by Bobby Harrington
The discipleship-first tribe is unique because it is formed around a core conviction which in turn forms everything else for us. Everyday, that core conviction is our dominant thought, our underlying passion in all we think and do.
We want to be disciples of Jesus who make disciples!
Note that tribe members are fully committed to the two things—being disciples who make disciples. Both parts are essential—being leads to doing. It is the grand narrative of our lives.
Tribes have distinctive drumbeats and these three beats most clearly draw us and inextricably lead us to be discipleship-first people. If these convictions excite you then it is like that you are hearing the same drum beat.
1. A discipleship first lifestyle is the only response worthy of Jesus.
Jesus is God in the flesh, humanity’s Messiah, Savior, King, Teacher and Redeemer! Admit it – Jesus is just mind-boggling; he is almost too good to be true! The only reasonable response is to follow and worship… to form our lives around him, and help others to do the same.
2. A discipleship first lifestyle upholds Jesus’ final command.
Jesus’ final words are very important, giving meaning to his life and death and resurrection – and everything he taught and did. Discipleship-first means discipleship is our first impulse. It means that Jesus’ last strategic orders are our first order of business. He equipped his disciples to do for others what he had done for them, and then he commissioned them to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19–20). We believe their commission is our commission.
3. A discipleship first lifestyle imitates Jesus and his love.
Jesus demonstrated love by coming to seek and save the lost. And he chose to devote the bulk of his time and energy to intentionally and relationally pouring his life into making disciples. We imitate his life and his love when we do the same.
We are convinced, that at the end of our lives, when we all meet and bow down before Jesus, we will be very grateful to have lived as discipleship-first people! Discipleship.org was formed to help people with this specific focus.
We believe a renewal of the church is at hand, and the re-birth will come through local movements of disciple making that quite literally change the shape of the church and the shape of the world! Discipleship is the hope of the church, and we get to be part of a new movement that Jesus is stirring up.
Promoting that cause is the goal of our tribal gathering.
Image credit: Shutterstock.com.