The Cost of Discipleship

fully dedicated to God. He was born into a religious family and decided at an early age that he was going to share the gospel with everyone he possibly could by becoming a pastor. Bonhoeffer went to seminary for a few years and then ran the Confessing Church- which pledged it’s allegiance to Jesus Christ first, not the government. The church was unfortunately shut down by the Nazi government. Later in his life Bonhoeffer was arrested and hanged for his plan to assassinate Hitler. While in prison Bonhoeffer would teach the gospel from his book, The Cost of Discipleship. The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer was published in 1937. This book talks about two different types of grace. The first…

Throughout The Cost of Discipleship you are able to see the main messages Bonhoeffer is trying to make with each chapter. The main themes I am going to be writing about in this paper start with the type of grace you are trying to receive from God whether it is cheap or costly. The next theme would be the type of obedience Bonhoeffer talks about it being single-minded and the obedience they give. In this book Bonhoeffer talks a lot about discipleship and how it is shown from both the individual…

Discipleship has tried to be explained for many years and in many ways. It seems a new book on the topic comes out almost every year. Some books try to give new approaches and ways to disciple while others focus on what it means to be a disciple. Every book that I have read on discipleship, no matter what angle they are writing from, is centered on Jesus and how he discipled. The same is true for Bonhoeffer’s book, The Cost of Discipleship, and Eims’ book, The Lost Art of Disciple Making. Even…

In general, the work of both Hull and Sanders complemented rather than contradicted each other. Sanders more biblical approach of defining discipleship and its costs, using the beatitudes of Matthew 5, clearly identifies the characteristics needed of a disciple that obviously mimic Christ and His ministry. Hull’s approach to defining discipleship was based upon the perspective failings of the church here in the 21st century. In essence, Sanders greatly expands upon what a disciple is, and…

Bonhoeffer identifies cheap grace as grace without a price/cost. By choosing cheap grace, we are choosing grace without (shallow) discipleship; a divine commandment to all christians; and we are lowering the standards of the word of God, ignoring the cost of the cross and downplaying the need for repentance. Cheap grace is grace as a pre-supposition because it assumes that the bill is paid in advance for all time. Following this ideology, grace which is meant to justify the sinner is instead…

The book Discipleship was written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and was published in 1937. It was his fourth volume of sixteen and has also been published under the title The Cost of Discipleship. Bonhoeffer was a pastor in Germany that was later arrested, imprisoned and executed by the Nazis. Discsipleship is based on the belief that being a Christian and follower of Jesus comes at a cost, which is why he literally differentiates between costly grace and cheap grace. Costly grace is what is required.…

In the next part of the passage, Matthew transitions from the foundation for discipleship to explaining what it means to become a disciple and the reasons for discipleship. Jesus begins by saying “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mt 16.24). His use of the word “would” implies that we all have a choice when following Jesus (Simonetti 49). He does not force discipleship on anyone, but the choice of discipleship comes with a great cost. The…

One of the most fundamental theological questions is the definition of discipleship. This essay will provide a summary of New Testament theology of discipleship and although drawing its subject matter from New Testament passages and theologian comment of these passages its intention is to focus not on the narrative regarding Jesus and his disciples but on the theology expressed by Jesus. Many scholars, such as Wilkins (2010: 159), believe that each Gospel gives a unique account of discipleship…

Discipleship and mentoring are two vital ministries needed both inside and outside the church. Both can be life changing and seem rather synonymous with each other, however, there are differences that are needed to be understood between the two. Plainly stated, disciples devote themselves to the precepts of Christ and possess both passive personal and active social qualities (Sanders, 1994). A disciple appreciates the heavy, personal toll of discipleship, and with a humble spirit, is willing…

Church through discipleship training. Furthermore, the goal of building up the Kingdom of God will be accomplished through the General AME Church Theme. John Wesley, the founder of The United Methodist Church commented on building up God’s Kingdom and believed the foundation of hell is movable. I totally agree with the following quote by John Wesley who stated, “Give me a hundred preachers, and I care not a straw if they be clergy or laity, who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but, God…