Focus of Discipleship

Here is our last part concerning the Doctrine of Discipleship as quoted from the Disciple's Study Bible.

     Focus of Discipleship.  Discipleship focuses on personal spiritual discipleine, such as Bible study, prayer, and worship, to train for service.  At heart discipleship is the believer in action for God.  God's will for Christian serice is as broad as human need.  Discipleship invovles evangelism and missions as described in separate articles.  God wants all material needs met for every person He creates.  The Bible descibes ministry to the

• poor and needy (Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 11:41); 
• hungry (Luke 1:53; 9:12-17; Romans 12:20); 
• homeless (Exodus 22:21; 23:9; Leviticus 19:33-34; Numbers 15:15-16); 
• oppressed (Matthew 9:36; Mark 12:38-40); 
• sick (Matthew 10:8; Luke 9:1-6; James 5:14-16); 
• handicapped (Matthew 15:30-31; Luke 14:13); and 
• the fallen (John 4:1-42; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; Galatians 6:1-2).  

In principle discipleship involves creatively meeting any need another person has (Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-19; Luke 4:18-21).     The importance of ministry to human needs was made clear when Jesus said it would indicate qualification for blessing or rejection on the day of judgment and the great separation (Matthew 25:31-46).

Thanks for joining us on this series.  let me know if you have any questions or ideas or things that you would like to see.