What is Discipleship Essay Example

What is Discipleship Essay When most people hear the word disciple, they immediately think of the twelve disciples of Jesus, which is, in a way, correct. A disciple is someone who follows another, Jesus in this case, physically and spiritually. I think there are five factors that are crucial to be a true disciple and in through these discipleship can be summed up; to heal, to teach, to preach, to believe and to serve. Jesus called his first four disciples one day when he was walking by Galilee. He saw Simon Peter and his brother Andrew and he said to them: Come with me and I will make you fishers of men. Simon Peter and Andrew immediately left their boats and followed him. Later on he saw James and John by the lake also and told them to follow him too and they did so. The calling of the first four disciples shows straight away that Jesus had not come for those who were highest in society or those who had the most authority, but for everyone. Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John were only simple fishermen and yet Jesus has chosen them as his disciples to give up what they had to follow him. We will write a custom essay sample on What is Discipleship specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What is Discipleship specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What is Discipleship specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Next came the call of Levi. Levi was a tax gatherer. Tax gatherers were generally seen as dishonest and were disliked by society but still Jesus called him to be a disciple and Levi got up and followed him. This shows that Jesus was willing to forgive those who wanted forgiveness and that we would exclude nobody if they were willing to repent of their sins. One day, Jesus sent the twelve disciples out on a mission to preach and to heal, and he gave them authority over evil spirits. This mission is a good example of the disciples healing others. Their healings of others showed their faith, because they could not have healed without faith. By giving them such a responsibility this also showed that Jesus had faith in them. They followed Jesus instructions and by healing all those that asked to be healed. Jesus taught that to be a true disciple, you have to make sacrifices. This is displayed in the Bible when a rich man asks Jesus what he must do to win eternal life and Jesus tells him he must sell everything he has and give to the poor before he can have riches in heaven. At this the rich mans face falls. The rich man could never be a true disciple as although he was a good person he would always worry about his money more than God. Discipleship is all about priorities. Jesus taught that to become a disciple you must make yourself last and servant of all and God should be your first priority. You should always honour and respect God, and be obedient and respond to his call. You should put nothing else before God. This links on to the aspect of serving. To be a disciple, you must serve God not only directly but also indirectly by serving other. Jesus says in the Bible: Anything you do for one of these men here, you do for me. He was trying to show that helping other people and putting them before you plays an important part in serving God. This can sometimes be extremely hard. For example, if you were with one other person in a sinking boat and there is one life jacket, a disciple should offer it to the other person. As Jesus said, the last person in earth will be the first in the Kingdom of God. To be first in heaven you need to put everyone else before you on earth. Another large part of discipleship is obviously faith, as you cannot follow someone unless you have faith in them. Sometimes, the first twelve disciples faith in Jesus wavered, for example, when they were fishing and a huge storm arose. Jesus was asleep in the boat so they woke him, frightened of what might happen as the storm was so strong. Jesus told the storm to be still and asked the disciples Have you still no faith?. The disciples had not thought as Jesus wanted them to. If their faith in Jesus was really as deep as they thought it was, they would not have worried and would have realised that Jesus would not have let the storm harm them. This shows that they had not fully realised who Jesus was. Faith is important, because it comes from the inside and it cannot be shown wholly in actions. Whether you have faith is a more personal, individual feeling and its something you have to confirm in yourself to be a true disciple. Once you have faith and understanding, you should follow by preaching to others and teaching them of your faith. The way that Christianity spread was through preaching and a disciple should preach what they follow in order to spread their faith. A true disciple would truly want to spread the word of what they believe and to turn others to their faith. The Gospels are full of teachings on these things. Jesus shows in many ways eg. Through parables, how true disciples of God should act and what they should truly believe . They should always be prepared to follow Jesus in thought, word and deed. Evaluation In some ways, it is a lot harder to be a true disciple in the modern world, but I do think it is possible. An obvious way in which it was harder for the first Christians was that it was illegal then, so they faced not only persecution but also often torture or death. This does still sometimes happen in a few countries across the world, but in most parts of the world, Christianity is widely accepted. Nowadays in the Western World, although Christianity is not outlawed, Christians can still be emotionally hurt by people laughing at them for their beliefs or persecuting them for their faith. For example, if there was a Christian person amongst a group of non-Christian friends, it could be hard for them to keep following their faith because of pressure from their friends. Another problem a person may have trying to be a true disciple in todays world is, like the rich man, getting his or her priorities right. We live in a materialistic, consumer-orientated world, where most are obsessed with material objects and luxuries. With so much commercialism surrounding us it is hard for a disciple to remember that serving God should always be put first and foremost. This should be prioritised over clothes, money and work. As possessions and material objects seem so important today, it would be hard to give it all up in order to follow your faith. Still, through the difficulties they face, I think if a person really believes they want to stay a true disciple, its not impossible. Many of the controversial issues around today were indeed still relevant for the first Christians. They were too persecuted and faced with temptation . However, today Christians have Jesus teachings in the New Testament, and those who are truly dedicated Christians should be able to use this at times of weakness for guidance and support. Those who are willing still should be able to follow Jesus in todays world and be a true disciple. What is Discipleship Essay Example What is Discipleship? Essay The word disciple means, follower or adherent of any leader of thought, art or conduct. In Christianity it means to follow the teachings and beliefs of Jesus Christ. It is a challenging way of life to be a disciple and you must be willing to devote your mind, strength and soul to God. There are three main stages a disciple must go through, called sacraments of initiation. These are Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. These sacraments are sacred rituals, which a person must go through to become a disciple. Christians believe God is especially present during a sacrament. When a Christian wants to become a disciple he starts off at the first stage, Baptism. This usually takes place when the Christian is a young baby. He is washed with holy water as a symbol of his/her original sin being washed away. Catholic parents and godparents make the baptismal vows on behalf of their children soon after they are born and promise to bring up the child in their faith. At Baptism the child is being introduced into the church and Gods family. We will write a custom essay sample on What is Discipleship? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What is Discipleship? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What is Discipleship? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The second stage is Confirmation. At Pentecost the disciples received a special gift from God to enable them to go out and preach His Word and at confirmation the candidate receives a special gift from God. During Confirmation, unlike Baptism, the person is able to make his own decision whether he wishes to continue with the Christian way of life. The person confirms the baptismal vows, which were made on his behalf by his parents and godparents. This is where he decides that he wants to become a member of the Church. The bishop confirms the process of initiation into the church, which was begun at Baptism. The third stage to discipleship is Eucharist. This is believed by some to be the most important sacrament because it re-enacts the last supper. The person confesses their sins and is forgiven by God. They receive the body and blood of Christ, which are symbolised by bread and wine; this brings the spirit of God closer to the people and delivers the message of God. The Commission Go out to peoples everywhere and baptise them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 16v15 After the person has completed these three sacraments of initiation they have three ways of fulfilling their vocation. They can become a member of the lay ministry, part of a religious congregation or become a member of an ordained ministry, all three of which I will explain in detail. You dont have to be a priest or a bishop to be a disciple. If you believe and follow in the teachings of Jesus Christ then you can serve as a layperson. Lay Ministry A person can become part of the lay ministry by being baptised and becoming a full member of the Catholic Church. Lay people can love and serve God just a much as a priest or Bishop. They express their love for God in prayer and service to others and feel they have a responsibility to repay God through helping others. Lay people explain the principles, which Christ taught in different ways. They help the Bishops and Priests and assist them at mass. At our school the children and teachers help the priests by reading and taking up the offertory gifts. Some people teach for example at Sunday school or Bible groups and others do missionary work Christians have travelled all over the world spreading the word of God They offer their skills and talents to help others in everyday life. We see this in everyday life, particularly in hospitals and schools where many people have chosen to work so that they can help other people. One of the vicars at St Jamess Church in Weybridge gave up a lucrative job in the City of London to train, as a vicar because he felt it was a more worthwhile way of life. Lay people are called to defend Christs teaching through Hope, Prayer, Faith and Love They stand up and defend the church against all those who oppose it, All who are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of them on the last day. Mark 8v34-38 Many early Christians were martyred for their beliefs and even today in some parts of the world people are prosecuted for spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ. In Afghanistan the Taliban have imprisoned aide workers whom they suspect have been preaching Christianity. Love your neighbour as you love yourself. Mark 12v33-34 Lay people help those in need by providing houses for the homeless and helping those with alcohol or drug problems. For example members of the Salvation Army have provided warmth, shelter and food for the homeless for many years. In my own area members of the congregation of the Wey Christian Fellowship have been helping street children in South America. If one of you wants to be great, he must be the servant of the rest, and if one of you wants to be first he must be your slave. Matthew 20v24-28 Lay people dont help the rich or those who dont need their help. They help the ones who are in trouble and need their company. Jesus set an example of this. People who are well dont need a doctor, but only those who are sick. I have not come to all respectable people to repent, but outcasts. They obey the churchs rules and teachings. Teach them everything I have commanded you, and I will be with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28v20 They are to be kind, generous and good Christians. Do onto others as you would want them to do onto you. Lay people support the priest by prayer, helping at communion and reading at mass, they can also cooperate in presenting the word of God to the parish by instructing others or by joining one of the organisations connected to the church. Lay people can also help within the church by contributing any special skills they may have for example a trained accountant could help with the church accounts and a builder could help with church repairs. Mrs Kenny, a teacher at the junior school uses her experience with children to run a youth club at the local church. Other people can help members of the church by sharing their problems with them. I asked my father, a member of our local church, How do you contribute to your church and fulfil your vocation? he answered, I try to fulfil my vocation by following Christian teachings in all aspects of my life, and helping those less fortunate then myself. I also asked my sister how she has contributed to a Christian way of life and she said, This year I accompanied a group of disabled men and women on a pilgrimage to Lourdes. This is an example of a person who isnt a priest or a bishop but is playing a role of a layperson in the church. Bring the good news to the poor. Luke 4v8 CAFOD are an example of people voluntarily going out to poor countries and providing relief for the people living there. CAFOD make a link between the continents of Asia Africa and Latin America and the people who wish to help then back at home. Some of the works CAFOD do are: Community development Food production Water supplies and irrigation Penetrative medicine Vocational training Adult education CAFOD operate because it believes all people should be equal in the sight of God. They also believe that human dignity demands a reasonable standard of living and people all need basic food, housing, education and clothing. Lay people use the beatitudes as a guideline to reach discipleship and to become closer to God: Happy are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5v3 Lay people dont show off that they are holy, they are discreet but God knows they are true believers. Happy are those who mourn Matthew 5v4 Lay people mourn for others and show respect to the friends and family of those who have died. Happy are those who are humble. Matthew 5v5 Lay people put others before them selves and dont aim to be great and powerful. Happy are the merciful. Matthew 5v7 Lay people are merciful to others and forgive anyone who they have fallen out with. Happy are those who are pure in heart. Matthew 5v8 Lay people should be true believers, they shouldnt pretends, if they do believe in Christ then God will reward them. Happy are those who work for peace. Matthew 5v9 Lay people spread peace in the world and try to prevent violence and corruption. Happy for those who are prosecuted for doing what God requires. Matthew 5v10 If you are sent to prison or in trouble for doing what God wants then you are a true lay person and God will reward you in Heaven. Lay people have a duty to serve others and to help those in need. They must stand up for the church and what God taught them. For example Mother Teresa spent her whole life helping people in India because she knew what she was doing was right. People like Mother Teresa are examples for all people. Although mother Teresa was a member of a religious order, she is an example to all Lay People. Love your God. Lay people follow this by using their talents to love and help everyone around them Ordained ministries To join your ordained ministry is another way to serve as a Christian disciple. A lot of thought must be given before someone decides to join the ordained ministry because it involves a lifetime of devotion to God, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men, Matthew 4v19 Like the disciples many sacrifices have to be made to become a member of the ordained ministry, you must not have any sexual relationships or get married. This is because being in the ordained ministry requires total love for God and members can put all their energy into doing Gods work. The first stage is when a man becomes a deacon. Deacons appear in close association with bishops. As the deaconate developed in the early Church, the deacon became the bishops assistant, responsible only to him and ordained by him alone. He embodies or represents the servant ministry of Christ. In the Roman Catholic tradition, the liturgical functions of the deacon involve helping or serving the celebrant. The next step is to become a priest. The priest is especially consecrated to the service of a God and through who worship and prayer is offered to God. In the Roman Catholic Church the priest is a member of the sacerdotal ministry. The priest has the power to celebrate Mass and to administer the sacraments, except holy orders (reserved for the bishop), matrimony (administered to one another by the couple and witnessed by the priest), and confirmation (usually performed by a bishop). The next step for some is to become a bishop In the Roman, a bishop is an ecclesiastic who, through sacramental consecration, holds special powers of the ministry as well as special administrative prerogatives. Consecration to the order of bishop is usually performed by three bishops (one of them a metropolitan), this number having been customary from post apostolic times. The bishop is supreme ecclesiastical ruler of the diocese over which he presides. He is responsible for the spiritual welfare of all the faithful, both clergy and laity, and for the government of all ecclesiastical institutions within his diocese. He has the power to ordain bishops, priests, and deacons. He is the ordinary minister of the sacrament of confirmation. The next step is to become an archbishop. Archbishop have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province. He superintends certain activities of the other bishops in his province and also exercises Episcopal authority in his own diocese. In the Roman Catholic Church, archbishops occupy certain important sees and enjoy limited provincial authority The next step is to become a cardinal. The cardinals are appointed by the pope and constitute the Sacred College. The pope is not obliged to consult them, but does so as a matter of course. Their number has varied at different times; in 1586 Pope Sixtus V fixed it at 70. The cardinals are chief members of the Sacred Congregations of the papal government. They meet in consistory, or assembly, over which the pope presides. Cardinals are limited in their duties according to age; like other high prelates, they are expected to retire at the age of 75 from administrative duties. At 80 they are no longer permitted to serve as papal electors. The next step is to become a pope, Pope, in Latin, papa, from the Greek pappas, meaning father, a Christian Besides the designation pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church also holds these titles: vicar of Christ; successor of St Peter; supreme pontiff of the universal Church; patriarch of the West; primate of Italy; archbishop and metropolitan of the Roman province; sovereign of the State of Vatican City; and servant of the servants of God. Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires. Matthew 5v10 People in the ordained ministry help others in the church and out of the church by standing up and defending the church and listening and acting out everything God wanted us to do. Religious Orders Another way of serving as a disciple is by joining a religious order or congregation. There are two types of religious orders, Apostolic and Contemplative. Joining either of these orders requires total devotion to God and confinement. Living a life of celibacy is hard for the brothers and sisters but they believe that they will be rewarded in heaven, Happy are those who are pure in heart, they will see God. Matthew 5v8 Religious orders are consecrated to three vows; these are poverty, chastity and obedience. Poverty means to have the bare minimum and live like Jesus did. An example of this is the rich young man, You must give up all of your possessions and follow me, This story tells us not to be corrupt with money and possessions. Chastity means not to have a sexual relationship with anyone. This is so people can focus on following God. An example of this is when Jesus said, Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men, Matthew 4v19 The disciples left their families and homes to follow Jesus. Obedience means to obey priests, bishops and the pope. An example of this is in the commission, Teach them to obey everything I have taught you. This tells us to obey Gods teachings and all who work for God. Apostolic orders are the first type of religious orders. They live a life of voluntary community work. They tend the sick and old and care for the homeless. You should send for the church elders, who will pray for them and rub olive oil on them in the name of the lord. This is an inspiration to apostolic orders to heal the sick and is the reason for the sacrament, anointing of the sick. Examples of apostolic orders are Notre Dame, Brothers of the Christian Schools and mother Teresa. Brothers of the Christian Schools, religious community, commonly called Christian Brothers, established by the French educator St John Baptist de la Salle, at Reims in 1680 and sanctioned by Pope Benedict XIII in 1725. The brothers take the religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, plus two vows peculiar to their institute: service to the poor through education and fidelity to their institute. They do not, however, enter holy orders. In the mid-1980s community residences numbered more than 1,250 throughout the world. About 10,000 brothers taught approximately 800,000 pupils. Contemplative orders are the second type of religious orders. Their lives are a journey to God in prayer and worship in solitude, silence and community. Examples of contemplative orders are Carmelites, Poor Clares and Carthusians.The Carthusians were a monastic order founded by St Bruno, who in 1084 retired with six companions to the solitude of the valley of Chartreuse, near Grenoble. There they lived as hermits, wearing poor clothing and eating vegetables and coarse bread. After the order received Papal approbation in 1170, it expanded rapidly. It dates from 1180 in England, where the name Chartreuse Houses was corrupted into Charter Houses. The order is now conducted under the rules approved in 1682 by Pope Innocent XI. The Carthusians were divided into two classes, fathers and lay brothers. Each father occupied a separate cell, with a bed of straw, a pillow, a woollen coverlet, and the tools for manual labour or for writing. Monks left their cells only on festivals and on days of the funeral of a brother of the order. Three times a week they fasted on bread, water, and salt, and several long fasts were observed during the year. Meat was forbidden at all times and so was wine, unless it was mixed with water. Unbroken silence was enforced except on rare occasions. As Peter and Paul gave up their homes and families to follow Jesus, Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men, Matthew 4v19 Members of religious orders give up their homes and families to serve God in prayer and worship and in community service to fulfill their vocation.