Para muitos, é uma grande surpresa descobrir que os seguidores de Jesus Cristo são chamados de “cristãos” apenas três vezes na Bíblia. Claro, sabemos que tanto as palavras ‘cristão’ como ‘discípulo’ implicam relacionamento com Jesus. Mas, por que “discípulo radical”? Para John Stott, a resposta é óbvia. “Existem diferentes níveis de comprometimento na comunidade cristã. O próprio Jesus ilustra isso ao explicar o que aconteceu com as sementes na Parábola do Semeador (Mt 13.3-23). A diferença está no tipo de solo que as recebeu. A semente semeada em solo rochoso ‘não tinha raiz’”. Evitamos o discipulado radical sendo seletivos: escolhemos as áreas nas quais o compromisso nos convém e ficamos distantes daquelas nas quais nosso envolvimento nos custará muito. No entanto, como discípulos não temos esse direito.

Stott explores discipleship as non-conformity to the world and conformity to Christ, exploring 8 qualities of every disciple. Succinct and devotional.

A short book written (with some past works compiled and perhaps edited) by John Stott at the age of 88. In the book he laid out eight aspects in which he thought it was important for Christians to incorporate into their life. The chapters on each of the aspects were pretty short, easy to read, yet to the point. So I think it's a good book to use for discipleship training purposes. Aside from the usual teaching we often hear from the pulpit (nonconformity to secular values, growth in Christ-likeness, no fear for death....), he also had a chapter on the importance of creation care (conserving energy, sustainable living...) and a chapter on living in simplicity and a heart to support the poor. My favorite chapter is the one on dependence, when the author wrote about the emotional weakness he experienced when, at his old age, he fell down in his house and broke his hip. An excerpt from the chapter: "I sometimes hear old people, including Christian people who should know better, say 'I don't want to be a burden to anyone else. I'm happy to carry on living so long as I can look after myself, but as soon as I become a burden I would rather die.' But this is wrong. W e are all designed to be a burden to others. You are designed to be a burden to me and I am designed to be a burden to you. And the life of the family, including the life of the local church family, should be one of 'mutual burdensomeness.' 'Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ' (Galatians 6:2)." ( )

Para muitos, é uma grande surpresa descobrir que os seguidores de Jesus Cristo são chamados "cristãos" apenas três vezes na Bíblia. Obviamente que sabemos que as palavras "cristão" e "discípulo" implicam um relacionamento com Jesus. Mas, por que razão "discípulo radical"? ( )

Enjoyed this look at discipleship. Some of my favorite quotes include:
“Here then is God’s call to a radical discipleship, to a radical nonconformity to the surrounding culture. It is a call to develop a Christian counterculture, a call to engagement without compromise.”
“We have considered four major secular trends that threaten to engulf the Christian community. In the face of these we are all called not to feeble-minded conformity but to radical nonconformity. Over against the challenge of pluralism we are to be a community of truth, standing up for the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. Over against the challenge of materialism, we are to be a community of simplicity and pilgrimage. Over against the challenge of relativism we are to be a community of obedience. Over against the challenge of narcissism, we are to be a community of love. We are not to be like reeds shaken by the wind, bowing down before gusts of public opinion, but as immovable as rocks in a mountain stream.”
“We have followed Peter in the six metaphors which go to make up the portrait he paint of the disciple. Here they are again:
• as newborn babies we are called to growth,
• as living stones to fellowship,
• as holy priests to worship,
• as God’s own people to witness,
• as aliens and strangers to holiness,
• as servants of God to citizenship.
“This is a beautifully comprehensive and balanced portrait. These six duties seem to resolve themselves into three couplets, each of which contains a balance.”
We are called to both individual discipleship and corporate fellowship, … worship and work, … pilgrimage and citizenship.” ( )