CHAPTER ONE: THE NEED FOR DISCIPLESHIP

1. Meaning of “disciple”

Need for discipleship. Reasons:

a) Commanded by the LORD
b) Reminder to forgetfulness
c) Support in trials and temptations
d) )Push in performance of duties and responsibilities
2. Being covenanted is not enough
Because there is no end to growth since the objective is the fullness of Christ, the
unitive level according to St.John of the Cross.
3. Unfounded fears of committing mistake

CHAPTER TWO: REQUIREMENTS FOR DISCIPLESHIP

1. Deny yourself
2. Take up your cross
3. Follow in my footstep

CHAPTER THREE: THE MARKS OF A DISCIPLE

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Commitment
4. Evidence of God’s care
5. Manifestations of His powers

Growth in the marks of discipleship

CHAPTER FOUR: DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DISCIPLE

1. The great commission “Go and make disciples “

2. The test of discipleship: - faithfulness - Love

- Fruitfulness - Surrender
- Perseverance

3. Rewards of Discipleship:
- Acknowledgment by Christ Mt.12:49-50
- Enlightened by Christ Jn.8:12
- Guided by the Spirit Jn. 16:13
- Honored by the Father Jn.12:2
 CHAPTER FOUR

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF DISCIPLES

I. THE GREAT COMMISSION

As Christians, we are disciples of Jesus. As such, it is important that we know what our Master
wants from us. In other words, what are His expectations? Happily, our Master loves us so much that He
does not want to give us a hard time finding out, but He had spoken them out clearly and had them
written in clear words. From the gospel according to Matthew 28: 19-20, Jesus says:

“Go therefore, 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 observe all that I have
commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

These words of Jesus clearly outline to us His own personal expectation from His disciples which
in turn become their duties and responsibilities, namely:

A) “GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES…”

I believe, what the Lord is saying to us is: Live anywhere in the world but in such a way that
Christ’s light will shine in you. Make it a point to make your life attractive to the people around you so
that they will desire to follow you. We cannot be contented with just sitting in one little corner unnoticed.
Jesus says:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor
do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where
it gives light to all in the house.”

Matthew 5: 14-15

B) “BAPTIZE THEM…”

This means that you should lead non-Christians to the sacrament of baptism. Of course, this
implies that you have to introduce Jesus to them and give them some basic teachings on the Catholic
faith.

It is also the disciple’s duty to bring “Christians in name” or “nominal Christians” closer to the
Lord and help them follow the way of the Lord. This way, from the statues of being your disciples, these
people will become the disciples of Christ.

C) “TEACH THEM…”

Another duty and responsibility of disciples of Jesus is to make sure that their followers are
taught the teachings they need to know or learn. Definitely, the first subject they have to teach is Jesus. A
disciple should do all he can to make sure that his followers get a good intellectual and personal
knowledge of Jesus. They must know who He is? What are His values and prioritizing, His attitudes, and
His many attributes?
 It’s one thing to come to the Lord but it’s another thing to know Him. There are a lot of people
who come to the Lord, in Church services like the sacraments and liturgical activities. But they are not
doing anything more than just bringing their presence. No wonder, after so many years doing all these,
there seem to be no sign of spiritual growth whatsoever. On the other hand, you see boredom and
deterioration in spirituality. This is what a disciple of Jesus should strive to prevent from happening to his
followers.

A good disciple would lead his people to Jesus but it does not end there. He should provide them
with sufficient intellectual knowledge of Jesus from his own knowledge and from other sources like the
Bible, other books, tapes, seminars, etc.

He should also make them know Jesus more personally by helping them develop a good prayer
life. From his own experience, he should assist them to come to the Lord’s presence and learn to listen to
Him in the stillness of their hearts.

D) “TO CARRY OUT EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU.”

The command of the Lord for us, His disciples, is not only to teach our followers all that He has
taught us but also to assist them in carrying out those teachings and commands from the greatest to the
smallest.

II. THE TEST OF DISCIPLESHIP

How does one know if he is truly a disciple? Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself set the parameters by
which one can truly say he is a disciple of Christ. We can refer to them as the five tests of discipleship.

A. THE TEST OF FAITHFULNESS

Rev.2:10: “Indeed the devil will throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and
you will face an ordeal for ten days. Remain faithful until death and I will give you the crown
of life.”

“Because you have been loyal to me…”

B. THE TEST OF FRUITFULNESS

In John 15:8, Jesus said,

“By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my
disciples.”

C. THE TEST OF PERSEVERANCE

In John 8:31, we quote

“Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, If you remain in my word,
you will truly be my disciples.”
 D. THE TEST OF LOVE

In John 13:35, Jesus said,

“This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

E. THE TEST OF TOTAL SURRENDER

In Luke 14: 26, our Lord said, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and
mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

In verse 33 of the same chapter, we quote,

“In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”

Are you a disciple of Christ?

III. REWARDS OF DISCIPLESHIP

Just as discipleship has its share of hardships and difficulties, so does it have its rewards. And these
rewards are promised by no less than our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is ever faithful in all His promises.

A disciple who does his tasks faithfully can look forward to the following rewards:

A. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY CHRIST

“And stretching out his hand towards his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother
and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and
sister, and mother,’” (Matthew 12: 49-50)

B. ENLIGHTENED BY CHRIST

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but
will have the light of life.” (John 8: 12)

B. GUIDEDANCE BY THE SPIRIT

“But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not
speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that
are coming.” (John 16:13)

C. HONORED BY THE FATHER

“Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant
be. The Father will honor whoever serves me. (”John 12: 26)
CONCLUSION

These are our duties and responsibilities as disciples of Jesus. Now, let us ask ourselves: How far
have we carried them out? Brothers and sisters, you might say, this is too heavy a job to do. Indeed, it is
too heavy a job if we are to rely solely on our own human ability. That is why, in the last paragraph, Jesus
gives us the assurance when He says:

“And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:20