Discipled by Jesus

Discipled by Jesus
Your Ongoing Invitation to Follow Christ
(NavPress, 2018)

WHO: Robert Gelinas, pastor of Colorado Community Church in Aurora, Colorado.

HE SAYS: “In our eagerness to serve Jesus and make him known we sometimes sideline him in the process. One way we do this is when we fail to see his ongoing, active presence in our spiritual growth. Too often we have missed out on the obvious truth that Jesus—because he is alive—is ready, willing and able to do for us as he did for the original 12.”

THE BIG IDEA: The church needs a reformation in discipleship. But Jesus is our pastor, teacher and leader. Because “making disciples” has become a thing Christians do to each other, the church has taken the role Jesus should play in a person’s spiritual growth.

THE PROGRESSION:
The author begins by clearly stating that Jesus is alive and wants to disciple us. While the church and other Christians play important roles in our spiritual growth, Jesus’ living leadership is what we need.
The first part of the book examines the “discipleship myth”—how using Jesus as a “model” for discipleship makes us the central acting agent in discipleship. Instead Jesus is the master disciple-maker.
Next, the book examines what it looks like to have Jesus as our pastor and teacher, what it means to pray in the Spirit and how we are on a co-mission with Jesus to reach non-Christians.
The book concludes with chapters on preparing people to be discipled by Jesus and what the ultimate goal of discipleship is.

“We tell people that they need to be able to answer questions like, ‘Who am I discipling?’ and ‘Who is discipling me?’ instead of asking together, ‘How is Jesus discipling me?’ and ‘How is he discipling you?’”

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A CONVERSATION WITH ROBERT GELINAS

How could a pastor use this book to help equip his staff and laypeople to disciple like Jesus?

It’s not about discipling like Jesus, but leading people to be discipled by Jesus. The living leadership of Jesus in the lives of his people frees up pastors to do what they are called to do—equip God’s people for works of service. Jesus not only was but is the master disciple-maker.

What important lessons could ministry leaders take away from this book regarding their own discipleship?

The Great Commission is really a great co-mission—an interactive partnership with Jesus. Discipled by Jesus helps us to understand what Jesus desires to do in the lives of people and the role he has for each of us. This becomes clear as we all embrace Jesus as our pastor, choose Jesus as our teacher and learn to pray in the Spirit. The resurrection makes all the difference in our discipleship.

Define what the “13th Disciple” means.

John August Swanson is an American painter who tells biblical stories through his work. In his depiction of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, Swanson paints Christ surrounded by his disciples. When you look closely you realize that there aren’t 12 disciples in the room but 13. Who is this 13th disciple? I like to think that it could be me or you.

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