consistent. The article points out that congregations have sometimes been unsure of

Speaker: 00:03:53

what it truly entails to make disciples and haven't fully grasped that the ultimate purpose is

Speaker: 00:04:01

for the transformation of the world. Evangelism itself, in some contexts,

Speaker: 00:04:09

became compartmentalized, defined singularly as professions of faith and disconnected from

Speaker: 00:04:17

spiritual formation and mission. This highlights a challenge, moving from a theoretical understanding

Speaker: 00:04:25

of discipleship to practical daily living. Discipleship, however, is intended to be a

Speaker: 00:04:34

lifelong journey towards becoming more like Christ, involving regular practices and disciplines.

Speaker: 00:04:42

Jesus himself modeled a holistic approach, focusing on the whole person and meeting people

Speaker: 00:04:49

where they were, inviting them to a new way of living. The early church also prioritized

Speaker: 00:04:56

essential practices taught by the apostles. So what does this intentional, lifelong,

Speaker: 00:05:03

holistic following of Jesus look like in action? What do disciples do?

Speaker: 00:05:10

Drawing from our definitions and other sources, we can see that actions of a disciple fall into

Speaker: 00:05:17

several key areas. So let's expand on some of these practical actions.

Speaker: 00:05:23

First, disciples prioritize their relationship building with God. This is foundational.

Speaker: 00:05:31

One article I looked at emphasized that, quote, prayer is simply talking to God. While he knows

Speaker: 00:05:36

our thoughts, prayer is not for informing him, but for showing our dependence on him and expressing

Speaker: 00:05:42

our desire for him to act, end quote. It fosters our sense of dependence and security in God alone.

Speaker: 00:05:51

And in that sense, prayer is worship. Consistency in prayer is important.

Speaker: 00:05:59

Disciples are called to a daily prayer of relationship building and petition.

Speaker: 00:06:05

Alongside prayer is the deep study of scripture. This goes beyond just reading.

Speaker: 00:06:14

Learning the word of God is necessary for following Jesus. How else can we learn about

Speaker: 00:06:20

what to avoid and how to live a spirit-filled life? Regularly intaking God's word is essential

Speaker: 00:06:30

for our spiritual life. Another crucial action is confessing sin and accepting God's forgiveness.

Speaker: 00:06:38

The Bible is clear that followers of Jesus will still fail. The idea is to

Speaker: 00:06:45

keep short accounts with God, being quick to confess our failures, and grateful for

Speaker: 00:06:50

his forgiveness, remembering what our sin cost Jesus. Disciples also worship God, both personally

Speaker: 00:06:59

and when gathered with other believers. And they live by faith, looking to God as the

Speaker: 00:07:06

basis for their life and decisions. This includes learning to endure difficulties by fixing their

Speaker: 00:07:14

eyes on Jesus. A second key area is engaging in community. Disciples are meant to

Speaker: 00:07:23

live in relationship with other believers. Fellowship can be described as intentional

Speaker: 00:07:30

with the goal of becoming one mind around Jesus for discipleship. It involves caring for each other

Speaker: 00:07:38

and discerning and meeting needs within the community. Think about that. Fellowship isn't

Speaker: 00:07:44

just hanging out. It has a purposeful goal of helping each other become more like Christ.

Speaker: 00:07:53

Community also provides vital accountability, empathy, and encouragement. Small groups,

Speaker: 00:08:00

for instance, can offer a place for support and encouragement, especially when navigating the

Speaker: 00:08:05

struggles of living out one's faith. Authentic communities are crucial for people to find a

Speaker: 00:08:14

place and purpose. Underpinning this community is the command to love one another. Loving each other

Speaker: 00:08:22

is the central point of orientation for other things disciples do like prayer, fasting, giving,

Speaker: 00:08:30

and fellowship. These other actions are expressions of this fundamental command to love people.

Speaker: 00:08:38

Disciples also serve others, actively looking for opportunities to meet needs and show God's love

Speaker: 00:08:44

in practical ways. Third, disciples are called to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and participate

Speaker: 00:08:53

in God's mission. This connects back to our definition of discipleship, which involves

Speaker: 00:09:00

seeking the replication of disciples. Evangelism is described as initiating people into God's

Speaker: 00:09:08

kingdom, and it can take many forms. It's not limited to public preaching, but can include prayer,

Speaker: 00:09:15

inviting someone to a small group, participating in acts of justice, or simply sharing the good news.

Speaker: 00:09:22

Importantly, evangelism includes an invitation to a lifetime of discipleship, not just a one-time

Speaker: 00:09:30

conversion experience. Disciples are called to present the gospel effectively and to be ready

Speaker: 00:09:37

to share their testimony. 1 Peter 3.15 tells us to always be prepared to give an answer to everyone

Speaker: 00:09:44

who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. Sharing the gospel can be done in

Speaker: 00:09:51

a way that is inviting and conveys good news. Jesus called his followers to be fishers of men

Speaker: 00:10:00

and to actively seek lost people. Disciples understand that their purpose involves joining

Speaker: 00:10:08

God's mission for the transformation of the world and their local community.

Speaker: 00:10:14

So this involves impacting people in their sphere of influence at work, at play,

Speaker: 00:10:20

and where they live. Sharing the gospel through the witness of a friend who lives out the word

Speaker: 00:10:28

can often be heard and received better than from a stranger, even from a polished speaker.

Speaker: 00:10:36

Finally, disciples are committed to transformation and godly character.

Speaker: 00:10:41

Remember, our definition of a disciple includes taking intentional and focused daily action to

Speaker: 00:10:48

see the fruit of transformation to be more like Christ. This is a life-long journey towards

Speaker: 00:10:55

full Christ-likeness. This involves actively developing godly character, including living

Speaker: 00:11:03

by the Spirit, pursuing holiness, practicing godliness, imitating Christ's humility,

Speaker: 00:11:11

claiming Christ's supremacy, living with integrity, developing proper relationships,

Speaker: 00:11:21

residing in God's will, and controlling one's tongue. These are not automatic. They require

Speaker: 00:11:29

intentional effort and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Disciples are committed to growing in these basics

Speaker: 00:11:37

of the Christian life and applying them daily. So why does understanding these actions matter to you?

Speaker: 00:11:45

Because deep discipleship is the non-negotiable foundation for impactful leadership.

Speaker: 00:11:55

You simply cannot effectively lead others in their faith journey or lead with Christ-like

Speaker: 00:12:00

character and influence in your job, your family, and your community if you're not first committed

Speaker: 00:12:06

to being a disciple yourself. As leaders, whether in our homes, workplaces, or churches,

Speaker: 00:12:16

we are called to model these discipleship practices and equip others to do the same.

Speaker: 00:12:22

Our leadership is only as impactful as our commitment to being disciples ourselves.

Speaker: 00:12:30

The practices we've discussed—prayer, studying scripture, engaging in community, sharing the

Speaker: 00:12:37

gospel, and developing godly character—are not just practices for personal growth. They are

Speaker: 00:12:45

essential for being equipped, developed, and empowered to lead well. Discipleship training

Speaker: 00:12:52

is crucial for developing people, and indeed all believers, into mature disciples and leaders who

Speaker: 00:13:00

can make a tangible difference in their homes, communities, and churches. Leaders play a vital

Speaker: 00:13:07

role in providing direction and motivation. And if we go back to that mission statement

Speaker: 00:13:15

from the United Methodist Church and remember the ultimate purpose they pointed out,

Speaker: 00:13:20

making disciples is for the transformation of the world.

Speaker: 00:13:25

And this requires both individual transformation, becoming more like Christ,

Speaker: 00:13:29

and collective action, joining God's mission. This is the imperative for all

Speaker: 00:13:36

followers and leaders from Jesus. Now let's shift and make this practical.

Speaker: 00:13:44

What are some concrete steps you can take this week based on what we've discussed?

Speaker: 00:13:49

Well, the first for personal growth, commit to daily intentional time for prayer and scripture

Speaker: 00:13:56

study. Even if it's just 15 to 20 minutes, make a consistent habit. Consider setting a specific time

Speaker: 00:14:05

each day, perhaps using a devotional or Bible reading plan that guides you. Remember prayer

Speaker: 00:14:12

is about showing your dependence on God and communicating with him. Studying scripture is

Speaker: 00:14:18

necessary for learning how to follow Jesus. Evaluate your character based on the

Speaker: 00:14:24

biblical principles we mentioned, like humility, integrity, or love. Identify one area

Speaker: 00:14:32

you want to focus on this week and intentionally seek the Holy Spirit's help for transformation.

Speaker: 00:14:37

The second practical step is for community and relationships.

Speaker: 00:14:41

So engage in intentional fellowship. If you're not currently in a small group or

Speaker: 00:14:49

an accountability relationship, seek one out. If you are, commit to deeper engagement this week.

Speaker: 00:14:56

Maybe share a struggle you're facing or intentionally encourage someone else in the group.

Speaker: 00:15:03

Remember the goal of fellowship is discipleship. Also look for opportunities to serve others in

Speaker: 00:15:11

your community or within your church. Serving is an expression of God's love and a way to meet needs.

Speaker: 00:15:20

And the third practical step is about leadership and disciple making.

Speaker: 00:15:24

Practice sharing your testimony. Develop a simple three-part before, how, and after

Speaker: 00:15:30

story of how you met Christ and how he's changed you. And be ready to share the reason for your hope.

Speaker: 00:15:40

Begin cultivating relationships with non-believers in your sphere of influence at work,

Speaker: 00:15:45

in your neighborhood, or through hobbies. The goal is to sow seeds of God's word and be ready

Speaker: 00:15:53

to share the gospel when appropriate. Remember, living out Christ's word in your daily life

Speaker: 00:16:02

can often be heard and received better than just words alone.

Speaker: 00:16:08

So if you're in a leadership role, take a moment to consider how you can prioritize

Speaker: 00:16:12

equipping others in these fundamental areas of discipleship. Intentional training processes

Speaker: 00:16:19

are vital for reproducing disciples. To wrap up, being a disciple of Jesus Christ is more

Speaker: 00:16:27

than just a label. It's an identity that is lived out through intentional actions.

Speaker: 00:16:34

It's about placing your trust and loyalty in Christ, taking daily steps towards becoming

Speaker: 00:16:40

more like him, and purposefully sharing the gospel. Discipleship means actively living

Speaker: 00:16:48

out this identity and seeking to see it replicated in the lives of others.

Speaker: 00:16:55

The practices we've explored today, prayer, study, community, witness,

Speaker: 00:17:01

and character development are not optional extras. They are integral to following Jesus

Speaker: 00:17:10

and essential for being equipped for impactful leadership. I want to challenge you again to

Speaker: 00:17:17

reflect on your journey. Take a moment to think about which of these areas you feel strongest in

Speaker: 00:17:24

and which might need more attention in your life. Which of these areas is strongest in your life

Speaker: 00:17:30

right now? Which needs the most intentional focus this week? Perhaps there is one person

Speaker: 00:17:38

in your life you can intentionally invest in to help them grow as a disciple.

Speaker: 00:17:42

Choose one or two actionable steps we discussed and commit to them this week.

Speaker: 00:17:49

Maybe even write them down and reflect on your progress at the end of the week.

Speaker: 00:17:55

Remember, the power to live this life comes from Christ himself. The journey of

Speaker: 00:18:02

discipleship and disciple-making is a lifelong one, and we are equipped for this purpose.

Speaker: 00:18:09

Again, thank you for joining me and remember to keep leaning into Jesus and leading with purpose.

Speaker: 00:18:39

Social media and through my website and remember you are being equipped for a purpose. Go make an

Speaker: 00:18:46

impact.