DiscipleshipSo here's an example of a big idea from Jesus: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 4:17, KJV). The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of the heavens is right here. That is what Jesus preached. He preached the immediate availability of the kingdom of the heavens to anyone who would simply turn and walk into it. He preached discipleship as the greatest opportunity that any human being will ever have. He preached discipleship, because discipleship is how we get our ideas corrected. The problem now is that the word disciple has come to mean so little. It would help you to go through your Bible and write in the word student or apprentice wherever you see the word disciple, because a disciple is a student, a pupil, a learner. Jesus says, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Do you know the rest of that verse? "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt. 11:28–29). That's a learning relationship. Now, there's a lot of confusion about discipleship in our time. There's a lot of teaching to the effect that you can be a Christian without being a disciple. . . .This is an issue you need to think about in your own life. You need to clarify in your mind: Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ? Are you a learner of Jesus Christ? That's the gospel. These are ideas that are going to have a dramatic effect on that map in your mind. From The Allure of Gentleness: Defending the Faith in the Manner of Jesus. Copyright © 2015 by Dallas Willard. All rights reserved. Used with permission of HarperCollins Publishers. | 
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