What Does the Bible Say About Discipleship (cont.)
3. Teens Must Learn Real-World Application.
Jesus constantly guided His disciples in applying the spiritual truths they were learning. Jesus allowed His disciples to succeed and to fail. Both aspects are part of helping students apply their faith.
Matthew 10:1—He called his 12 disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Luke 9:10—When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done.
Mark 9:17-18—A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
4. We Must Release Teens to Live as Disciples.
This one is the trickiest because it’s the end. Someday your students will pass through your time of leading them in discipleship. They’ll step out from under your role as leader. Then they will serve, minister and grow out of the foundation you’ve helped form. How well they do this will be based on how well you and their parents (and other adults) have guided them.
Consider your current programs and principles. Are these characteristics evident? If not, what can you do to make it happen? When someone asks you what does the Bible say about discipleship, how will you answer?
