Introduction to Classic Discipleship

About the Title: Classic Discipleship

In literature, the word classic means “a literary or artistic work generally recognized as of the highest excellence,” although Mark Twain quipped that a classic is “a book that people praise and don’t read.” As one reflects on the literature of the last 2,000 years, it doesn’t take long to recall some of the great works like Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, or John Milton’s Paradise Lost.

What, however, do we mean when we use the word classic to describe discipleship? Our initial assistance in finding an answer to this question comes from the dictionary. The first definition of the word classic is “of the highest class; most representative of the excellence of its kind; having recognized worth.”

When Jesus called and trained the Twelve to be His Apostles, He modeled the highest form of disciplemaking. In fact, it was discipleship to perfection. The Twelve were certainly not perfect, but Jesus’ methods of preparing them for the great work of the apostleship were.

When so many have abandoned Jesus’ model and methods for expanding and building His kingdom, our title is a reminder for us to study and practice His ways.

About this Training

An 18th century author of a book on naval strategy wrote, “When you are trying to accomplish something you should first decide what is the final objective you are seeking to attain, and then never lose sight of it.”

Three primary objectives to have in mind for this course:

1. To Glorify God

“The Apostle Peter wrote, ‘So that in all things God may be glorified’ (I Peter 4:11). The glory of God is a silver thread that ought to run through all of our actions. ‘Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God’ (I Cor. 10:31). Every natural and manmade substance has some established purpose. So, as rational creatures, men and women must ascribe some purpose to themselves, and that should be to lift up God in the world. It would be better for a man to lose his life than to lose the reason for which he lives. Let us assert this great truth: the purpose of every man’s life should be to glorify God. When we glorify God, we show respect to all the persons of the Trinity. We respect God the Father who gave us life; God the Son who gave His life for us; and God the Holy Spirit who produces a new life in us. We must bring glory to the whole Trinity.”

2. To Learn How Christ Trained the Twelve

We believe Jesus gave His church the most effective model by which the gospel could be spread to all the nations of the world. His training of the twelve Apostles, as presented in the four Gospels, established the principles and methods by which we may be successful in fulfilling the Great Commission.

3. To Learn How to Disciple Others

According to Jesus, the exponential growth of the Kingdom of God would come about as His followers obediently carried the gospel to the ends of the earth in the power of the Holy Spirit. As more and more believers learn how to disciple others in the words and ways of Christ, multiplied laborers are prepared for the harvest.

Content Downloads

Classic Discipleship is specifically designed to help Christians obey the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and bear much fruit. Since each section builds upon the previous one, it is recommended that you begin with the Introduction and methodically move through the material at your own pace. If you are planning to teach this course in a small or large group setting, each person is encouraged to download the material, study the concepts, and attend each training session in order to become more proficient in the discipling process.

Classic Discipleship: Spanish Version

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