Being a Disciple

To follow Jesus Christ, we must become disciples. Christians are called to be more than just the name. Disciples are people whose lives are transformed as they continually seek to pattern their lives after the example and teachings of Jesus Christ.

First Steps

Becoming a disciple in the Community of Christ begins with a few simple steps.

1. Listen within yourself for the call of Jesus Christ in your life.
2. Be involved with a congregation, participating in activities that help you learn, grow, and serve others.
3. Learn more about the gospel and the church by talking with a minister or member who can help you more fully understand and respond to the call of Jesus Christ in you life.
4. Be baptized into the fellowship of the body of Christ.

Becoming a disciple of Jesus means accepting God’s incredible love for you and learning to trust and depend on God. Following baptism and confirmation, you are invited to continue sharing fully in the life of your congregation, experiencing activities designed to move you forward in your discipleship.

The Heart of Discipleship

Discipleship in the Community of Christ begins with our mission statement: “We proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace.” Seeking ways to reflect this mission in your daily life will lead you on a journey of spiritual growth and transformation. The following goals are for those traveling the path of the disciple:

• Share your witness and resources
• Worship
• Be involved
• Learn
• Be a peacemaker

Share Your Witness and Resources

Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ enriches our lives and creates a deep sense of satisfaction. People want to talk about this good news with others and share their resources so ministry can be brought to people worldwide.

• Invite others to share in congregational experiences—as we listen to others, we learn which activities and experiences might be of value in their lives.
• Share freely about what being a disciple of Jesus Christ has meant to you—we need not engage in deep doctrinal discussions; we can simply share what we have found in the gospel.
• Prioritize your spending in a way that provides for resources that can be given away—when we live in such a way, we honor our deepest values.
• Honor God’s call to tithe—this is a generous, tangible response to God’s grace and love, which helps meet the needs of an active church.

Worship

A disciple seeks to know God. The scriptures promise that God is always present and available to us. There are several things we can do to invite the Holy Spirit and realize God’s presence in our lives.

• Engage in worship regularly with your congregation—disciples help one another come to know God.
• Engage in personal worship and pray regularly—disciples seek to be with God in times of quiet reflection.
• Seek inspiration and comfort from the scriptures—reading the scriptures is a way to learn more about God and the guidelines for better living.

Be Involved

A disciple is a member of a community of disciples. By working and sharing together, we experience a deeper understanding of who God calls us to be.

• Embrace diversity—no two of us are alike, and we gain strength through our differences as well as through our similarities with others.
• Share in congregational activities—through sharing together, we come to deeper understandings of our discipleship.
• Volunteer for specific tasks—we learn more about our discipleship as we attempt new things.

Learn

A disciple continually seeks to understand the teachings of Jesus. There is always more to know, and the church provides resources to guide you.

• Share in educational experiences available in your congregation—disciples seek to help one another in their learning.
• Study the scriptures—in addition to using the scriptures for personal worship, it is helpful to learn more about their background and meaning.
• Study all good books—knowledge of God can be found in many places, so reading good books can make us more effective disciples.

Be a Peacemaker

We are called to bring peace and justice to our world. In a world in which people seek to dominate others, such a call is very much needed.

• Seek peace within yourself through spiritual disciplines, such as prayer—when we experience peace within ourselves, we are more able to share peace with others.
• Learn to use conflict-resolution skills and engage in ministries of reconciliation—disciples learn how to bring peace to situations where conflict threatens to disrupt communities and relationships.
• Promote peace and seek justice—the world suffers when peace and justice are absent. Be an advocate.

An Invitation

Disciples of Jesus Christ are both invited and called to invite others. You are invited to commit your life to following Jesus Christ. You are invited to live your discipleship in the fellowship and mission of the Community of Christ. As you consider your response, consider inviting others to join you.

Community of Christ
Missionary Ministries Team
1001 W. Walnut
Independence, MO 64050 USA
816/833-1000 or 1-800-825-2806 x2240
E-mail Us