Kofi Adu-Boahen: Discipleship – Echo Zoe Ministries

Kofi first joined me on Echo Zoe Radio back in October of 2015 to discuss the doctrine of Union with Christ. Heâ€™s beginning seminary soon, and has had discipleship on his mind. He joins me this month to discuss this topic and hopefully encourage others to be more mindful of our calling to make disciples.

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Outline of the Discussion

Kofi was fortunate to have a Godly retired pastor take him under his wing at age 16 and pour into Kofi whatever he could in regards to scripture and theology. Kofi didn't think of it as discipleship at the time, but that's exactly what it was.
Kofi was given a copy of “The Training of the Twelve,” by A.B. Bruce, which also had a strong influence on him.
In conjunction with enrolling online with North American Reformed Seminary, Kofi is also beginning an internship with his church, which will further his involvement in discipleship.
Kofi describes discipleship as: the process of encouraging other believers to grow in Christ-likeness through formal and informal relationship.
Discipleship can be simple in that we just need to find someone who is less experienced than we are that can learn from us. Part of this is matching up learning styles to skillsets;
if someone learns best by reading, they can be discipled by someone who likes to write, or even knows good books they can recommend for that person to read. Someone else might be a good auditory learner, and can learn well by listening to good sermons.
Kofi is still mapping out how he wants to disciple others in his internship, but one way is teaching a “Fundamentals of the Faith” class at church on Thursday nights. When he finishes the series, he'll teach “How to study the Bible.”
Kofi's pursuit of proper discipleship springs forth from Jesus' presentation of the Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20.
A disciple is a student. Kofi asks, “are we making students of Jesus Christ in our evangelism?”
Kofi also looks to 2 Timothy 2:2, where Paul instructs his disciple Timothy to, in turn, disciple others who will, likewise, disciple others themselves.
The author of Hebrews rebukes his readers for not growing and learning (eating meat) such that they can pass along what they know to others, but are still in need of learning themselves (they're drinking milk) (Hebrews 5:11-14)
Kofi had linked his growth in the knowledge of the Doctrines of Grace to his understanding of discipleship, particularly the doctrine of “Perseverance of the Saints.”
The Church has an obligation to foster a culture of discipleship. There are many different spheres and avenues for discipleship. One in particular that occurs at the corporate level is the preaching of the Word on Sunday morning, and/or Wednesday evening. Another is through small-groups, where people form stronger, closer relationships. Jesus had his circle of twelve, but He also had an inner-circle of three.
Conferences and seminars are also useful, albeit occasional avenues for discipleship.
In London, Kofi had a great discipleship relationship with his pastor. They met regularly, and he learned to always ask “who am I discipling, and who is discipling me?” He continues with a similar relationship with his current pastor in Southern Oregon?
Even when we get so old that there just aren't any believers left that are older and more experienced than us, we can continue to be discipled by authors who wrote great works, perhaps centuries before we were born.
While it shouldn't be our primary source of discipleship, the internet and social media can be a valuable medium for learning and relationship building.
Kofi has a passionate interest in demystifying discipleship. He wants people to think of it relationally, rather than in terms of a rigid curriculum.
The power of relationship in discipleship cannot be overstated.
Discipleship also needs to be missional (notwithstanding the buzzword-nature “missional” has become)
Some of us progress by creating systems, processes, or programs; but sometimes that becomes a hinderance. We just want to check boxes along the way to a specified goal. This can be true of discipleship as much as anything.