Formation | Wednesday | 10/21

Discipleship Is Not Another Program

Acts 2:42–47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

⁴³ Awe came upon everyone because many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ All who believed were together and had all things in common; ⁴⁵ they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

When we hear the word discipleship, we often imagine a program.

A Bible study. A class. A small group. A reading plan.

And those can all be wonderful things.

But the earliest Christians didn't understand discipleship simply as something they attended.

It was something they lived.

Acts tells us that they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer.

They ate together. Worshiped together. Shared their possessions. Cared for one another.

Their discipleship wasn't confined to a particular hour of the week.

It was woven into their common life.

Discipleship is not simply an activity we participate in. It is the environment in which we are formed.

That doesn't mean every moment needs to become a formal spiritual exercise.

It means our faith is shaped through the ordinary rhythms of life.

The conversations we have around dinner tables.

The relationships that challenge us to grow.

The prayers we offer when life becomes difficult.

The ways we respond when someone disappoints us.

Discipleship is much bigger than any one program because following Jesus involves the whole of our lives.

Reflect: 

Where are you already experiencing spiritual formation outside of formal church activities?

Pray: 

Jesus, help me recognize that discipleship is more than something I attend or accomplish. Shape me through the ordinary relationships, experiences, and rhythms of my life. Teach me to follow you in every part of my day. Amen.