The Main Course

Re:Verse passage – 1 Corinthians 16:15–18; Acts 18:1–8; 11:22–26 (day four)

If you’ve been in church for a significant amount of time, you’ve probably experienced some of your discipleship through programs – classes, retreats, Bible study groups, etc. These things are good and helpful, but they’re not meant to make up the bulk of our experience in discipleship; they’re not the “main course.”

When we look at the early church, we see that discipleship happened primarily through relationships. We see several discipleship relationships in Paul’s life described in these texts and throughout the book of Acts. Barnabas was a mentor to Paul. He was likely older and walked him through the essentials of the Christian life and understanding the gospel. He connected Paul with ministry opportunities in Antioch and encouraged him in his work. Barnabas was one of Paul’s primary discipleship relationships. Priscilla and Aquila were peers of Paul, likely around the same age and worked alongside him in Corinth. They worked arm in arm, helping to disciple new believers like Apollos and develop the church in Corinth. They challenged, encouraged, and strengthened each other, and discipleship happened among the three of them as peers. Finally, we know Paul had several companions that he mentored and considered “sons” in the faith, including Timothy. Paul poured into Timothy and discipled him as Barnabas had done for him.

The main course of discipleship is relationships. Barnabas, Priscilla and Aquila, and Timothy represent different discipleship relationships in Paul’s life: mentor, peers, and mentee. Examine your life and relationships – who would you put in each category? Do you have a more mature believer walking with you on your journey? Do you have peer friendships that you invest in to strengthen and encourage each other in the Lord? Are you mentoring someone in the faith? If not, how might you take a step forward in one of these ways this week?