Gospel Centered Discipleship (I)


Gospel Centered Discipleship by Jonathan K. Dodson is a book we're studying for our discipleship/accountability groups at my church. The goal of these groups is to learn to be true followers and disciples of Christ, fighting our sin and fighting the good fight to honor God in every breath, and every beat of our lives. I've just started reading the book and there are great points and notes and I just thought it would be a good idea to do some write ups and share it here online. Dodson has split it into three parts, defining discipleship, getting to the heart, and applying the gospel.

Chapter 1: Making Disciples: Evangelism or Discipleship?

Before I read the book, my personal definition of discipleship is growing in Christ as an individual, building our knowledge of God and striving to live like he does, but in this book, discipleship goes far beyond that. It also means to "make disciples" (Matthew 28:18-20), having an evangelistic component to it, not only the gospel but our stories as well.
"making disciples requires not only "sharing our faith" but also sharing our lives - failures, successes, disobedience and obedience."
With this type of discipleship, Christ is in the center of all of it. The beginning, the middle and the end. I think we often misunderstand Christianity and salvation as a one time thing, an event instead of a journey. Following Jesus requires a constant urge to grow, a continuous repentance, and a striving faith in a God who is sufficient and sovereign in all our failures and accomplishments. With the world around us today, we build a mentality of earning things, getting what we deserve, but with our faith, there's no one we are trying to impress, and nothing we can earn, because everything has been given to us from above because of God's wondrous grace. "We are born in grace and we breathe by grace, all bought by the blood of Jesus." Our sins don't make us who we are, and because of that we can be able to be transparent with one another. It's not about performance.
"we are imperfect people, clinging on to a perfect Christ, being perfected by the Spirit." 
"A disciple is rational (learner), relational (family), and missional (missionary)." 
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20
Missional: go and make disciples, going to the ends of the earth, sharing the good news with those who have not heard it (v.18).
Relational: through baptism and their acceptance of the faith, they are now adopted into God's family (v.19).
Rational: learning, teaching and obeying God's word (v.20).

As stated previously, discipleship is constant. We are told to be working out our salvation (Philippians 2:12). We need "continual belief in the depth of God's forgiveness and the resilience of his genuine approval in Christ." Give up on yourself, and give in to Christ, Dodson says. Following Jesus requires a full denial of oneself, letting go of the life that was once yours, and instead holding onto a life for Christ.

Dodson gives his take on how we often view discipleship and he shares his insight on two extremes. Vertical discipleship, which is when one strives to build a strong relationship with God. I myself would fall under this category, trying to right with God, growing to be a mature follower, knowing biblical knowledge, etc... This view attempts to bring us closer to God through prayer, fasting, bible studies, anything we can to discipline ourselves to assure we are always "closer to God". Vertical discipleship lacks the missional element.

This brings us to horizontal discipleship, which is all about God's mission and furthering his kingdom. But when we become too focused in this area, it can easily grow into self made righteousness, separating the mission from God himself.

Thus, Dodson suggests integrated discipleship (diagonal), exercising both evangelism and relational growth in our faith. "In his lordship we perceive that all things exist in, through, and for him, making all of life a matter of devotion to him, not to pious or missional performance."

verse of the day: Matthew 16:24-25
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 

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