Responsibilities of a True Disciple
If MBT was to ask all of its members to complete a survey with the intention of identifying all the different things that we do well as a church body, we could probably guess what would be at the top of that list: preaching, teaching, and preparing. Also included would be all things hospitality, whether it be making visitors feel at home or making sure regular members are loved and cared for. Altogether though, none of these things would be possible without the love of Jesus Christ and God’s word being shared whole heartedly throughout the church and setting the example for us.
The truth is that the most difficult part about this hypothetical completion of a survey mentioned previously would simply be getting the members to complete the survey. This isn’t a dig at MBT’s members inability to use electronics. Honestly, that isn’t the issue most of the time. This is simply a truthful observation that if that survey were to be completed, administrative and communicative responsibilities would be nowhere near the top of that list. It’s understandable that when someone decides to take part in God’s mission for the body of Christ there are several aspects about it that are considerably exciting and easy for us to throw ourselves into. Administrative and communicative responsibilities are not grouped in with those fun and exciting aspects of God’s mission for the church.
That doesn’t mean that we can afford to write them off as tasks that will eventually get done or something somebody else will take care of down the road. Because in ministry, especially in a ministry that has become as large and alive as the discipleship ministry at MBT, we need to be good and consistent at administrative and communicative responsibilities for things to function properly as a whole. Some of these responsibilities would include but are not limited to:
1. Keeping the Discipleship Team and your fellowship leader updated on the status of you and your disciple’s relationship. If there is something important that these parties need to be clued in on, let them know. It is helpful and needed for when it comes to knowing the state of the flock.
2. After you’ve finished going through the D1 lessons with your disciple and have determined that they are established in the four goals of discipleship, fill out the D1 completion form for your disciple! This is the only waythey will be able to get recognized for completion and it allows for the discipleship records we keep at MBT to stay up to date. See instructions for form completion below:
Log into your MyMBT account > Click on the “Forms” section of the webpage on the left-hand side > Click on the form entitled “D1 Completion Form” > Fill out the form and hit submit
3. Any other questions or concerns you might have related to discipleship at MBT should be taken to any member of the discipleship team whether it be in person before or after a service or by email; please do not hesitate to reach out for guidance or assistance.
If MBT’s disciplers would do these things faithfully, along with the teaching and relational aspects of discipleship, it would have a major impact on the solidification and functioning of the ministry at large. Let’s be reminded that while the main focus of discipleship is recreating life that is based in Jesus Christ in another believer, you are also taking part in reinforcing the foundation of the discipleship ministry altogether. And like we see in Luke 14:28-30, if we don’t take account for all the the different things that are needed to build a foundation correctly, we might find ourselves wanting to move onto the next steps of a project only to realize that we overlooked too many little things along the way and now our foundation doesn’t hold up. If we are to be true disciples of Jesus Christ and true stewards of the things he’s given us, then we can’t let administrative and communicative responsibilities be what we overlook in this ministry. Let’s do all of it well for glory unto the Lord!
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.