Discipleship and us

“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, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” — Matthew 28:19–20

Discipleship is a word we’ve heard countless times. It shows up in mission statements, Bible studies, and conversations about the mission of the Church. But what do we really mean when we talk about discipleship? And what does it look like to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ in today’s world?

This is not a new question. In fact, Christians have been wrestling with it since the earliest days of the Church. In the Book of Acts, we see the first disciples living in unity and sharing everything in common—yet they also faced real tensions and disagreements, especially around the inclusion of Gentiles. As the church grew and spread, debates about identity, belonging, and what it truly meant to follow Jesus arose. You might remember that some aligned themselves with Paul, others with Peter or Apollos, each bringing a different emphasis to the life of faith. These questions didn’t disappear with time.

In the 18th century, a movement emerged within the Church of England that would become known as Methodism. For John and Charles Wesley, discipleship was not an abstract idea—it was a way of life. They believed that to be a disciple was to be connected to God and to others, and that faith must be lived out in tangible ways. John Wesley famously asked, “What may we reasonably believe to be God’s design in raising up the Preachers called Methodists?” His answer: “To reform the nation, and in particular the Church; to spread scriptural holiness over the land.”

For the Wesleys, discipleship involved placing one’s whole trust in Christ, while also living a life shaped by grace. They taught that disciples should “do no harm,” “do good,” and “attend upon all the ordinances of God”—including worship, prayer, the Lord’s Supper, searching the Scriptures, fasting, and Christian fellowship. Faith was never meant to be lived in isolation; it was always both personal and communal.

That truth still holds today. We cannot call ourselves disciples of Jesus if we are disconnected from a community of faith. It is in and through the church that we are formed, encouraged, challenged, and sent into the world to reflect Christ’s love. Discipleship is not a destination—it is a lifelong journey of learning, growing, and being transformed by grace.

So, how are you living your discipleship in the world right now? I would love to hear your story and walk alongside you in your journey of faith.