Missional Discipleship: Its Terms and Conditions
Mark 8: 34-35
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.
Mark 8:34-35 outlines the core requirements of Christian discipleship, where Jesus calls followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. It presents a paradox: holding onto one's selfish life leads to losing it, while sacrificing one’s life for Christ and the gospel saves it, focusing on eternal gain over earthly comfort. [1, 2, 3]
Key Concepts of Mark 8:34-35:
- Deny Yourself: This is a call to renounce self-centeredness and surrender personal desires to align with God's will, often referred to as "dying to self".
- Take Up Your Cross: This symbolizes an active commitment to endure hardship, rejection, or sacrifice for Jesus’ sake, rather than merely enduring passive suffering.
- Follow Me: This is an intentional, ongoing decision to walk in Jesus’ ways, which are often at odds with the world's ways, focusing on service rather than ego.
- The Paradox of Life: Jesus teaches that trying to save one’s worldly, comfortable life leads to losing true spiritual life (eternal life), while losing (sacrificing) one's life for Him leads to saving it.
- Context: Jesus speaks to the crowd, not just disciples, indicating this is a requirement for all believers to voluntarily surrender their lives to his direction. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
This passage highlights that true discipleship is a daily, often uncomfortable, sacrifice that shifts focus from worldly gain to spiritual, eternal rewards. [1, 2]
A reformed Christian called to be a missional disciple of Christ operates under the "terms and conditions" of a Gospel-centered, outward-looking life that flows from theological conviction rather than mere duty. It is defined as living as a "sent one"—continually sent by Jesus into one's daily life, workplace, and community to reflect His glory and share the gospel. [1, 2]
Here are the key aspects and "conditions" of a missional disciple within the Reformed tradition:
Core "Terms" (Theological Foundation)
- Gospel-Centeredness: Missional disciples prioritize the gospel, which includes the total redeeming work of Christ—life, death, resurrection, and ascension—for sinners, bringing it into every aspect of life.
- Sovereignty of God: The conviction that God is sovereign over all things (culture, family, workplace) informs a missional approach that seeks to bring all life under His lordship.
- Covenantal Living: Missional disciples are part of a community, living out faith within a church body and acknowledging the covenantal nature of God's relationship with His people.
- Reformed Confessional Identity: Adherence to historic confessions (such as the Three Forms of Unity or Westminster Standards) that emphasize God's glory. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Core "Conditions" (Practical Application)
- Intentional Outward Posture: Moving beyond "huddle" mentality and church walls to engage in the world through evangelism, cultural engagement, and social justice.
- Redemptive Engagement: Engaging with the world to renew it for Christ’s glory—treating it not just as a place to leave, but to redeem (creation care, social action).
- Making Disciples (Not Just Converts): The focus is on long-term formation of disciples who, in turn, make other disciples, fulfilling the Great Commission.
- Obedience of Faith: The missional life is not done to earn salvation, but out of gratitude for salvation. It is an obedience that flows from gospel transformation rather than mere legalism.
- Communal Accountability: Being actively engaged in a local church that supports, nurtures, and holds disciples accountable to the mission. [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7]
In summary, a Reformed missional disciple is someone who is sent into the world to bear witness to Christ, using the Bible as their authority, motivated by the glory of God, and acting in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring His grace, justice, and truth to all areas of human culture. [1, 2, 3]
