Relational Discipleship (Rd)

Relational Discipleship (RD)

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."… Matthew 11:28-30, THE MESSAGE

By

Jon Dean Smith

Jon Dean Smith first used the term Relational Discipleship (RD) in The Foundational Christian Discipleship Course, © 1994

Introduction to Relational Discipleship (RD)

Ten County Training Center uses RD. Discipleship is the teacher-student process that Jesus Christ used to produce His apostles. Here is his invitation,

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.”…Matthew 11:28-30, THE MESSAGE

Later, his apostles made more disciples through their own deep relationships, which since 1994; we have called relational discipleship, “RD”. Today RD, when led by the Holy Spirit, duplicates this same powerful-change-process. In RD the personal display of “real-life-care” from the disciple-maker (DM) opens the disciple’s heart and mind for significant changes. We affirm what a Christ follower said:

“No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care”.

The disciple-maker (DM) and disciple (D) deliberately agree to learn and obey everything that Jesus commanded, while fully expecting Jesus’ supernatural presence to accompany them. RD is based upon Jesus command and promise:

"...go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the...