Hundredfold Discipleship
September 4, 2006
Dear Friends
Are there varying degrees of discipleship? Are there those among us who excel at discipleship more than others? The scriptures would seem to indicate that this is true. In the parable of the Sower we are told that the good ground has differing degrees of “fruit production.†“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.†(Mt 13:23)
We would like to explore the idea of “hundredfold†discipleship. What does it mean to a hundredfold disciple? How do we attain it?
We asked several groups of Bible students to describe what they thought a hundredfold disciple would “look like.†Here is a sampling of their responses:
- They would love their brethren in a self- sacrificing fashion. They would put others needs ahead of their own.
- They truly seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
- They would be a positive influence on people around them such that people around them become better disciples of Christ.
- They would be doers of the word. They would put their walk where their mouth was.
- They would be wise in the ways of God through diligent Bible study and putting it into practice on a constant basis.
- They would be preachers of the word on a continual basis in whatever circumstances they found themselves.
- They would be sensitive to the needs of others and be quick with giving people the help or words that they needed.
- They would embody the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.
- Despite these positive attributes, they would be humble. They would be genuine, sincere and without pretense.
This list may not be exhaustive, but it is a pretty good start toward a picture of what a hundredfold disciple should be.
It should be noted here that the aim of the hundredfold disciple is not to produce more fruit than their neighbor. It is not a fruit production contest. In fact, it would be entirely self-defeating for the highly productive disciple to compare themselves with others. “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.†(2Co 10:12) No, the hundredfold disciple has an entirely different motive – faith. In fact, there probably don’t even think of themselves as being highly productive for the Lord. It is a natural byproduct of who they are and what they believe. Their compulsion to do is based in who they are, not who they want people to think they are. We see an example of this described at Judgment.
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? (Matt. 25:34-39)
We will pick up here next week, Lord willing.
Have a great week,
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Thank you.