LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Course Reflection Paper
Submitted to Dr. Jonathan Geukgeuzian
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 500 – B03
Discipleship Ministries
by
April D. Brown
March 5, 2020
Content
Introduction………………………………………………………………………1-2
Personal Discipleship Reflections……………………………………………….2
Passages………………………………………………………………………….2-3
Principles………………………………………………………………………...3-4
Practices…………………………………………………………………………4
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….4-5
Bibliography……………………………………………………………………..6
Introduction:
Summarize Bonhoeffer’s view concerning the high cost of discipleship.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, “The Cost of Discipleship”, is a call to live a radical life. In
his book he lays out for the believer the great cost and the freedom of embracing God’s grace and
being a disciple of Jesus. He gives a detailed analysis of some of Jesus’s greatest moral teachings
while applying them to the individual. He discusses how the disciple, who lives under the
teachings of Jesus, is to be a messenger to the world. Finally, he touches on the role of the
disciple in relation to the Body of Christ. Bonhoeffer’s book is a discussion of the disciple: the
price he pays, the extraordinariness of his lifestyle, his role as a messenger, and his part in the
Body of Christ. Bonhoeffer then goes on to ask the following questions: What can the call to
discipleship mean today for the worker, the businessman, the squire and the solider? And if we
answer the call to discipleship, where will it lead us? What decisions and partings will it
demand?1 Moreover, Bonhoeffer discusses the difference between what he calls Cheap Grace
and Costly Grace. Cheap Grace he explains is “Grace without price; grace without cost!”.2 By
this he means that there are many professing Christians who are more than happy to receive
forgiveness from their sins, but are at the same time unwilling to accept the high costs of what it
really means to follow Jesus. Cheap grace costs nothing. With cheap grace there is no demand to
take up our cross and follow Christ, but only grace that demands nothing from us. “Cheap grace”
Bonhoeffer explains, “is grace without discipleship”.3 Grace without really following Christ.
Costly Grace on the other hand “is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will
gladly go and sell all that he has”4
1 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Volume 4. Minneapolis: First Fortress Press, 2003, 38
2 Ibid.,
3 Ibid.,
4 Ibid.,
Personal Discipleship Reflections
One topic this course has really given me understanding on is the importance of having
core values and vision that the entire congregation is in agreement with. When going to church as
an attendee, it is hard to understand all of the different parts that go into even just one service, let
alone the entire operation of the church. I have learned over the past eight weeks just how critical
a clear vision within the congregation is in order to develop a cohesive disciple making plan.
Churches becoming healthy, and staying healthy is so important to God, and it has become very
important to me too. Teaching my core values and sharing God’s word with the lost world,
coaching disciples to help them grow spiritually until they are showing fruits of a mature
believer.
Key Biblical Passages and Principles Related to Discipleship – 250–325 words
Passages
Scripture tells us that all authority is given to Christ who in turn gave us power to make
disciples (Matt. 28:18). Jesus is the perfect leader and has given us a vision to follow. When
starting with Gods word we are then able to start to put together a biblical plan of action. When
there is a vision, we are able to keep everyone focused on the same goal and also track progress
to encourage your team. This is not to say that a vision is set in stone and can never change but
when it does it should be something that is clearly communicated to those that are on your team.
Proverbs 29:18 says this, “A church with a good vision centered on Christ thrives, however, a
church without a solid vision centered in Christ dies.” There are many key factors involved in
making a vision for a ministry that is centered around making disciples. You first need a group
of spiritually mature leaders to develop a biblical solid foundation for the vision. As said above
the Great Commission is a great place to start. We have to remember, “mature disciples make
mature disciples. Come together at a church leadership level and begin to ask big questions
together. Achieve consensus regarding vision, as vision comes from God’s word.”5 What this
process is able to do is establish unity among leaders. The goal is for everyone to grow here,
going from spiritually dead to spiritual parenthood through learning, serving, and giving.6
The Body of Christ is the starting point of many discipleship relationships. Dietrich
Bonhoeffer says it this way, “By being in a community with the body of Jesus they are placed
under the burden of the cross. For in that body they are all born and accepted.”7Another
statement of our vision in ministries comes from the example set by the early church. Acts 2:46,
“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received
their food with glad generous hearts.” The early church put a huge emphasis on relationships
they shared food, homes, and their lives with one another. There is a reason the early church put
such an emphasis on relationships. This is truly where you are able to make the biggest impact.
Principals
The principals that the church leaders put in place are principals that entire body should
strive for in all areas of ministries. The principals of the ministry should be things that align with
the passages and scriptures. When Christ is in the center of the church’s vision the values and
principals must also be at the center and align with Him. The principals that are in place are
what unifies the ministry and keeps people committed. It is very important to understand that it is
not the pastors that make the church or ministry a success, but it is the work of the Holy Spirit
and the grace of Jesus Christ. Michael Horton in the book Gospel Commission says it this way,
5 Jim Putman, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman, DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make
Disciples Who Make Disciples (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013), 216-217.
6 Ibid., 60-71.
7 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Volume 4. (Minneapolis: First Fortress Press, 2003), 229.
“The church does not arise either from the leadership of an earthly head or from the will of the
people but from the saving work of God in Jesus Christ.”8
Best practices/plan for developing disciples
Practices
There are many methods that drive discipleship dependent on the ministry and the vision
and values that are set in place. Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey discuss four main models that
make up the structure of the church. The traditional church, where there are no small groups
usually present. The attraction church, where they count on small groups to be the main place to
build community. The organic church, where small groups are again used for community
building. And the hybrid church that mixes some of the practices of the other three models.9 The
model that I have found most impactful throughout this course and within my own church is
small groups. Small groups are built on community, care, and relationships. Each small group is
led by mature disciples of the church whose objective is to grow mature disciples who can go on
to grow more disciples.
Conclusion
Overall, this course has opened my eyes to the many levels and elements that go into operating a
successful disciple making church. Not only is it important to make sure the vision of the church
is clear, but also to make sure the congregation is in agreeance. Moreover, it is important to have
a clear disciple making plan and to grow disciples who will grow disciples. As the Bible says,
“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men
who will be able to teach others also” (2Tim. 2:2).
8 Michael Horton, Gospel Commission: Recovering God’s Strategy for Making Disciples, (Grand Rapids, US: Baker
Books, 2011), 191.
9 Early, Dave and Rod Dempsey, Disciple Making Is…: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and
Confidence (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2013), 229-37
Bibliography
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Volume 4. Minneapolis: First Fortress Press, 2003.
Horton Michael, Gospel Commission: Recovering God’s Strategy for Making Disciples, Grand Rapids,
US: Baker Books, 2011.
Putman, Jim, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman, DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your
Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013.
Early, Dave and Rod Dempsey, Disciple Making Is…: How to Live the Great Com-
mission with Passion and Confidence (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2013.
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