What is discipleship and what is Jesus calling us to in Matthew 28:18-20?
Is this a command, or a suggestion; does it mean we are just to evangelize and let people find their faith on their own, or does this mean we are to lead others and teach the precepts of the Scriptures and the character of our Lord? Does it require obedience and action on our part, or are we disciples just by being a Christian and being in a Church on Sundays?
This passage at the end of Matthew’s Gospel is what is called the “Great Commission” which is also the great failure of the Church! This is the main call to the Church from our LORD and Saviour, and is the one thing most Churches do not do at all!
Discipleship is the main reason the Church exists, yet is there one Church that actually teaches people the basics of the faith and then moves them deeper into the precepts of His love and Word through all of the seasons of life?
If discipleship is mostly absent from our Churches, then most Christians will not understand how to live their faith. They will not be able to handle problems, witness, share their faith, or grow effectively spiritually, because no one is modeling, or showing them the way! Some churches do a great job with evangelism and soulwinning, but once the people come in, they are ‘stored’ in the pews.
Where is discipleship?
What is it?
Is the back door of the Church as big as the front door?
We must understand that being a disciple encompasses more than just accepting Christ as Saviour and LORD, and also goes far beyond baptism. Our conversion, our acceptance of Christ as Saviour, our election, is the beginning, the entrance, into the faith and Christian life. It is not the only act of being a Christian! It would be like joining a club, but never venturing into the club. Baptism is initiation and public dedication. It is to be the door through which we go in our walk of faith, as is also our profession and testimony of our faith publicly. It does not stop there! It startsthere!
So, what does the average Church do about discipleship?
In most Churches, people are encouraged to accept Christ or make a profession of faith. Then, they are congratulated, put on the membership role, and then quickly forgotten. Sadly, the Church has forsaken discipleship, and we have left our members to figure out spiritual growth and maturity on their own. In doing this, we are causing many to give up on Christianity, while others become confused, calloused, or complacent, or they are totally swept away by false doctrines and cults because they do not know the difference.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
This is perhaps the chief characteristic that most Churches somehow forget and also the quintessential aspect and reason the Church exists. So, why is it that so few Churches actually have discipleship as a primary ministry? For most Churches, it is something they think they are already doing when in fact they are not. Saying that going to Church on Sunday is discipleship, or providing a couple of token adult Sunday school classes that few attend, is not discipleship. Some Churches throw it in as an afterthought, or may offer a class or something related to the subject.
In conclusion, discipleship is not optional, peripheral, or merely ceremonial, it is the very heartbeat of the Church. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 is not a suggestion but a command from Christ Himself, calling us to actively lead others, teach them the Scriptures, model His character, and guide them into obedience and maturity in the faith.
The failure of the modern Church is not in evangelism alone, but in neglecting discipleship – the intentional, practical, relational process of shaping believers into fully devoted followers of Christ. Without discipleship, Christians are left vulnerable, unprepared, and stagnant; the front doors of the Church may welcome many, but the back doors see countless walking away in confusion or discouragement. True discipleship ensures that the Church fulfills its purpose: not just gathering people, but transforming lives, communities, and nations through the teaching, example, and empowerment of Jesus Christ.
If the Church is to be faithful to its calling, discipleship must move from the margins to the very center of its mission.
