Unit 2:
What’s it all about?
Unit Aim:
In this unit we take a look at how the New Testament defines
discipleship; exactly what does the word mean, and what should we look
for in a discipler, and what can we expect?
Guess how many times the word Christian appears in the New Testament?
Now guess how many times the word disciple appears in the Gospels and
in Acts?
(Answers at the bottom of this unit)
Even if you got the most frequent word right, did you realise that there is
such a vast difference in the amount these two words are used.
It’s important with a frequently used biblical word that we really understand its meaning. There are
two questions to ask ourselves here:
What did the word mean then to them?
What does the word mean now to us?
Bible scholars call this exegesis.
This is about content and context.
Bible scholars call this hermeneutics.
This is about consequence.
To understand the real meaning of the word discipleship we need to examine the original Greek words
used. This is because Greek is a very rich language, a kind of ‘backpack’ language good at packing
multiple, complimentary meanings/ideas into the one word. English is quite good at this too:
Define the word
It’s hard to define love using only one word, isn’t it? One word/meaning isn’t really enough. So the
English language does this too. But not so well as New Testament Greek does.
So, what are the Greek words used in the New Testament for disciple/discipleship?
There are two main words used:
1.
Mathetes – this word can best be ‘unpacked’ as meaning a
LEARNER / DOER
So a disciple doesn’t just learn stuff in their heads. They learn as they are doing, and they learn
by doing.
What are the characteristics of a learner?
A LEARNER is:
Do 1 Peter 5:6, Mark 9:38-40, Mark 10:13-16 give you
any additional answers?
If yes, What?
What are the characteristics of a doer?
2.
A DOER is:
Didasko – This word and its root (“didache”) gives us the English word ‘didactic’ meaning ‘to
teach’. And discipleship is to do with teaching, but it is so much more. Literally the word
means …
‘To repeatedly extend the hand of friendship,
looking for acceptance.’
So a disciple is discipled in the context of friendship. Discipleship is about relationship, not just
about information. Friendship must be given, it cannot be taken.
What are the characteristics of a friend?
A FRIEND is:
From Theory to Practice
Let’s compile a list below of all the characteristics you’ve noted of a learner, a doer and a friend. For
these are the biblical definition of a disciple: One who learns, embraces a discipline, makes mistakes, is
humble and teachable, perseveres, and is relational. Now let’s assess how well these characteristics
describe you! This will be both an encouragement to you, and a challenge, giving you something to work
on with God and with your discipler.
Not Very True
Fairly True
Very True
Therefore I am encouraged by my:
And I want to talk with my discipler
about and work on:
JESUS
Expectations
You can expect your discipler to be being discipled
themselves, to be a learner/doer and to build friendship
with you. You can expect them to be further ahead of
you on the road to following Jesus – to have made more
mistakes and to have learned more lessons. Discipleship
isn’t hierarchical – you are Jesus’ disciple, no one else’s.
The discipleship relationship isn’t like this:
Your Discipler
YOU
It is more like this:
Conversion
YOU
Discipler
JESUS
You do need to be able to identify a specific, named individual discipler, and you do need to meet
regularly, at least once every week. They should be of the same gender as you, so that you can
discuss anything, and your discussion will still be appropriate. You can’t expect your discipler to know
everything; to be able to do everything; to be perfect. You can’t expect them to be able to develop you
in all the areas that you need/want. You therefore need a mentoring matrix, others who will be able to
develop you in other ways, because no one person can bring you alive in every area of your life.
Mentoring Matrix
Filling in the table should help you think through who might be able to help you develop in different
areas, as well as your discipler on this course.
Area of my life
Physical
Emotional
Spiritual
Recreational
Education
Work
Home
I want to be...
Who might help?
Moving On
Identify three action points that you know you need to go and do and learn from having read Unit 2. Set
a target date by which you will have done them.
1
date
2
date
3
date
Discipler’s Endorsement:
The trainee has satisfactorily completed this Unit,
and I will monitor the three target dates set.
Signed
Date
ANSWERS:
Christian appears 3 times
Disciple appears 269 times in the New Testament.