What Is the True Mark of Christian Discipleship?

An introduction by Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, to Dancing to the Heartbeat of God

What is the authenticating mark of Christian discipleship? In this introduction to Dancing to the Heartbeat of God, Stephen Cottrell reflects on the Emmaus Road in Luke’s Gospel and what it reveals about following Jesus today. When Cleopas and his companion recognise the risen Christ in the breaking of the bread, their response is immediate: they rise and return to Jerusalem to share the good news. For Cottrell, this moment captures the heart of discipleship — an encounter with Jesus that naturally leads to mission, witness and sharing faith with others.

Read an excerpt from Stephen Cottrell’s introduction below.

What a blessed relief that Cleopas and his companion weren’t Anglicans – or at least not Church of England Anglicans. If they had been, then I fear that having encountered and recognised Jesus in the breaking of the bread, they would have called over the waiter, ordered a couple of large brandies, sat back in the leather armchairs in the snug of the inn at Emmaus and simply discussed the marvels they had experienced, but not actually done very much about it. They might even have suggested writing an academic paper on the subject.

But, no, this isn’t what happened. There and then, that very moment, they rise up and rush back to Jerusalem. They couldn’t wait to share with others the good news they had experienced and received.

This, surely, is the authenticating mark of discipleship. Our encounter with the risen Lord – whether it be sudden and astonishing, like the breaking of bread at Emmaus, or slow and full of questions and discussion, like the walk to Emmaus itself – is good news for ourselves, but also good news for everyone. Indeed, it’s good news to be shared with the whole world.

This is why in the Gospels there isn’t a moment when the twelve people we call the disciples graduate to become the same twelve people we call the apostles. They are always both. They are always those who are constantly learning from Jesus and those who are consistently sent out by Jesus; those who are gathered together as followers, and those who are on apostolic mission. So, in the Church of England when we speak about being a Jesus-shaped Church, we use the language of missionary discipleship, seeking to be those who learn from our encounter with Jesus to become those who share what they have received with others. We want to be renewed in our faith and our witness by becoming the apostolic Church.

Lent is a time of preparation for Easter. It is like a walk to Emmaus where we talk with Jesus, open the Scriptures and learn more about what our faith means – for us and for the world. It leads to the great celebration of the paschal mystery, where we reaffirm our baptismal promises and commit ourselves afresh to be the Church that Jesus sends out today.

In this book you will find stories of experience and encounter; of prayer, discipleship, learning and mission from all around the Anglican Communion. What each story has in common is that it begins with an encounter with Jesus and then discovers that one of the best ways of sustaining that encounter and building that relationship with Jesus is to rise up and share it.

The astonishing account of missionary discipleship that we find in chapter 24 of Luke’s Gospel has one last little twist in the tale. We don’t usually spot it, since when we read the passage in church we tend to finish at verse 35, with the disciples rushing back to Jerusalem and telling their story. However, if you read on, you discover that, as they recount what has happened, Jesus comes and stands among them again (Luke 24:36).

This is another of the authenticating marks of discipleship. We are inspired, resourced and enabled by our encounter with Jesus; we instinctively know that it is given to be shared, but Jesus is not our possession, not a mascot round our neck. As the Holy Spirit sends us out on mission, so Jesus is revealed afresh, present in those to whom we are sent, often waiting to be named and made known, but always standing among us, and always there before us.

I’m not quite sure I experience this every day, but hardly a week goes by when God does not open a door for me both to share the love of Christ with others and to find that love in others. And, just as on the Emmaus Road Jesus’ first words are a question (Luke 24:17), often it is the refining fire of the questions of those who are not yet Christians which deepen our understanding (Luke 24:17).

As you read Dancing to the Heartbeat of God, receive these stories and prepare for Easter, I hope that your heart will burn within you as was the case for Cleopas and his companion on the first Easter Day. And that Jesus will be revealed to you afresh.

Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York

As we prepare for Easter, Lent is a season to slow down and reflect more deeply on our faith. If you’re looking for something to guide you through the weeks of Lent — whether for personal reading, prayer or study — explore our full range of resources below.