Discipleship is NOT Mentorship.

The primary function of discipleship is not to be trained up in your specific calling or gifting. Discipleship, in its simplest sense, is training in how to follow Jesus with clean hands and a pure heart, no matter your gifting or calling. Discipleship is about developing heart and character.

Think of a parent and a child. Even though the parent may not have the same giftings and talents as the child, the parent is still responsible to teach that child how to live life before God, properly and effectively. Consider if that child decided to think that the parent was trying to rob them of something, or if they thought the parent wasn’t *sufficient enough* in certain skill sets to train them up. What a mess, right?

We have an opportunity to pioneer real discipleship within the Church in this season. This kind of discipleship is not something new. It’s a return to what discipleship was always intended to be, according to Jesus’ commissioning when he said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) . Jesus commanded us to teach people to follow Him, without reference to their level of gifting, calling or skill sets. Following Jesus well comes first. Training in how to steward one’s gifts, talents and skill sets comes second.

You need solid discipleship before you need a mentor. You don’t want to confuse getting fat on mentorship with being discipled well. So if you’re ready to press into this discussion around why you want discipleship first — and what you really need next instead of mentorship — grab your Bible, your journal and a pen, and . . . Let’s Go!

Scripture References mentioned in this episode:

Matthew 28:19-20 —
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Proverbs 22:6 —
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Romans 11:29 —
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Links to Resources Mentioned in This Episode

To continue the discussion around discipleship, mentorship and apprenticeship and to find a community you can run with as you pursue authentic discipleship, join us inside the REVIVE Woman Community. Click here to join.

---

Erica co-leads a local church alongside her husband, Doug, in Tampa, Florida called REVIVE Church of Tampa. You can visit the church’s website for more information about who we are, what we believe and how we show up as the Church in the heart of West Tampa and beyond.

REVIVE Church of Tampa

REVIVE Church of Tampa streams services live on Friday nights at 7pm ET and Sunday mornings at 11am ET. You can find those livestreams on our church Facebook page:

Live Services – Fridays at 7pm ET and Sundays at 11am ET

If you’re interested in joining the online campus of REVIVE Church of Tampa, you are welcome to join our community group on Facebook where we offer weekly discussion around the Friday and Sunday messages as well as discipleship Zoom groups and the opportunity to host others in your home as you stream services. You can find us here:

The ROCC: REVIVE Online Campus Community

---

About this podcast:

Positioned to Prosper is a weekly podcast that covers the ins and outs of what it means to live a lifestyle of breakthrough and victory in your relationships, health, finances and beyond. Your host, Erica Pyle, is no stranger to jumping without the proverbial parachute while maintaining a firm grip on godly wisdom. A self-described slayer of pragmatism and a “walk by faith” kind of girl, Erica is an unabashed believer in the power of God to radically transform lives. Front-footed in faith as she offers straight-up truth, strategies, and wisdom for living victoriously, and equipped with her love for the word of God, her certification as a holistic health coach, and years of experience in personal finance and taxation, Erica is ready to help you get positioned to prosper.