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Commentary on "Discipleship"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 2: Sunday, May 31, 2009

Todays lesson takes its lead from Exodus 18:13-27. It then goes on to explain the importance of both leaders and followers. Unfortunately, this avoids one of the most profound teachings of the New Testament – We are all followers of Jesus Christ. When I learn from a teacher, or allow someone to lead me in serving Christ, I must realize that both that leader and I are equal in Christ.

There are three classes of people that are identified in the New Testament. Jesus had enounters with Jews (leaders and non-leaders),Gentiles and believers. He did not come directly to the Gentiles. He came to the Jews. However, regardless of whether the individual He was dealing with was a Jew of Gentile, once the person was a believer, Jesus' relationship with that person was based on something completely different.

In Pauls letters, we often come across three groups of people, Jews, Gentiles and the Church (believers.) Once a person has become a believer, he is no longer classified as a Jew or Gentile, he is a member of the body of Christ.

This lesson teaches that the Church is made up of leaders and followers and that we must “strike a proper balance” between these for Christians to make an impact in our world.

The false dichotomy of leaders and followers making up the body of Christ is based on the idea that some gifts of the Spirit are more “leadership” gifts, while other gifts are gifts given to “followers.” Just because someone has the gift of mercy and I have the gift of teaching, in no way means that I am a leader and the other is a follower. The person with the gift of mercy may need to lead me in being more merciful, while I may need to teach the one with mercy how to explain a concept to one with whom they are showing mercy. Neither the teacher nor the one with the gift of mercy are truly leading the other – they are both properly sharing the responsibilities of members of the body of Christ – a body of followers.

 

Summary

 

 

 

*All scripture quotations are from: The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001, Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

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