Conrad Rocks

What Did Jesus Really Mean by "Make Disciples"? Contrasting 1st Century vs. Modern DiscipleshipKey Points:In 1st century Israel, discipleship under a rabbi was a significant multi-year commitment involving close daily relational living and imitation of the rabbi. The goal was to become like the rabbi in character, behavior and lifestyle.Jesus' call to "make disciples" meant perpetuating this intense rabbi-disciple relationship model, with disciples becoming teachers themselves. It involved deep sacrifice, leaving everything to follow the rabbi.In contrast, modern western discipleship often:Emphasizes comfort and personal fulfillment over sacrificeUses classroom-style teaching vs. relational immersionMakes disciple-making a side ministry vs. the core missionSees persecution as failure vs. a privilege of sharing in Christ's sufferingsFocuses on information transfer vs. transformational lifestyleTo align with Jesus' intent, the modern church needs to recapture the early church's model of sacrificial, relational,