Faith is not complete without the path of discipleship
The world makes churchgoers, but the Lord calls disciples.
The term “discipleship training” is no longer unfamiliar in the Korean church. Once a central strategy that fueled church growth and revival, it was adopted widely as a core ministry focus. But over time, it has often been reduced to a program or dismissed as a tradition of specific denominations.
Today, many churches offer a variety of educational and training programs. Yet the true “disciples”—those who live following Jesus—are becoming harder to find. We must again ask a fundamental question: What does Jesus desire from us today?
Jesus never called people to become “church members.” His call was always, “Follow me.” Those who heard it often changed their careers, families, and life direction. Attending church and following Christ are not the same.
For too long, we’ve evaluated faith based on church attendance. But Christ still calls, “Follow me.” This is not a call reserved for those with special ministries—it is a call to all who believe in Jesus. It is the essence of the gospel and a summons to a transformed life.
That is why we must speak again of discipleship training—not to revive an old popular ministry, but to recover the very essence of the gospel and the mission of the church.
Jesus’s final command was not “build sanctuaries” or “raise leaders,” but “Go and make disciples of all nations.” This is not optional—it is the very reason the church exists.
Discipleship Is Not a Choice but an Identity
Discipleship training is often viewed as optional. People think: “I’m not a leader,” “I’m still weak in faith,” or “I don’t have time.” But Scripture tells a different story.
Jesus’s call always engaged the whole person. The disciples didn’t hesitate or negotiate when He said, “Follow me.” They understood that the call wasn’t optional—it was a turning point for life itself.
Jesus’s Great Commission says:
“Therefore 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
This is not just a call to evangelize. It is a command to raise people who live the gospel—to make disciples. This command was not only given to the apostles but to every believer in every generation. From the moment we believe in Jesus, we are not merely “Christians”—we are called to be disciples. Discipleship is not for a select few. It is the identity of every believer.
Why, Then, Is Discipleship Training Necessary?
Faith is not complete with just attending worship, listening to sermons, and praying. True faith must result in a life of obedience. Yet our lives are constantly tempted to compromise with the world, overcome by laziness, or shaped by a nature that tries to live without God.
That is why discipleship training is needed. It centers our lives on Scripture, shapes us to reflect the character of Jesus, and leads us to offer our entire lives to God. It does not stop at learning—it pushes us to live the truth.
If the Church Does Not Make Disciples, What Does It Make?
The crisis of today’s church is not in numbers. Worship attendance is stable. Online content is flourishing. The problem is this: among all this abundance, true disciples—those following Christ in daily life—are diminishing.
Are our churches, with all their programs, producing people who live like Jesus? Knowledge has increased, but transformation has not. Volunteers are many, but Christlike servants are few. Churches are busy, yet the core task of making disciples is being neglected.
The early church was different. After Pentecost, thousands believed through Peter’s preaching, but their community did not stop at worship. They gathered for teaching, broke bread, shared life, sold possessions to help one another, and submitted their lives to the Word.
The early church was a community of disciples. At its center was a life of following Jesus. Discipleship wasn’t about feelings or ideology—it was a full-life commitment.
We need that recovery today. The church must not just be a place of worship—it must be a community that transforms lives.
The mission of the church is not to fill seats but to send disciples into the world. Discipleship training is not a complex system. It is the simple, essential path of gospel renewal. A church without disciples has buildings and meetings, but no mission. A directionless church cannot influence the world.
Faith Without Training Will Not Endure
We live in uncertain times. Truth is blurred. The world’s values are seeping into the church. Faith is often swayed by emotions or trends. The ability to apply the Word is weakening. Passion in worship abounds, but obedience in life is scarce. The reason is clear: there is no training.
Training changes our direction and habits through repetition. Denying oneself, submitting to the Word, and listening to the Spirit do not come naturally. They are cultivated through training.
Even Jesus’s disciples were not spiritual giants at the start. They misunderstood, failed, and even ran away. But they became disciples through walking with Jesus, responding to His call, and being restored.
Discipleship training is that journey—not starting from strength, but being transformed in weakness.
It is a life that continues following Jesus despite mistakes and suffering. It is not about organizing faith as knowledge, but reordering all of life under God’s reign.
Am I Living as a Disciple Today?
This is not a question of whether you are in a training program. It is a question about your life. Am I being trained as a disciple in my current circumstances? Is the Word central to my life? Am I becoming more like Christ in my relationships? Do I prioritize God’s kingdom over worldly values?
Many believers say, “I’m not ready.” But discipleship training is not for those already prepared—it is God’s way of preparing the unready.
Training is our response to God’s invitation. Not because we are qualified, but because Jesus calls us. That alone is enough.
In a time when faith is fragile and truth is mocked, if the church does not recover discipleship, it will lose its way. And that loss will not affect the world outside—it will begin within us. Now is the time to speak again of discipleship training.
Discipleship Is Not a Strategy. It Is the Heart of the Gospel.
Many churches once used discipleship as a strategy—and saw fruit. But when discipleship becomes a strategy, we risk focusing on systems and missing people. The essence is not strategy. It is the way of Jesus.
Jesus did not choose the thousands who followed Him. He called twelve. He walked with them, ate with them, taught them, bore with their failures, and waited for their growth. His ministry was discipleship.
So, we speak of discipleship again—not to revive a system, but to recover the gospel.
The gospel does not end at being heard. It is power to transform lives. And that transformation must result in trained obedience. Discipleship is the way to live worthy of the gospel. It is the response of grace.
Many believers feel stuck or empty—not because they haven’t heard the Word, but because they haven’t lived it. Discipleship training brings the Word into life.
There will be moments of struggle and failure. But in every step, God works. Discipleship is training to follow Jesus—and learning how He never lets go of us.
Who Is a True Disciple?
Jesus still says today, “Follow me.” This is not a call only for long-time churchgoers, Bible scholars, or ministry leaders. It is a call for every believer.
Being a disciple does not require grand achievements. Small acts of obedience, silent prayers, patient endurance—that is the path of the disciple. Jesus delights in this journey and walks with us to the end.
We do not start discipleship to build better churches, but to become more like Christ. And that begins again today, by standing before the Word.
Reflection and Application Questions
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Am I currently living as a disciple of Jesus?
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Has my faith remained at the level of merely listening to the Word?
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What has kept me from entering discipleship training?
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In what area is God currently training me?
A Short Prayer of Commitment
“Lord, I want to live as a disciple, not just speak about discipleship. Though following is hard and training is burdensome, I will walk the path you’ve called me to. Let me stand again today before your Word and take one more step forward.”
Maeil Scripture Journal
