Discipleship: Learning as we go

In recent months, I have stepped back into our ‘Sunday school’ team. It’s been a long time since I worked with children on a Sunday morning but felt prompted to get involved once again. There’s a rota so we can all take a turn, and still have the opportunity to be a part of the main service. In the past, I’ve heard people talk about the need to ‘be fed,’ with a focus on the learning that takes place in listening to the sermon. But here’s the thing; I know that I learn so much about myself, about God, about church, about the world by serving and working with the children. In that place of activity, I am being formed, being discipled, learning as I go. 

In ‘Practicing the Way,’ John Mark Comer describes a Biblical perspective of discipleship as ‘being with Jesus, becoming like him, doing as he did.’ This perspective can change the way we view mission; discipleship is not a head-exercise for us to complete before setting out in mission; it engages head, heart and hands in every aspect of our lives. Taking this view helps us to see that we really are learning, or being formed, as we go. 

When we read about Jesus sending out the 72, in Luke 10, I can’t help but wonder at the things they would have learnt from their mission trip; where did they see God at work? What questions were they asked? What questions were they asking? This mission would have been such a faith-building experience and the same can be true for us. I am sure that many of them would have felt unprepared and underqualified but Jesus sent them, knowing the time had come. 

And so, the same can be true for us; we may well feel unprepared, underqualified, lacking in resources, experiences or answers, but Jesus still calls us to go and serve him with hand, head and heart fully expecting our faith to grow as we do so.