What is the Content of Discipleship?

Alan Hirsch of the Verge Network:

“Now the question is, between the incarnation and the cross there is a huge gap, right? In that gap, what ever happened to that part of it in the way we think about ourselves? What happened to the model—the exemplary life of Jesus? His teachings? His message? His commands as our Lord…?

The problem is in that middle piece, folks, that’s where we get the agenda. The content of discipleship comes from the life and the teachings of Jesus…That’s where we get the agenda for discipleship. You take that out of our theology and our thinking and you won’t have any agenda for Christian life…

Because all you do when you focus on the ‘cross stuff’ and we have nothing else about christology that informs the way we are then we have a very truncated, it’s called a reduction of the gospel. It’s a reducing of the gospel down to one point…That reduction has damaged our capacity to be disciples, because we don’t have any content. If the cross stuff is where Jesus is my Savior…the other stuff is where He’s my Lord…”

Share this page

About the author

Profile photo for Alan Hirsch

Alan Hirsch is the founding Director of Forge Mission Training Network. He is also part of the leadership team of Christian Associates, a missional church-planting agency with focus on Western Europe. Known for his innovative approach to mission, Alan is a teacher and key mission strategist for churches across the western world.

Alan is a plenary speaker at the 2021 Mission Central Conference.

More on Mission Central

Devotional

Hearing Waves

Be oriented to Jesus who gives our lives stability. This is something you must do if you want to experience peace. Read more Read more...

Mission Resource

STM Leader: levelling up short term missions

STM Leader exists to build the strongest short-term mission in the world: confident leaders, incredible teams, and life-changing experiences. Read more Read more...

Article

Radical Discipleship: Mark 1:14-20

The good news is a call to liberation for the oppressed and the oppressors. It’s a call to leave everything. Read more Read more...

Article

Gospel, Story, Mission, and Culture

Understanding the Gospel is essential to understanding our mission. What is it and how do we share it? Read more Read more...

Devotional

Altar Vision Devotional - Week 7

What is the connection between surrender and mission? Read more Read more...

Article

New Monasticism: An Old Idea in a New Form

New monasticism, "an old idea in a new form," is intentional discipleship that resists fragmentation and consumerism. Read more Read more...

Mission Resource

5 Transitions to Participate as Senders in God’s Global Mission

These five transitions have proven effective for churches to make an impact as missionary sending churches. Read more Read more...

Article

We are not a Travel Agency

I came back to the mission field where I serve now because I was so touched when I came here on a short-term outreach. Read more Read more...