7 Attributes of a Disciple

After 8 weeks or so of going through the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew chapters 5-7, we are left with lingering questions: What is a disciple? What does living that life look like? 

Last fall for one of my graduate courses I read a book by Kathleen A. Cahalan called "Introducing the Practice of Ministry." I really enjoyed her writing style and brevity, as well as some nuggets like these 7 features of discipleship. She defines discipleship like this:  "To be a disciple means learning a way of life that embodies particular dispositions, attitudes, and practices that place the disciple in relationship to, and as a participant in, God's mission to serve and transform the world." 

Now this is not an end all list...but I like some of the elements & if you're like me, I need an idea from which to work. I've also attached some scripture to them, but there are many more that support them. 

1. Follower  “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19 NIV), "a person enters into a lifelong process of learning from Jesus, to come to know who and what Jesus is and what Jesus is claiming about God's call to relationship, communion, and mission. (p. 5) ...it entails learning, growing, changing, and converting, as well as turning away, failing, doubting and at times rejecting the summons. It means taking up with a community of friends, brothers and sisters, a new family and household that includes the unclean and sinners."

2. Worshiper "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23, 24 NIV) "Jesus recognizes God as the source of all that is in creation, the source of healing power and authority in his teaching, preaching, and healing ministries. Prayer is an opening of his heart, mind, and soul to this source of divine love and mercy and a willingness to be transformed into the servant that God is calling him to be...Christians are "most fully human when we praise God" and giving Glory to God is not only in prayer and liturgy but also in our whole lives. (with additional quote by Cathrine Mowry LaCugna)

3. Witness "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NIV) "...one who gives voice to the claim that Christ has made on their life. Witness: to give testimony to the truth about what they know. Martyr comes from the same Greek root for "witness" and is for those who's life comes to a violent end because of their testimony but are prepared to suffer gladly "for the name.""

4. Neighbor "The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (Mark 12:31-33 NIV) "In the Old Testament a neighbor is understood to be a person who was a fellow member of the covenant community, similar to a brother or kinsman. Neighbor quite literally refers to those who dwell next to or nearby, people who share land, resources, and traditions." Jesus expands the definition with the parable of The Good Samaritan, and Levi or Matthew parties.

5. Forgiver "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14, 15 NIV)  "Practicing forgiveness and reconciliation bring a disciple face-to-face with their wrongdoings as well as the hurts and wounds born from others' actions, emotional as well as physical. Forgiveness (OT) wiping away, sending away, removing, covering (Matthew 6:14-15, Luke 6:37) Forgiveness also invites a disciple to see the wrongdoer as God sees them, as a child of God who needs healing and forgiveness."

6. Prophet (Luke 4:18-19“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18, 19 NIV) "Prophets are a witness with a keen perception for what harms a neighbor: scorn, hatred, disobedience, hubris, unbelief, greed, and selfishness...Jesus calls people to repentance, invites them into a relationship with a loving and merciful God, and warns them against false religious practices and injustice toward the poor and outcast." Prophecy is proclaiming truth. (Matt. 22:1-4)

7. Steward “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:34-36, 40 NIV) "God creates and is the first steward of creation, extending the responsibility for stewardship to humanity. Jesus uses the image of the steward to demonstrate generosity, wisdom, and prudence, as well as shrewdness. Disciples are also stewards of a vocation, the gifts received for service in the community (1 Peter 4:10)."

If you look at these 7 characteristics or attributes, how does your life stack up? Or maybe like me, you can pick out a couple of them that you do fairly well at on a day to day basis. And then there is the other side, are there some that you do poorly? How does God want you to grow and expand? What does he want you to work on today?  Take these 7 in, chew them up, see how they set.  Then let God transform you as you submit new areas of your life to Him.