Nature of and Preparation for Discipleship

The following is a paragraph excerpt from the Disciple's Study Bible (1988, Holman Bible Publishers: Nashville) concerning the Doctrine of Discipleship.  This is Part 1 (yesterday was the intro) to our series this week on Discipleship.  I have spelled out the references fully. Coloring is mine for visual acuity (ie break up the monotony of the black lettering.   Be sure to utilize the eBible search to look up the references if you want.

     Nature of and preparation for discipleship.  Obedient service is the basic expression of discipleship.  Such service is voluntary but never optional for the people of God.  Christian conversion is the first step of discipleship.  Mere profession of faith in words accomplishes nothing.  True confession is conversion, converting a sinner into a servant of Christ.  Faith is completed by actions it prompts (James 2:14-26).  Christians are saved to serve (Ephesians 2:8-10).  Humans cannot achieve or deserve conversion or discipleship.  People become Christians on Christ's initiative and have no reason to boast (John 15:16).  Conversion leads to discipleship, the living out of God's will.  God provides enabling power for His people to do His will (1 Samuel 30:3-8; Haggai 2:4-5).  Christians need the inner moral power necessary for living victoriously as obedient disciples (Ephesians 3:16; 1 Peter 4:11).  Family and church have responsibilities to train young disciples toward maturity in Christ (Luke 9:2; 2 Timothy 3:14-17).
     Disciples become part of God's holy priesthood as promised by Moses (Exodus 19:6) and fulfilled in the church, the ideal Israel (1 Peter 2:9).  All Christian disciples are brothers and sisters with free access to God (Matthew 23:1-11) through Christ, our High Priest (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 10:19-22).  We need no other Mediator.  We have the responsibility to go to God and learn from God directly through Christ rather than depending on human intermediaries.
     All Christian disciples are God's fellow workers.  None is left out.  All are needed.  A witnessing and serving laity is essential to a functioning and growing church, as Acts illustrates.  Women played an important part in the work of God in the past and should continue today (Exodus 15:20-21; Judges 4-5; Proverbs 31; 2 Kings 22:11-20; Matthew 28:1-10; Luke 8:2-3; Romans 16:1-3).

Tomorrow, we will look at: Guidelines for Discipleship.
Then later: Purpose for Discipleship and Focus of Discipleship.

What are your thoughts?  Anything strike you in particular?