The Power and Price of Discipleship

John 18:17

The word Christian was mentioned once in the Bible. However, the word “Disciple” is mentioned in multiple places to describe the believer. A Christian disciple is one who follows Christ and asks what would Jesus do in every case.

A church goer and a true Christian disciple are different entities. In the words of Dr. D. K. Olukoya, a mere church goer is a deficit to the kingdom of heaven.

Salvation is free. It costs you nothing. On the other hand, discipleship is a costly journey. You have to forsake everything and follow Jesus fully. A popular hymn by Charles William Everest is titled “Take up thy Cross if my disciple thou wouldest be”. It talks so much about the power of discipleship and why it is necessary for every believer to live such lifestyle.

Followership by Revelation

If you have followership by revelation and conviction, it will help your acts of service. 

Revelation and conviction can br transferred (to children). You can do something that is right but with a wrong heart.

Conviction keeps people in the place of service. Training and Reward does not.

Understanding Correction in Leadership

Correction gets people offended. The first thing correction does is to reveal the nature of your heart. How you respond determines if you will become better or worse after the correction. A leader can use the rod of correction to reveal the conviction of his followers.

There are two kinds of sacrifices:

1. Sacrifice within your convenience

2. ⁠sacrifice by conviction (usually out of your reach)

Leading Teams

Teamwork requires death to self. Teamwork is the secret to sweet and sweat-less success. Working smart is better than working hard (Ecclesiastes 10:15, 2nd Samuel 3:1)

Continuity of leadership after transition is dependent on a formidable team (Acts 1:1-5, Acts 5:34-39)

Trust must be gained, developed and sustained. It is the currency of leadership. Trust in integrity, capacity and ____

Teamwork is a function of leadership, vision, trust, understanding, mutual trust and respect, dependence, relationship 

I-DATE

1. Identify - the value in each member and see the best in them

2. Draw - them to you and the team using skill and strategy

3. Appreciate - then and help them see value and potentials in themselves

4. ⁠Train - and show them their vision and their unique place in the team

5. ⁠Employ - and deploy them to the field. Create room for accountability

In building a team, learn how to “date” your members. 

Identify people of 

1. Influence

2. ⁠skill

3. ⁠virtue and

4. ⁠people in opposition 

Peter was a psychophant whom Hesus converted to a loyalist.

How to “Draw” - Create Relationship first. Do not flatter people. Give them a balanced perspective to their lives.

Focus on their strength and set training strategy for them

Don’t be a monitoring spirit 

This article “ The Power and Price of Discipleship” is a part of the New Man Discipleship series