Breaking News: Christian Rediscovers Ancient Revolutionary Practice Called Discipleship

Breaking News: Christian Rediscovers Ancient Revolutionary Practice Called "Discipleship"

A local Christian named James Smith has made a shocking discovery that has shaken the foundations of his faith. He claims to have stumbled upon an ancient revolutionary practice called discipleship, which involves following the teachings of Jesus Christ and helping others do the same.

"I was reading the Bible one day and I came across this verse where Jesus says, 'Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you' (Matthew 28:19-20). I was like, wow, that sounds amazing! Why have I never heard of this before?" Smith said.

Smith decided to do some research on discipleship and found out that it was a common practice among the first followers of Jesus, who left everything to follow Him and learn from Him. He also learned that discipleship involves a personal relationship with Jesus, a commitment to grow in Christlikeness, and a mission to share the gospel with others.

"I was blown away by what I learned. Everybody is just looking for a soundbite. Christians these days are just looking to be exposed to information that they can readily digest, on their own time, at a moment's notice so they can move on with their life. But I realized that discipleship is not just a program or a class or a book. It's a way of life. It's what it means to be a Christian. It's what Jesus wants us to do," Smith said.

Smith decided to put his newfound knowledge into practice and started to look for someone who could mentor him in discipleship. He also began to pray for opportunities to disciple others. He soon found out that his radical decision was not well received by his fellow Christians.

"I went to my pastor and asked him if he could disciple me. He looked at me like I was crazy and said, 'Disciple you? What do you mean? We have a discipleship program here. Just sign up for the next session and you'll be fine.' I told him that I wanted something more than a program. I wanted someone who could walk with me, teach me, challenge me, and hold me accountable. He said, 'Sorry, we don't do that here. We're too busy with other things,'" Smith said.

Smith also faced opposition from his friends and family, who thought he was taking his faith too seriously and becoming too radical.

"My friends told me that I was being too legalistic and that I should just relax and enjoy life. They said that discipleship is too hard and too demanding and that I should just focus on being happy and having fun. They said that God loves me no matter what and that I don't need to do anything to please Him," Smith said.

"My family told me that I was being too fanatical and that I should just be normal and fit in. They said that discipleship is too weird and too risky and that I should just follow the crowd and do what everyone else does. They said that God wants me to be successful and comfortable and that I don't need to sacrifice anything for Him," Smith said.

Smith was discouraged by the lack of support he received from his fellow Christians, but he did not give up on his quest for discipleship. He eventually found a small group of like-minded believers who shared his passion for following Jesus and making disciples. They started to meet regularly for prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and outreach.

"I'm so thankful for my new friends. They have been such an encouragement to me. They have helped me grow in my faith and challenged me to live out what I believe. They have also joined me in sharing the gospel with others and inviting them to join us in our journey of discipleship," Smith said.

Smith hopes that his story will inspire other Christians to rediscover the ancient revolutionary practice of discipleship and to obey Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations.

"I'm not saying that I have it all figured out or that I'm better than anyone else. I'm just saying that there's more to Christianity than what most people think. There's more than going to church on Sundays, listening to sermons, singing songs, giving money, and doing good deeds. There's more than being religious, moral, nice, happy, successful, and comfortable. There's more than being saved from hell and going to heaven when we die," Smith said.

"There's a whole new way of living that Jesus invites us to experience. A way of living that is full of love, joy, peace, purpose, power, adventure, sacrifice, transformation, community, mission, and glory. A way of living that is called discipleship," Smith said.