Discipleship
A Need to Study
2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.
HCSB
Another area of emphasis for a disciple is study. Devotions and Bible reading will only take a person so far. He must learn to combine various passages into a coherent understanding of doctrine. This is what the scholar’s call systematic theology. The Bible was written using a loose revelation of knowledge in the sense that it is not a textbook. God has not told us all there is to know about sin, for example, in one set of chapters. We must learn to read and combine and reconcile all of Scriptures to obtain a firm understanding of all the doctrines. This is where individual and group studies come to bear. We learn from others. We are taught and, in turn, are expected to teach others.
1 Timothy 4:6
If you instruct the brethren in these things,
you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words
of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
NKJV
The point of discipleship is that we are all ministers of God's Word. We may not be teachers or pastors, but we are ministers and we are all expected, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, to help others become better disciples!
This time of study is the place of Sunday School, Home Teams, or cell groups, whichever may be applicable. These organized studies are supplemented by other group Bible studies and individual Bible studies. The command to become a disciple means that we should not only attend these group studies, but also participate both through discussion and preparation. As we grow stronger in God’s Word, we become better disciples, better able to defend the Word and Contend for the Faith.
