What if your church is doing discipleship wrong? Is that a question you’ve ever considered? I doubt many of us have. And that’s okay. But the reality is, discipleship is serious stuff. That being the case, we should give serious and proactive thought to how we are doing it as a church, and how we are individually pursuing it.
In Discipled by Jesus: Your Ongoing Invitation to Follow Christ, Robert Gelinas points us back to Jesus. It sounds simple, but it’s much more than that. For far too long, we’ve allowed the discipleship bar to be too low. It’s time for us to get out-of-the-way, and let Jesus disciple us.
This post is an honest review of the book in response to a free review copy provided to me by NavPress.
A Reformation in the Concept of Discipleship
One of the driving theses of Discipled by Jesus is the assertion that we need a reformation in the concept of discipleship, a word that the church practically invented. Gelinas makes this case early on, suggesting that our definition is incomplete. As a result, we don’t adequately know how to lead others in their own discipleship journeys. Plus, our efforts are falling short of achieving desired goals and impact.
The Call to Discipleship
Gelinas issues a call for us to connect – in real-time – with the risen Christ, who is alive and inviting us to enroll in his school of ongoing discipleship. He advances and challenges what we thought we knew about it. “The end result is Christians who understand the essentials of faith” and have an opportunity to truly enjoy the “purpose of all that training.”
Is your church doing discipleship wrong? It’s more than a boxed set of lessons. In Discipled by Jesus, Robert Gelinas points a thought-provoking way back to Jesus, challenging what you thought you knew about discipleship.
Discipleship and Our New Identity
Another position that Discipled by Jesus asserts is that we are transformed when we are truly open to Christ’s teaching. As Gelinas says, “the call of the shepherd comes with a new identity.“ Jesus led the Apostles and others in Old Testament study throughout his earthly ministry. But he hasn’t stopped teaching. Throughout the Bible, the experiences of the Apostles demonstrate what life should be like for us.
Unfortunately, our misguided understanding of discipleship has also led to confusion about the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit is a gift of the father so we can know him better and see more clearly.
Instead of asking “who am I discipling” we need to let Jesus take the lead. But how do we increasingly become like Jesus? How can we be led, loved, and taught by Jesus even though he is not physically present with us? That’s the role of the Holy Spirit.
Discipled by Jesus – Final Thoughts
I found Discipled by Jesus to be a wonderful and thought-provoking book that I really enjoyed reading and learning from. It will challenge what you thought you knew about discipleship, which is so much more than a set of lessons delivered in a box.
The back contains reflection questions reflection questions that are ideal for deeper meditation and group study. Another neat feature in the appendix is the inclusion of a list of all of Jesus’ commands, which the author personally researched and pulled from the Bible. While some might fear legalism, it’s not meant to be a checklist, nor does he imply “do these things and go to Heaven.” In fact, he tells readers to not “get caught up in perfectionism.” Rather, he suggests that readers focus on them, study the Bible, and ponder their significance as Jesus teaches them.
Give this book a read and pray earnestly. Perhaps you’ll gain a new understanding of discipleship and enjoy a deeper intimacy with your identity in Christ.
About Robert Gelinas
Robert Gelinas deeply desires to see the body of Christ united across the divides and empowered to serve the poor and the poor in spirit; the miserable and the marginalized; the disabled and those deemed unimportant. Robert is a pastor, writer, and a transformational teacher of God’s word. He and his wife, Barbara live with their six children in the Denver area.