The Bible of Community-Based Discipleship
Discipleship: God's Plan for the World
Stand before that glorious calling
Getting to know Jesus, loving Him, devoting ourselves to Him… .

“I warn you.
The moment you read this book, you are now
“That you will be spiritually transformed like dynamite….”
J.
I. Packer, author of "Knowing God"

“When Christ calls a person, he commands him to come and die,” Bonhoeffer said.
This astonishing statement contains the fundamental and crucial essence of discipleship.
Certainly, there are many forms of death.
Not all Christians are called to literal martyrdom as Bonhoeffer was.
However, it is clear that all Christians are called to be disciples.
Whatever personal sacrifices are involved.

If we learn the true meaning of discipleship and have the heart to become disciples, the church will change and society will have a tremendous impact.
This happened already in the first century.
A small group of timid disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit, began the greatest spiritual revolution in history.
You will discover the meaning of discipleship unfolding on every page of this book.

Christ's Plan for the World
The West is very wealthy today, but its future is very dire.
Therefore, the church must not ignore what Jesus planned to do to change society.
The Lord did not promote political propaganda slogans and rejected any form of violence.
He didn't even ask for a high social status.
He wanted to change world history, but his plan was surprisingly simple.
First, he gathered some disciples and lived with them for three years.
He shared everything with them, cared for them, taught them and healed them.
He also trusted them, forgave them, and loved them to the end.
But sometimes the disciples disappointed Jesus, let him down, hurt his feelings, and even sinned.
Nevertheless, he loved his disciples unchangingly.
And finally, these trained disciples, empowered by the promised power of the Holy Spirit, radically transformed the world.

A communist spoke very defiantly to Western Christians.
“The Gospel is a more powerful weapon for renewing society than our Marxist philosophy.
But ultimately, we will win.
…Communists do not just talk, they use every means to achieve their goals.
I also know the details of the method.
…How can people believe in the supreme value of this gospel? If you don't practice it, if you don't preach it, if you don't sacrifice time or money to spread it.
…we believe in the message of communism and are ready to sacrifice our lives for it.
…but you are afraid to even get your hands dirty.”

Discipleship is Christ's plan for the world.
Most Western churches have countless reports, committees, conferences, seminars, missions, crusades, plans for reunion, reform of liturgy, and much more.
But he was not interested in the true meaning of discipleship.
I began writing this book with the hope that it would help others to reflect on what it means to follow Jesus and to help them do so.
The only way to save the present world, which is hurtling towards despair and destruction, is to become a true disciple.
God wants the church to restore a world that is falling apart without Him and to heal all of creation.
For this reason, I am convinced that Jesus Christ is calling those who truly love Him and are willing to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice for His plan.
This is what discipleship means, and this is what this book seeks to explore.

**
Jesus called his disciples first

In the rabbinic world, a disciple chose a teacher and entered his or her school.
But Jesus took full initiative in calling his disciples.
Simon and Andrew, James and John, Levi, Philip, and all others did not choose to follow Jesus, but were called by Him and followed Him.
Even when a rich young man ran up to Jesus and called him “Teacher” and asked him a question, Jesus simply said, “Come, follow me,” while discussing the total sacrifice that discipleship demands.
Drawn by his perfect personality, noble teachings, and miracles, many crowds pledged their devotion to Jesus and constantly begged him to become their disciples.
But Jesus put all those requests aside and presented the virtues that his disciples should possess.

Some people found Jesus' words too difficult to understand, and soon they left one by one, saying, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" (John 6:60).
As this happened repeatedly, only twelve people remained, those whom Jesus had personally called while praying all night.
These were special people given by God (John 17:9).
What united and unwavering the twelve disciples, each with their own unique qualities, was the fact that God was leading their lives and that they were gathered together by the power of Christ's calling.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should last, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, that you love one another” (John 15:16-17).

Two important facts can be discovered from these words.
First, if we think of ourselves as chosen disciples of Jesus, our attitude toward Jesus will change.
If I were to participate in the Olympics as a national athlete, I would approach the Olympics with a completely different attitude than a spectator.
Athletes will have to make significant sacrifices to perform at their best.
The pride of being selected as a national representative makes it possible.
If we are to be able to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, we must first realize that Jesus has chosen us and called us.

**
Our weapon, prayer
Likewise, prayer has been the first sign of God's saints throughout all generations.
George Whitefield went to bed at 10 o'clock every day and woke up at 4 o'clock in the morning to pray.
John Wesley devoted two hours every day to prayer.
He always said, 'God works through prayer and through those who pray.'
Martin Luther also said this:
“If I don’t spend two hours in prayer every morning, Satan takes over my day.
So on days when I have too much to do, I end up praying for three hours a day.
Because if you don't pray, you can't do anything."

William Wilberforce, the founder of a widespread social reform movement in England, is said to have made it a rule to pray three hours a day.
The leaders of his Clapham party, despite opposition from Parliament, gathered Christians from all over the country to form a prayer meeting.
They knew the power of prayer, and they proved it again and again.
William Temple is said to have said this to those who opposed the prayer movement, saying that answered prayers are merely coincidental.
“When I pray, coincidences happen, but when I don’t pray, even those coincidences don’t happen.”

If we were to list such heroes of faith, it would be easy to become discouraged.
Most people would be ashamed of their poor prayer life.
(Omitted) As we continually struggle against the powers of darkness, prayer and praise become the greatest spiritual weapons God has given us.
Nothing can replace this.
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of word but of power” (1 Corinthians 4:20).
And this power is revealed only through prayer.

---From Chapter 6, “I Experience the Power of Prayer”