Explain the meaning of discipleship.

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Name: Claire Woodfield

Candidate number: 9193

Centre: Bishop Ullathorne R.C School

Centre number: 20414

Assignment: Discipleship.

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The word disciple means a learner, this does not mean learning out of a textbook, but putting into practice the things that they learn. Jesus is the disciple’s teacher and is our teacher today in the modern day world because it is from his teachings that we all learn. Everyone in the Christian church is classed as a disciple today because Christians believe that the church is the body of Christ, and in a way everyone in that body (church) are to be called disciples of Jesus and they should preach his message of repentance, faith and reconciliation and they should continue to fight against evil. Jesus chose twelve disciples to be his companions, to preach and cast out demons. But he chose twelve specifically because they were to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob had twelve sons and each one of them represented a tribe of Israel. Jesus seemed to be following what Jacob had done. They were now to be Jesus’ companions in the new Israel. The disciples were each different in many ways and this shows the nature of discipleship, because Jesus did not pick wealthy or necessarily popular people, or even people who would get on with each other. Like Simon who was a Zealot and Matthew who was a tax collector, Zealots did not like tax collectors so this would mean that they would not like each other, but in the end they worked together and got along. This shows that Jesus loved everyone equally and hated nobody. These twelve that were chosen were not anyone special, or remarkable but just everyday people, but Jesus saw there inner potential, to spread the Good News to the people that would listen.

        Jesus calls his first four disciples and they are; Simon, Andrew, James and John. They are just four local fishermen, and Jesus says to them; “Come with me and I will teach you to catch people.” To make the decision to be a disciple is hard for these men because they would have to leave their families and jobs and put there faith and trust in God. Being a disciple would mean doing missionary work, but disciples are missionaries and this is what they should expect, it is the nature of discipleship, but it is not all that is involved in discipleship.  The mission of the twelve was to preach to anyone who would listen. The disciples were not allowed to take any money or food etc, with them and this meant putting their trust totally in God, because without food they would die. This shows the nature of discipleship, a total trust in God.

        Everyone in the Christian faith is classed as a disciple today and should act like one in a modern way. Many people today are like the rich people in the story of the ‘Widows treasury’ They may be part of the Christian faith and think that because they have lots of money and can afford to part with a little of it, that this is good, but the poor people who only give a penny or so but this means a lot more to them, because they are giving nearly all that they have to God. So generosity should be related to the cost of the giver, not to the size of the gift. The best gift is not something that you can afford but something that you cannot afford. A person’s generosity is measured by the spirit in which we give it not by the amount.

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        The request of James and John is something that we all can learn from, because you do not have to be the greatest to sit at the right and left hand side of God, but you have to serve and not expect to be served. Even Jesus said; “For the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people.” The nature of discipleship is not just about being able to go to mass every week, but as well as that it is to serve others and not ...

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