Our underdtanding of what a disciple of Jesus Christ is shapes both our methods of how we make disciples and our identity of the kind of poeple we are satisfied to be.  

Common description of a disciple:

Reads the bible and prays daily

Attends and servies at church regularly

Gives or tithes generously

Preaches and teaches well

Has a knowledge of the bible

Is successful in business/profession

Lives separated fromt he world

Witnesses to neighbors about Jesus

Jesus' description of a disciple:

1.  The poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3)

     spiritually bankrupt

2.  Those who mourn Matthew 5:4)

     appropriately sad

3.  The meek (Matthew 5:5)

     selflessly gentle

4.  Those who hunger & thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6)

     spiritually hungry

5.  The merciful (Matthew 5:7)

     unusually compassionate

6.  The pure in heart (Matthew 5:8)

     single-mindedly sincere

7.  The peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)

     conflict restorer

8.  The persecuted (Matthew 5:10)

     regularly opposed