Discipleship:
Matthew 28:18-20; 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."
2 Timothy 2:2; And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, teach to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
At Bethany Community Church, discipleship is the main method by which people grow spiritually. Discipleship was Jesus' method of training His disciples and we have tried to model His method here. But what, exactly, is "discipleship?" Well, it is simply learning how to grow spiritually in the context of a caring relationship. In a 1-1 relationship or in a small group, spiritual concepts can be applied uniquely to a person's life. While you are being discipled, you can raise your own questions and problems as you seek God's truth, without feeling fearful of speaking up, as you might in a "class."
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Discipleship also extends beyond "formal" meetings to disciples spending time together in everyday life, working, playing sports, socializing, shopping, etc., where spiritual truth can intersect at the crossroads of our lives. Many people don't realize that although Jesus at times taught thousands of people, He poured most of His time into only 12 men whom He called disciples. Jesus literally lived with these men and taught them by His life as well as by His words. Although you would not spend as much time with your discipler as Jesus did with His disciples, we hope your discipleship experiences here would provide you an opportunity for a much more personal and authentic "walk with God" than the impersonal, "outsider" feeling many have when attending "church."
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Your discipleship relationships will, we hope, extend over the long term. As you experience new challenges in life, your discipler and disciple group can be a continued source of support for you. One of the challenges we encourage people to eventually take on is to use their God given gifts, as well as the things God has taught them, by discipling others in the future. There is a world full of hurting people who need spiritual truth applied to their lives by someone who will take the time to help them grow.
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We hope you will join us in our mission of helping people grow spiritually in the context of a caring community!
We believe God calls every believer to a life of spiritual reproduction, imparting their own spiritual life to the next generation of disciples. Thus we believe God enables each believer to be a witness for Him and to grow to a place of effective service within the church. At Bethany, we encourage all believers to participate in the process of discipleship. The major steps in this process are outlined below.
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Register for an Introduction to Discipleship Class:
Several times each year, we offer classes where you can meet with a small group of others and learn about discipleship at Bethany. The class covers four of the most basic issues of practical Christian living. Whether you are just getting started in your walk with God or are an "old timer," you will enjoy this time to build friendships and review some important lessons.
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Participate in One-on-One Discipleship Training:
After attending the Intro to Discipleship, you will be paired with your own discipler for One-on-one Discipleship Training. The pairing of discipler/disciplee is undertaken with prayerful consideration, especially with regard to the background and personality of the individuals. In One-on-one, you will cover eight additional lessons with your discipler at a pace that is convenient for both of you. These lessons will build on the foundation that was set in your Intro class. In addition, you will be building a lasting relationship with another believer.
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Participate in a Discipler Group:
After you complete one-on-one training, you will be eligible to join a discipler group. In this group setting, you will meet with five to seven other believers at least once a month. The groups are designed to provide encouragement, to build personal accountability, and to help each member grow in his/her journey as a disciple. New groups are formed each September.
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Disciple someone else:
As a trained disciple, you are now ready to seek out who God might be preparing for you to disciple.
NOTE: All Intro classes, one-on-one training relationships, and discipleship groups are gender-specific.
For more information about the Discipleship Process, contact Kevin McGhee for men's discipleship or Rena Tolson for women's discipleship, or call the church office at (301) 725-7838.
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