Collins Discipleship Institute (Launching January 2027)

In verse 28 of Matthew, our Lord Jesus Christ gave His Church its mission, its vision and the method by which it should reach the world; this is what is known as the Great Commission.

 

The Lord instructed His followers to go and make disciples among all the nations, to baptize them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach them to obey all that He had commanded. This is not just one of many ministries; it is the mission of the Church and the sole duty which every believer, each local church, and the Church as a whole has received directly from our risen King.

 

Unfortunately, a large part of the present-day Church has overlooked this divine duty.

 

Making disciples is seldom an easy thing to do; it is usually inconvenient, takes up a lot of time, and is personally demanding.  It calls for patience, dedication, and sacrifice. Yet the Kingdom of God has never been moved forward by convenience.  It has always been advanced through faithful men and women who have been willing to invest their lives in others.

 

It is not possible to carry out biblical discipleship entirely through preaching from the pulpit.  Although preaching is necessary, it represents only one aspect of the process.  Likewise, we cannot effectively disciple anyone through sporadic meetings or short conversations.  Jesus did not merely teach large crowds.  Instead, He gave a great deal of attention to twelve men, walking with them, answering their questions, correcting their misunderstandings, setting an example of obedience, and allowing them to see His life from day to day.

 

That is still the Biblical pattern of discipleship.

 

Discipleship involves sharing life with one another.  It means walking by the side of another believer so that they can observe our reactions to the various situations that life brings, such as victories, disappointments, temptations, and difficulties. It consists of studying God’s Word together, praying together, encouraging one another, and holding each other responsible in order that we may all grow in Christ.

 

Intentional discipleship involves meeting regularly—preferably at least once a week—for a worthwhile conversation which focuses on Scripture, spiritual growth and the practical difficulties of living faithfully in a fallen world.  It helps believers to develop the spiritual disciplines that increase their intimacy with Jesus Christ and reinforce their walk with Him.

 

The aim is not just to produce knowledgeable Christians; it is to bring about mature disciples who then become disciple-makers in their own right.

This is the Kingdom’s multiplication strategy.

 

At the Collins Discipleship Institute our aim is to provide individuals, churches, and Christian organizations with practical and biblically sound resources which foster mature, vibrant and Spirit-empowered followers of Jesus Christ.  We want to help believers grow in the key aspects of their Christian life and ministry so that they may faithfully carry out the Great Commission.  It is not our purpose to produce better church members.  Our purpose is to produce mature disciples who in turn make mature disciples.

 

We think that the future strength of the Church will not be based simply on the number of people in our congregations, but on the depth of our discipleship.  Whenever disciples teach other people to become disciples, churches become healthier, families become stronger, communities are transformed, and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ moves forward.

 

The Great Commission has never been cancelled and still serves as the call to every believer.  Should we not only admire it but also carry out our obligation to obey it?

 

“Until every believer is a disciple, every disciple is a disciple-maker, and every nation has faithful witnesses to Jesus Christ – Ad Gloriam Christi.”