1) Start Here
Hello, and welcome to this Discipleship Study. At least, that is what I call it. It is a basic name, nothing fancy. I have felt God poking me to do this study for a while. It will continue to be an ongoing endeavor, mainly because of my type-A personality preventing me from ever being 100% satisfied with my efforts. I try to remind myself that this project is about God, and He has more than demonstrated that He can work through our imperfections. I ask you to bear with this study's imperfections.
This study is for any Christian, Messianic Jew, Gentile, or anyone who declares Jesus as the Messiah, Lord and Savior of their life. To be a follower of Jesus means to be a disciple. By being his disciple, you have declared him the Messiah (or "Mashiach" in Hebrew; "Christos" in Greek; “Christ” in English). The term Messiah means "Anointed One" or "Chosen One." In Jewish tradition, the Messiah is a figure expected to fulfill various roles, including restoring the Jewish people, establishing peace, and ushering in an age of righteousness.
We have declared Jesus as our Messiah. Jesus is the “anointed one” or “chosen one.” The Hebrew name of Jesus (English name) is Yeshua. Yeshua means salvation. It is the short version of the Hebrew name Yehoshua (Joshua). Yeshua is the Aramaic form of Yehoshua. In later lessons, we will examine the name Yeshua in more detail.
When I first became a follower of Jesus, I had no idea what to do. I started reading the Bible but had no context or background to what I was reading. I figured things out along the way. Looking back, I realize that I needed to be adequately discipled and eventually found that this lack of discipleship weakened my walk with Christ. One of my goals is to establish a foundation for you and offer you guidance and an outline to help you on your path of discipleship.
A disciple's job is to learn his teacher's words, imitate his actions, and raise more disciples. Discipleship is costly, and we should count the cost before becoming a disciple. Jesus chose the institution of discipleship to pass His teachings to future generations.
The Hebrew word "talmid" is a term that translates to "student" or "disciple" in English. In first-century Judaism, disciples had four responsibilities:
Memorize their teacher's words.
Learn his traditions.
Imitate his actions.
Raise more disciples.
“A disciple’s job is to learn his teacher’s words, imitate his actions, and raise more disciples.”
These four jobs of a disciple represent our calling: to learn Jesus' words and interpretations of Scripture, imitate His actions, and raise disciples for Him. That is what a disciple does:
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. (Matthew 28:19, ESV Bible)
Imitating Jesus and looking to him as our rabbi/teacher is the heart of becoming more like Jesus daily.
Becoming a disciple of Jesus is a commitment to a difficult life of obedience and self-sacrifice. Jesus employed the Jewish ritual of immersion—baptism—to symbolize entrance into His school of discipleship. The community of Jesus' disciples is called the ekklesia in the New Testament. Ekklesia, commonly translated as "church" in English Bibles, means "assembly."
Jesus invites us to take on the responsibility of discipleship. This duty may not mean leaving our homes or jobs, but it does mean reorienting our calling in this life. No matter what you do for work, your primary job is to be a disciple of the king, building the kingdom. You use your career, which provides you with money, to achieve your real goal and identity: being a disciple of Jesus.
Jesus is our control, and he is our ultimate teacher. As our rabbi, we need to understand his teachings. To understand his interpretation of the scriptures, we must have a working knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures, as his teachings are deeply rooted in them. We also need to understand his worldview and imitate his actions.
This is an intense, in-depth study of the Bible. I believe that studying the Bible and seeking truth are the most important things you can do in this life. We should be genuine students of the Word of God.
First, before we dive into scripture, we will discuss topics that lay a foundation for our thinking. Picking up the Bible and reading it can be rewarding and life-changing. Doing that with context is even more powerful. The first module of this study will emphasize laying that foundational understanding.
Here are a few things to remember as we begin the study. First, complete the study in order, starting with Module One. While you may feel inclined to skip around or look for specific topics of interest, I recommend going in order. Each module will also contain lessons numbered in order.
This idea of going in order brings me to my next point: ignore the blog post dates. At the time of this writing, this website platform does not allow me to order posts without considering the date of the post. The date is 100% arbitrary and meaningless. I have purposely ordered the lessons using the lesson titles.
After you have completed the foundational lessons in Module One, you will see that the remaining modules parallel the Bible. They will start with ideas and material from Genesis and work through the Bible. A large part of our foundation for this study is the plan of redemption. The plan of redemption, as understood in the Bible, refers to God's overarching purpose to save humanity from sin and restore the broken relationship between God and human beings. This plan of redemption is the complete gospel message.
We will examine everything discussed in this study through its relationship to the plan of redemption and the complete gospel message. The plan of redemption is a central theme that runs through the entire Bible, connecting Old and New Testaments and revealing God's relentless love and desire to reconcile humanity to Himself.
“The plan of redemption is a central theme that runs through the entire Bible...”
This study is heavily influenced by Jewish thought. Why? The Bible is a collection of Jewish writings by Jewish authors. These writings are primarily about Jewish people and their relationship to God and other nations. This study will force you to encounter the Jewishness of the Bible. If you have never studied the Bible from this Jewish perspective, I strongly encourage you to do so. For me, it has been life-changing.
Summary
In conclusion, embarking on this Discipleship Study is a journey toward deeper understanding and imitation of our Rabbi, Jesus. It's about more than just acquiring knowledge; it's about transformation and obedience, about embracing the cost of discipleship. As we delve into the Hebrew Scriptures and the teachings of Jesus, let us not only gain insights but also apply them in our lives, becoming true disciples who make disciples. May this study guide you in building the kingdom of God in your sphere of influence, as we together seek to be more like our Savior every day.
Action Plan
Dedicate yourself to discipleship, which involves learning from Jesus, following His teachings, and sharing them with others.
You are part of a community of disciples (ekklesia), and I encourage you to actively participate in your local church to fulfill your role as a disciple.
Think of ways that you can integrate your faith into your daily life.
Understand that a Jewish perspective is only one way to study the Bible. Many churches adopt their specific theology and understanding of Scripture. Be open-minded, ask questions, and be a lifelong student. Discipleship is an ongoing process that requires dedication and humility.
The central theme of the Bible is the plan of redemption and the complete gospel message, which reveals God's love and desire to reconcile humanity to Himself. Even as we discuss the details of the Bible and get into the proverbial "weeds," know that the gospel message centers around Jesus as the means by which God's plan of redemption is fulfilled.
Pray and reflect on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, asking God to guide you in your study and practice of discipleship.
Study Questions for Reflection
What are the four responsibilities of a disciple, according to the Hebrew word "talmid"?
What is the Hebrew name for Jesus, and what does it mean?
Why is it important to understand the Hebrew Scriptures when studying Jesus' teachings?
What is the central theme that runs through the entire Bible?
How does the concept of discipleship challenge your current understanding of following Jesus?
How can you practically integrate your faith into your daily life, considering your career and personal goals?
How does the idea of being a disciple of Jesus influence your priorities and choices in life?