Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – Asking “Why should we become disciples of Jesus?” brings us closer to one of the church’s great goals. It is simply a matter of recognizing it and living it out. So why does this question trouble so many people?
Jesus didn’t just call people to believe in Him; He called them to follow Him: “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). That is the call to discipleship. Here are 5 reasons to become a disciple. Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
5 Reasons Christians Need to Become Disciples
1. It is natural
Seeking God’s purpose for our lives is something every Christian values and puts at the center. This runs throughout the Bible, especially the New Testament. In John 20:21, after His resurrection, Jesus said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.” That is the message God and His church have been carrying out: proclaiming the gospel throughout the world so that more people know God and have a personal relationship with Him.
2. It is what God wants
To obey God, we need to become His disciples. The Great Commission gives the whole church a clear message in Matthew 28:18–20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.” Likewise, Acts 1:7–8 says we will be His witnesses from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, and Luke 24:46–47 says the gospel must be proclaimed to all nations.
3. It is the desire to be like Jesus
Jesus constantly showed us how to learn from Him in many different ways. He taught His disciples directly and discussed things with them in their homes. He even compared Himself to a shepherd, a door, living water and the way, so people could understand clearly. If we want to be like Jesus, let us tell others who He is.
4. It brings people out of the darkness of sin
The only way to know the purpose of our lives is to know the Author of life. The Bible shows that those who don’t know God live in darkness, moral, relational and spiritual, because they lack God’s presence and guidance. Refusing to become His disciples leads to something worse: the eternal darkness ahead of them. Yet we tell them of the promise of eternal life, a promise so important to God that Jesus died so we could live in His presence.
5. It brings glory to God
Becoming a disciple of Jesus is one of the greatest ways to glorify Him. The great early-20th-century preacher G. Campbell Morgan made the point that God’s supreme passion is not saving people for their own sake but for His glory: people are redeemed so that God is glorified. Following Jesus is not just a matter of joining a church. Become His disciple for the mission of bringing glory to Him in every corner and to the ends of the earth.
Walking as a Disciple
Being a disciple means learning from Jesus in every area of life: how we think, speak, love and serve. It isn’t a course of a few weeks but a lifelong journey.
A disciple needs to stay close to the Teacher every day through God’s Word and prayer. Keep a regular devotional habit and let Scripture guide your decisions.
Disciples also need companions. Join a small group or find someone further along to learn from. And as you mature, help someone else walk the path of discipleship.
The Great Commission doesn’t tell us to make believers, but disciples. Every true disciple will produce other disciples.
You may also like: 6 Reasons Discipleship Strategies Miss the Mark and Church Small Groups.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for calling us to follow You. Help us deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and live as Your true disciples. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Article: Đặng Hà
Adapted from: ChurchPastor.com
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