Overview of Discipleship
In Peter's first letter he reminds the Elect in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia, and the church today to strive towards sanctification. Sanctification is simply the act of becoming more like Christ. As a Christian is growing in discipleship, the act of following Christ, he or she should become more like Christ.
Every Christian should be striving towards Sanctification thorugh discipleship. Peter, under the influence of the Holy Spirit later says in 1 Peter 5 to the Elders:
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world" (1 Peter 5: 8-9, ESV).
The challenge that Peter presents should be applied to all Christians, not just Elders. Often, the Christian life is two steps forward and one step back as we continue to live in a sinful world. As we strive towards becoming more like Christ, we must acknowledge that the Christian cannot do so without being daily sanctified and washed in God's Word. The late R.C. Sproul put it like this:
"I think the greatest weakness in the church today is that almost no one believes that God invests His power in the Bible. Everyone is looking for power in a program, in a methodology, in a technique, in anything and everything but that in which God has placed it—His Word. He alone has the power to change lives for eternity, and that power is focused on the Scriptures."
Our aim then as a church body is to encourage one another towards sancitfication and discipleship by renewing our minds each day and spurring one another on towards Christ.
Discipleship resources for growing in Christ
Ligonier Ministries on Family Worship.
R.C. Sproul on The Cost of Discipleship, click here, and on the Reward of Discipleship, click here.
Women's ministry discipleship resources by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, click here.
Media resources for Elders and Deacons
Dr. John Gerstner provides an in-depth teaching on Elders and Deacons courtesy of Ligonier Ministries. Click here for elders. Click here for deacons.
Elder and deacon training videos by Dr. Mark Ross and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Click here.
Readings in the Reformed Diaconate, a bibliography with good resources primarily for deacons, click here.
R.C. Sproul on The Sacraments, click here. On the Lord's Supper, click here.
R.C. Sproul on Infant Baptism, click here.
Dr. John Gerstner on Infant Baptism, part 1 click here, part 2 click here, part 3 click here.