“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Eph. 4:15-16)
When studying the time our Lord walked on earth, we read of “His disciples,” for a disciple is one who follows, and learns from, his master’s ways. As such, the Master was here to teach personally.
In the book of Acts, believers in the risen and ascended Lord Jesus are initially called disciples (chs. 6, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 21). They were learning the words of the risen Lord from His chosen apostles who had direct revelation, “the apostles’ doctrine.” In this sense, the apostles were obeying the risen Lord’s instruction to them to “teach [disciple] all nations.” They were to do this not by becoming masters themselves, but by teaching all things that the risen Lord Jesus had commanded them (Mt. 28:16-20).
However, Acts 21:16 is the last mention of “disciple” in the Word of God. The epistles (written instruction) to the Christian church never mention this word. Why? Terms such as “brethren” (family relationship) and “saints” (holy ones with the Holy Spirit) and “body” (a living organism) are terms for Christians in the epistles.
The twelve disciples had one Teacher to disciple them, for Jesus was the Master and should be followed. The early Christians, with Christ in heaven, did not have one teacher to teach them. Rather they had the apostles, a plurality of men who received revelation from the Lord and transmitted it orally and in written form (2 Thes. 2:15).
The apostles were chosen to receive the mysteries of God: things that were kept secret until then. It is in these mysteries, revealed in their epistles, that we learn of a higher way of learning than a mere disciple. Now it is not Christ with us at times as a teacher, but Christ in us continually revealing to us “the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10). Now it is not just following Christ’s example, but internally being transformed into His image and likeness (Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18).
We have a picture of change in John the Baptist in John 3. In preaching the coming of the Messiah and His kingdom, John preached the baptism of repentance. Thus John had disciples who learned from him and followed him. However, the Lord Jesus had come and was also baptizing believers via His disciples. John was informed that “all men come to Him [Jesus].” John’s response was to realize the change was from heaven. He stated: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John would no longer be discipling as before but would yield to a new way.
The New Way: The Church
The Church is made up of believers who alone possess the living Spirit of Christ. This unique group is called “the body of Christ” for it is His living extension on earth, spiritually joined to Him (the Head in heaven) and to each other. All life, wisdom, and ability emit spiritually from the Head into His body. However, each member of this body has different manifestations of the Spirit, called gifts. No one individual possesses all the gifts but the body as a whole does. It is not just one individual but the body that is multi-gifted and complete—like Christ Jesus when He was on earth.
Thus the epistles put the emphasis on believers learning by assembling together “in the church.” Here different gifts from the one Head are “come together into one place” (1 Cor. 14). Here the plurality of gifts being used results in “that all may learn.” This word “learn” is what a disciple does.
Neither Christ nor His apostles are on earth today, but His Spirit is—and He is in the Church (1 Cor. 3.16). And His Word, through the apostles’ doctrine, is with us in complete form: the Scriptures.
The Shortcomings of the Old Way
A horse, of course, was once a great way to travel. Now to ride a horse on a superhighway can present many dangers. To view discipleship as mainly one person teaching or mentoring another is pre-Body. While there is certainly room for individuals outside a church meeting to teach others (Acts 18:26; 20:20; Titus 2, etc.), to not view the Church as the new ordained way of learning can present certain dangers.
Danger 1: One is perceived as a master. Discipling implies that the one teaching is the master. There is only one Master (Teacher) and He is in heaven; “all ye are brethren,” says the Lord (Mt. 23:8-10). We read in Acts 20:30 of those who are even elders but who will speak perverse things to “draw away disciples after them.” We must be careful to avoid seeking a following after ourselves, rather than guiding believers to the Head and His body. In that sense we must be team players, for that is exactly what a member of a body is.
Danger 2: Bypassing God’s checks and balances. Discipling can unwittingly bypass the accountability God has ordained in His assembly. We read of elders or overseers (with qualifications to be met) who by the Holy Spirit are to shepherd each local church (Ac. 20:28). We read of correcting an erring brother by the whole assembly (Mt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:4-7). One is not to be accountable to just one person where serious failings and sins are kept secret, bypassing the authority given to the assembly. In a body one member can’t be hurt without the others knowing it and assisting.
The NT church meeting shows a plurality of gift being used with accountability. “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn [what a disciple does], and all may be comforted” (1 Cor. 14:29-31). Thus there is accountability in the church where all are present: old and young, wise and gifted.
Danger 3: Bypassing the dynamic of the variety of gifts and elderly wisdom. Discipling can lock a person in to only one person’s style and abilities. Intentionally, no one person has all the gifts. Romans 12:4-6 teaches: “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing….” Also Titus 2 teaches that the aged men and women, with their wisdom, experience, and godly example, have a great role to play toward the younger ones. To not be involved in the body is to receive a partial diet, thus stunting one’s growth.
It is interesting to note that when Paul returned from his missionary journey to the church in Antioch, even he was only one of the teachers in a plurality: “Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also” (Ac. 15:35). Even the things he taught to Timothy he did “among many witnesses.” Body dynamics!
Danger 4: Bypassing the Lordship of Christ uniquely displayed in a church meeting. Discipling is not the highest level of learning. When one is “in the church” of God, one not only receives words but also learns the ways of God: reverence, order, protocol, respect, and submission. This puts one under the authority of the risen Lord that is uniquely demonstrated when in assembly (1 Cor. 14:23-37). Here the Lord says a woman is to “learn [the word for what a disciple does] in silence” and “if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home” (1 Tim. 2:11; 1 Cor. 14:35). As Psalm 77:13 says: “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary.” A body needs authority and wisdom from the head to function properly, and a body has only one head.
Danger 5: Not providing an outlet for interactive growth. Discipling is learning. However, to be healthy, a body must not only take in (eat) but exercise (give out). The NT church meeting is not only a place of receiving but also a place of many giving edification according to one’s heart, gifts, and roles (1 Cor. 14).
If you are involved in the New Testament assembly, you are involved in discipling.