Being Disciples

Seeking to be an authentic community of disciples, becoming more like Jesus - walking in step with God, alongside each other and seeing lives transformed

This week we're going to look at what it means to be a disciple as we continue our weekly series of Friday posts exploring and unpacking our Vision here at CBC. If you miss any of these Friday posts you can easily access individual posts by clicking on relevant word above - or you can use the 'Vision' label at the bottom of this page to view the whole series.

Jesus' final words to his disciples in Matthew's gospel were,

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 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).

There is an expectation here that part of what it means to be a disciple is that you go and make new disciples.

Bands of disciples in the first century would not have been an uncommon sight. Certainly Jesus was not alone in having disciples - we read that John the Baptist had his disciples and the Pharisees had theirs.

A disciple was a pupil, a learner and a follower. Within a first century context a disciple would have followed their teacher - listening to them teach, listening to the way they answer questions, watching them in action, with the intention of becoming like their teacher. A disciple would learn how to imitate their teacher. 

As we read the gospels we see that being a disciple of Jesus involved personal and exclusive allegiance to Jesus. It meant putting the claims of Jesus first - whatever the cost.

So what do we mean in our vision statement by the term 'disciple'? We mean that we have committed to follow Jesus, to learn from him, to spend time with him, to imitate him. Our allegiance is to Jesus - we put his claims first - he has first claim on our lives. We will be those who look to introduce others to Jesus just like the first disciples did. And we will be those who make disciples, who will then make disciples ...

Jesus' instruction to disciples is to make disciples, which involves teaching and obeying. Our vision talks about seeing lives transformed - and we'll look at this in a few week's time - but part of this transformation happens as people become disciples - responding to the call of Jesus - and then learn what that means by walking close to Jesus - which, in practice, we do by walking close to others - part of what it means to be an authentic community.

The first century gospel setting was generally hot and dry and dusty. As you walked along you threw up dust in your wake which will have covered those following behind. Whether it’s an urban myth or has any basis in fact there is the reported saying amongst disciples about ‘being covered in the dust of your rabbi’s feet’ - the closer you follow your rabbi the dustier you are going to get.

Our vision is to be covered in the dust of Jesus' feet. But what does this mean in practice? I guess that if we push this analogy a bit further, and bring in some of the thoughts from being an authentic community, then we will be those who are both being covered in the dust of one or two others who are walking slightly ahead of us - and from whom we're learning what it means to follow Jesus, and dust from our feet will be covering one or two  others who are walking just behind us who are learning what it means to follow Jesus from us.

We'll be thinking more in a couple of weeks' time about this image of walking close to Jesus as we think about what it means to walk in step with God.

[Picture credit: www.LumoProject.com]

Parable of a Runner (2)

Last Friday I took my own advice (from Tuesday) and dragged myself out of the door - on the basis that a few miles were better than none. As is generally the case, my headache soon cleared, and I started to enjoy running so took a couple of left turns (leading away from my start/stop point rather than back towards it) and ended up doing 10 miles.

But that is not what I want to tell you about. After a couple of miles, I was running briefly along a high street and a gentleman, who, judging from his appearance, may not have exercised in quite a while, shouted out, as I approached him, 'Do one for me, mate'.

That started me thinking. Just imagine if you could transfer the benefits of exercise from one person to another. A definite marketing opportunity. No doubt there would be those who would pay for others to do their exercise for them; and for those of us who enjoy exercise but are not the best in the world, suddenly we could become professionals!

We know the benefits of exercise - but it is a discipline - and it takes effort. Imagine if I could stay in and phone for a pizza whilst someone else ran 12 miles - with all the benefits being transferred to my body. Or for those with busy lives who can't take 90 minutes out for the gym - instead leave work, pick up the children, cook their tea, and put them to bed, whilst someone else is pounding out the miles on the treadmill, and working up a sweat on the rowing machine.

And I guess it is no different with our spiritual lives. There are spiritual disciples that we know are good for us - but wouldn't it be great if someone else could put in the hard work, but we get all the benefits.

But whether someone is out running, at the gym, memorising Bible verses, studying the Bible, or praying, shouting 'Do one for me mate' just doesn't work.

Parable of a Runner (1)

Jesus loved to tell stories, based on everyday situations; stories which could be appreciated on a number of different levels - depending on how deep the listener was prepared to dig. And it wasn't just Jesus - there are other examples in the New Testament where the everyday has been taken to teach about something deeper.

I enjoy running, and try to run 4 times a week, totalling about 30 miles a week. Although not always the case - it is certainly true for the vast majority of runs - that when I get back I'm glad I went - I feel better for the experience.

But even so, come the next day, it can be a real act of the will to get out there again - it is easier to stay at home. At the moment the sun is shining and it is warm and sunny and a lot of my running can be done on grass - yet it can still be hard to motivate myself to actually get out of the door. Imagine what it's like in the winter when it's dark, and raining and just a few degrees one side or other of freezing.

But even in the winter, I still feel better for having been out for a run - but it takes even more effort not to stay in the warm and dry!

And once you miss a couple of days, it becomes harder and harder to get out there again.

In our walk as followers of Jesus there are disciplines that we know are good for us, and our experience is that we benefit every time we do them - but every single morning it seems like a battle of the will to actually 'put on the trainers and get out the front door'.

My experience from running is just get on and do it. You know it will be worth it in the end.

Messy Church

In our house meal times are usually fairly messy and noisy affairs! But what do you expect with three children under five!


Part of growing up is an increasing independence, which when you are almost one means that you are no longer happy to be fed and the only way food is going to enter your mouth is if you put it there yourself. But when you are not quite one that usually results in quite a mess.

I have a book on my shelf called 'Messy Church' - which talks about a style of doing church which involves children and incorporates craft activities. The 'messy' refers to painting and sticking and cutting etc.

But I wonder if there isn't another kind of messy that church is supposed to be. Children will not learn to eat for themselves unless they are allowed to make a mess as a part of the learning process. If all Christians are supposed to contribute to the life of the local church, using the talents and abilities that God has given them, then surely church will be a messy place as people learn and develop their gifts. I wonder whether we would rather continue with the spoon feeding because that's a lot quicker and certainly a lot cleaner - but it doesn't lead to maturity. Maybe as a church leader I need to be prepared for a bit more mess. What's the sign of a growing church? Maybe it is a place where people make a mess - and a place where people are allowed to make a mess.