Defining what is a “disciple” is not an easy task especially in the 21st century with so many voices and counter cultures that are pulling us in different directions. So I will not attempt to give an exact definition, I do not think that would be possible. I would surely fall very short. This therefore is a discussion more than a statement. I can only prove my orthodoxy by my orthopraxy. The Village Global will be posting the results of application of our theology.

Let's go to some references that directly refer to what is expected of a disciple of Jesus Christ:

The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. – Luke 6:40

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. – Luke 14:26

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. – Luke 14:27

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. – Luke 14:33

If ye continue in my word (logos), then are ye my disciples indeed. – John 8:31

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. – John 13:35

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. – John 15:8

Obviously these are not the only references that speak of what is required of a disciple but let's just break these down a bit in a basic list:

1. To be like Jesus, the whole of Him. Not just pick and choose but imitate Him. How He lived, loved and died both materially and spiritually. If our teachers do not live like Jesus then how are we to imitate Him?

2. To love and do what Jesus commands no matter what manmade system it conflicts with.

3. To bear all reproach, afflictions, persecutions, and death itself that comes with following Christ, cheerfully and patiently.

4. To sell all and follow Christ. This is both a mortal and immortal forsaking of all.

5. To continue upholding the Gospel of the kingdom that Christ left us. To not veer off from what He has established as disciple qualification.

6. To love our neighbors and brothers in deed then we love God indeed.

7. To bear much good fruit. Ye is plural symbolizing togetherness. Fruit is what is birthed from our corporate and individual effort that compliments the whole. Fruit is what comes from a tree with many branches and it will rot if detached from the church. It is the end result not the seed but what our seeds produce. Much of what is called fruit today is not fruit.

“A man can live decently without knowing all the answers, or believing he does - can live decently even in the understanding that life is unspeakably complex and unspeakably subtle in its complexity.” – Wendell Berry

There is a problem with making “disciples” according to the current trend. Life is complex. God made it that way on purpose you know. He made it that way so that we would realize that we are all interdependent on both God and one another. The fool is he who thinks he has all the answers and the one who thinks he does not need to be one with the body of Christ. The answers come from Christ and His embodiment on earth, the church.

The house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. – 1 Timothy 3:15

The dangers that the apostles warned about are presently upon the evangelical community. We claim to be making disciples but are we? Have we traded in our rare “precious stones” for a barn full of “hay”? Have we exchanged a genuine brotherhood for post-modern machinery? Do we not see that we have conformed to this world and not to Christ?

We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. – 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

It would be nice if disciples could be mass produced simply by hearing, but, we see Paul stating in Acts 20:35 "I have showed you all things". Disciples learn more from what we do than what we say. Most first read the teacher before they read the Book. The sheep follow the shepherd. When the apostles were “preaching” the Gospel nobody had a KJV in their hands. They read the epistles of Christ.

Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men. Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. – 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

The Village is all about building the church with living stones (1 Peter 2:5). Charity/love (agape) cannot be comprehended simply by words written with ink but by reading the epistles of Christ, the church. Our faith must be visible with works and unity. Then and only then can we truly say we are disciples. The church is described clearly in Scripture. It was 20/20 for nearly three centuries but our sight has slowly faded century after century until today most need a microscope to see it. It is right there before our eyes yet our eyes are off focus.

“'God never establishes missions; He only establishes the Church'. Yet today people create mission boards, set up evangelistic organizations, establish schools and hospitals, open orphanages and “endeavor” societies to help the needy ones. Are these undertakings good? They are all good. But if these are erected as substitutes for the Church, God will not be satisfied. Can we not see the cunning hand of the enemy in all this? Satan cleverly entices people to substitute the Church—which God has prepared in His eternal will to establish—with the work He will use.” – Watchman Nee 1934

“The church” today is thought of as buildings, ministries, Sunday school . . .  because that is all we see. The church is two or more disciples gathered together in agreement with one heart and one soul. They lay down their lives for their friends. A disciple builds the church and is one with the brotherhood. If the church was the church there would be no need to build benevolent ministries. Christlike disciples hold nothing back but give their all. The disciples of the church of Jesus Christ forsake the systems that govern the society around them and build the society which Christ came to earth to establish. We are in the world but not of the world. Father “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.

Acts 4 is an interesting chapter. Even though many feel the events described in verses 32-35 were only an “experiment”, they give a hint into the mindset of 1st century disciple making. There are several reasons it is important to not throw this chapter out or discredit it. They show us where the priority was and should be in the church. The great commandment proceeded the great commission. They show us that their hearts and souls where wholly given to one another. A disciple was recognized by the fact that even though one was more gifted and could make his own “record” they kept the band together. They show that “great grace” was demonstrated by the fact that there was not anyone needy among them! Grace signified the empowerment of God to do good works. A disciple is one who lives and teaches what Jesus and the apostles lived and taught, not create their own “gospel”. They show that they were not building independent ministries who are vying for support for “their” ministry. Everything was done together through and for the local and global church, the brotherhood, the house of God. There was a common connection and vision that has been lost. They saw themselves as one and all sought the good of the global church. They show that what we call the church and what we call a disciple is far from the early church definition!

And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul. And not one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own. But they had all things common. And the apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power. And great grace was on them all. For neither was anyone needy among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and they laid them down at the apostles' feet. And distribution was made to every man according as he had need. – Act 4:32-35

Now that is what I call the church! Does that sound anything like today's “church”? Do our “disciples” walk in this grace? If they don't they should. Doesn't your heart burn when you read of these dedicated disciples of Christ? We are to make disciples my friends and what a joyful life it is to be surrounded by saints who love you and are not seeking their own wealth but the wealth of others. We must revive our first love! “Perfect love casteth out fear” ( 1 John 4:18).

“The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words  in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close. Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Yes, it is even dreadful to be alone with the New Testament.” – Soren Kierkegaard

The Village is building the church through what each member supplies. We are making disciples. Elders, deacons, deaconesses, apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors, teachers. We are building the church not just doing “mission work”. The church that Christ shed His blood for means everything in the world to Him. We are greatly loved! The disciple must love Christ in return and keep His commandments.    

 Conclusion

A disciple for the Village is not simply a student of the Bible but a dedicated servant in building the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. To many the cross is not success but to the disciple of the upside down kingdom it is a demonstration of true conversion. We speak of the cross but few take it up in everyday living. Father help us to make disciples and build your church. Help us to proclaim and live the full Gospel; spirit, soul, and body.

We distribute the following disciple making book written by my friend David Servant to new believers and prisoners:

Spanish: http://www.shepherdserve.org/espanol/dmm_spanish/dmm_spanish_main.htm

English: http://www.shepherdserve.org/for_ministers.htm