Please define discipleship
By Rich Gregory Feb 11, 2025
I recently faced what should have been a “simple” plumbing repair. Those who have attempted such a repair know this statement is laughable, as there is never anything “simple” about “plumbing.” Those are two words that should never be put together. No matter how hard I pushed and pulled, the pipe assembly that needed replacement wouldn’t come apart. After looking up my problem on YouTube (which is what every good weekend warrior does when faced with a snag), I discovered that my issue could be resolved with a small plastic tool costing about $1.50. After my fifth trip to the hardware store that day, my problem was solved in five seconds flat. Without that tool, a self-inflicted flood was right around the corner, but armed with it, the job proved incredibly simple.
That principle – get the right tool for the job! – is transferable to the church. In Titus 1, Paul gave Titus what seems to be a relatively straightforward task: Help the church in Crete get deep (1:5).
Help them grow in godliness that’s grounded in the truth (1:1). But as chapter 1 continues to unfold, it becomes clear that this “simple task” is going to be more complicated than it looked because there would be “many” (1:10) who seek to derail that growth.
So how could Titus – and by extension, how can we – develop depth in the life of the church? What tool has God given us to accomplish our task?
Enter Titus 2 and the God-given tool for cultivating depth in the church’s life: biblical discipleship. In Titus 2, Paul provides a master class on how discipleship is meant to be leveraged correctly in the church’s life to enable its spiritual growth. We need to understand the definition of this tool before we can effectively apply it.
- Many become trapped into thinking of discipleship as being overly structured (“It’s got to be a structured curriculum”).
- Sometimes, we consider it only in a programmatic way (“My church needs a better discipleship program”).
- Occasionally, we think of it in terms of an exclusive relationship (“I’m his/her discipler”).
First, biblical discipleship is comprehensive.
Being a disciple means being a follower (Matt 16:24). As Christ commanded if we follow Him, we must do what He did – and that means making disciples (Matt. 28:19-20)! While this command certainly has an evangelistic component, the discipleship emphasis is in Matt. 28:20 focuses on the post-conversion work of “teaching them to observe all of [Christ’s] commands.”
Consequently, discipleship isn’t just for the lost, nor is it reserved for one or two unique individuals in our lives. Every relationship is a discipleship relationship! We should always concern ourselves with making disciples in every relational context (saved or unsaved) because all our neighbours, kids, coworkers, friends, and fellow church members require encouragement to pursue Jesus Christ.
If we follow Him, we must help them follow Him, too! That’s discipleship at its broadest level, and it isn’t limited to a special class of super Christians who have reached the end zone of maturity. As Paul clarifies in Titus 2:1-10, discipleship is something that everyone (men and women, young and old, slave and free) must engage in within the context of every relationship. In short, if you’re a believer, you’ve been called to be a comprehensive disciple-maker!
Second, biblical discipleship is constant.
In Titus 2:1, Paul instructs Titus to “teach that which befits sound doctrine.” That’s where his instructions on discipleship begin, and there are a couple of features in that statement that is important to observe. It’s notable here that the command to “teach” is in the present tense.
Paul’s expectation is that Titus “be teaching” at every moment. Whatever moment you’re in (present tense), “Be teaching!” At first, we may say, “Well, of course, when Titus stood up to teach, it should have been grounded in the truth.”
However, Paul’s command goes much deeper than that. When he tells Titus to “teach,” he uses the Greek term “laleo,” which means “to speak.” The implications for discipleship in this world are profound.
How was Titus supposed to engage in discipleship?
Any time Titus opened his mouth – whether in a formal teaching context or a casual conversation – what came out had to align with the “sound doctrine” of biblical truth.
The context of Titus 2 pertains to discipleship within the church specifically. In summary, in all his conversations and relational engagements, Titus was responsible for modelling biblical discipleship to every group in the church by constantly speaking about what aligns with sound doctrine (or the truth about the life and law of Christ as found in the Word of God).
That serves as Paul’s introductory crash course on how to define biblical discipleship. Discipleship, therefore, can be defined as consistently using your knowledge of Christ to help others know Christ.
As followers of Christ, this should be our purpose every day, in every way, and through whatever we say. Our lives should continually reflect Christ’s life so that others might be compelled to know, love, and serve Him, too.
So, how do we disciple and contribute to the development of depth within our local churches? Titus 2:1: “As for you, Christian, be speaking (constantly at all times and comprehensively with all people) what accords with sound doctrine.
