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Daily Digest: Capstone Capsule

IMPACTFUL DISCIPLESHIP

Date: 
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Bible Meditation: 
Matthew 4: 17-22

“And He said to them, “FOLLOW ME, and I will MAKE YOU fishers of men” – Matthew 4:19

“The Cost of Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, focuses IMPACTFUL DISCIPLESHIP: “And He said to them, “FOLLOW ME, and I will MAKE YOU fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him” (Mt. 4:19-20). Today’s scripture passage reveals how our Lord Jesus Christ called His first disciples. Their MAKING was in FOLLOWING HIM. A disciple is a follower. When Jesus began His public ministry, He sought for disciples so that, when His work was finished and He left to be with the Father, there would be others who would faithfully carry on the work of the kingdom of God that was now at hand.

 

Bonhoeffer’s book is a challenging exploration of the demands of following Christ, which requires more than mere intellectual or mental assent, but a profound commitment to radical transformation, involving sacrifice and obedience to Christ’s teachings. “Costly grace” demands a response and repentance, while “cheap grace” is a superficial acceptance of forgiveness without repentance, baptism without discipline, communion without confession, and “easy-believism” without personal cost or true transformation. Radical Obedience however involves a complete surrender to God’s Will, and obeying Christ’s commands without compromise, even when it demands sacrifice or leads to suffering. The first disciples “left their nets and followed Him”!

A disciple is a learner. Discipleship begins with learning from Jesus, imitating His character, and following His teachings. It involves a transformative process in following Jesus, learning from Him, and then actively making and teaching new disciples. He commanded us as His followers to make disciples of all nations (Mt.28:19-20). By making and training disciples, Believers contribute to the spread of the Gospel and the advancement of God’s Kingdom. Collectively, discipleship promotes unity and fellowship among believers, creating a supportive environment for spiritual growth, maturity, and effectiveness in ministry.

Discipleship is not just a matter of belief but also of action, a commitment to live out Christ’s teachings in all aspects of life. This fosters spiritual growth, maturity, and equipping Believers to fulfill divine purposes in God’s kingdom. It leads to a deeper relationship with God, increased faith, spiritual maturity, as believers grow in the understanding and application of God’s Word, and have transformed lives. True disciples are equipped to share their faith and serve others in furtherance of the Lord’s work.

Bonhoeffer’s impactful book calls for a re-evaluation of who a Christian is, urging Believers to move beyond superficiality and embrace a life of radical and costly commitment to Christ, going beyond mere lip service or cosmetic belief. Costly Grace involves taking up one’s cross to follow Jesus (Mt.16:24). We are challenged to examine our faith and commitment, and embrace a life of radical discipleship that’s marked by obedience, sacrifice, and a deep love for Christ and towards others.

Adetokunbo O. Ilesanmi (Meditations)

Prayer: 
Lord, lead us into paths of radical obedience and costly commitment for IMPACTFUL DISCIPLESHIP, in Jesus’ name.
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The vision of KCOM is that:
"the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord as the waters cover the seas" (Habakkuk 2:14).
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

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