INTENTIONAL
DISCIPLESHIP
What
is the Christian life all about?
This is a question that is
sometimes asked as one struggles
to understand the purpose,
meaning and direction of one’s
life. Jesus made it clear that
the Christian is called to a
life of discipleship.
"The
time has come," he said.
"The kingdom of God is
near. Repent and believe the
good news!" As Jesus walked
beside the Sea of Galilee, he
saw Simon and his brother Andrew
casting a net into the lake, for
they were fishermen. "Come,
follow me," Jesus said,
"and I will make you
fishers of men." At once
they left their nets and
followed him. When he had gone a
little farther, he saw James son
of Zebedee and his brother John
in a boat, preparing their nets.
Without delay he called them,
and they left their father
Zebedee in the boat with the
hired men and followed him.
(Mark 1:15-20
NIV)
One
of the first things Jesus did in
his life and ministry was to
proclaim the good news of the
kingdom and gather to him those
who would follow him as his
disciples. And when he first
called Simon and Andrew to
follow him he made it clear his
intention to make them into “fishers
of men.”
Jesus
showed himself to be very
intentional in the way he called
his disciples, taught them what
the Christian life involved and
trained them for ministry so
that they would eventually
continue the work of proclaiming
the good news of the kingdom.
And
when he had completed his ministry on earth and was about to
ascend to heaven he reaffirmed this intention with the
instruction, which we have termed the Great Commission:
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