The Bible clearly expresses how to become a follower (or a
disciple) of Jesus.
Mark 1:15 - “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of
God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Romans 10:9-10 - “because, if you confess with your
mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that
God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For
with the heart one believes and is justified, and with
the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
The Bible also clearly instructs how to live as a follower
of Jesus.
John 14:15 - “If you love me, you will keep my
commandments.”
Luke 9:23-24 - And he said to all, “If anyone would
come after me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his
life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake
will save it.”
Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and said to them,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given
to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all
that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you
always, to the end of the age.”
When our Lord spoke these words, He intended them for
all who recognize Jesus as Lord. Sadly, since they were
recorded in the Bible, the church has co-opted scriptural
definitions and terms, lessening the impact of the strength
and importance of God’s words and Jesus’ modeling of
discipleship. The church has often relegated these biblical
commands for those “called” into missions or full-time
ministry. However, when our Lord spoke these words, there
was no such caveat recorded. Jesus longed for all of us to
enjoy a life rich with intentional discipling relationships.
All that being said, God is at work here at Calvary Church! He
is motivating people through discipleship and evangelism
training based on Jesus’ methods of discipling his original
followers. When Jesus invited them to follow him, they
immediately left their lives and immersed themselves in
his ministry for three years. They watched as he healed
the broken, counseled the hurting, and saved the lost all
the while introducing people to himself— the way, the
truth and the life. His example and teaching created a
perfect incubator for the disciple’s faith to grow. He then
sent them out to imitate it and to make disciples—that’s
evangelism and discipleship. He lived life with each one of
them and when the appointed time arrived, Jesus sent out
the disciples to share what he had taught them. And their
senses were astounded as they experienced the impact on
people they came in contact with and on themselves.
This model has been used to equip and encourage Calvary
men and women, both young and old, to enter into a lifestyle
of discipleship and evangelism. Starting with an internship
for six college students, it has expanded to a women’s group
of eight and a men’s group of 18. Their eyes are being opened
by the Holy Spirit, giving them a wider view of reaching the
lost and walking with them as they grow to become more
like Jesus. One such person is Christina, an 18-year-old
student at Grand Rapids Community College. Christina has
been a part of the women’s discipleship training which the
Lord has used to motivate her to share the gospel with her
fellow students. She is actively involved in sharing her faith
and encouraging others to walk with Jesus.
God has used this training to make her realize discipleship is
a role for all Christians, not strictly a chosen few. The Spirit
has given her a heart for the broken at her college. The Holy
Spirit used the training to give her the tools, accountability
and support system she needed to step out of her comfort
zone and share Christ with and encourage people to follow
God. She is also encouraged by the older women being
trained alongside her in the class, who are discovering
these same things. Christina’s is but one account of many,
showcasing the fruit God is producing when equipped
people step out in faith to share Christ and live intentionally
as Jesus modeled.
As you read through this month’s Calvary Life, devoted to the
theme of discipleship, be attentive to the prompting of the
Holy Spirit. If you feel God nudging you to get involved with
discipleship and evangelism taking place at Calvary, contact
me, Jim Stortz ([email protected]), at ext. 5194.
By Jim Stortz
Assistant Director of Evangelism & Discipleship
Jim and his wife Tammy have been part of the Calvary family for about nine years. In June 2015, he joined the
Calvary Church staff to help equip, encourage and empower Calvary people to share the good news and make
disciples wherever God places them.
7