THE FORGESample

THE FORGE is the latest movie from the Kendrick Brothers, creators of WAR ROOM, COURAGEOUS, FIREPROOF, and many other faith films. In THE FORGE, we meet Isaiah Wright, a high school graduate with no plans for his future. When he is challenged by his single mom and a successful businessman, Isaiah begins charting a better course for his life. Through his new mentor's prayers and biblical discipleship, Isaiah discovers that God’s purpose for his life is much more than he could hope for or imagine.

DAY #1: What Is Discipleship?

A disciple is a devoted follower. A loyal apprentice. One who intentionally follows closely behind and imitates their teacher, their rabbi. When their rabbi takes a step, his disciple steps into the footprint left behind. It’s a step-in-step relationship. A disciple’s feet should be covered with the dust of their rabbi’s sandals.

Jesus perfectly modeled the teacher and rabbi role for His disciples. He didn’t just invite them to follow His words. His invitation was, “Come, follow Me.” Walk with Me. Follow what I say and what I do. Learn and grow as you step in My steps.

Think about how this simple understanding of discipleship sheds light on Jesus' entire ministry. Now, His invitations make even more sense. What steps had Jesus taken that He was later asking His disciples to take?

First, as the Son of God in heaven, Jesus willingly laid down His eternal rights (Phil. 2:5–8), His divine glory (John 17:5), His beloved relationship with His Father (v. 23), and all His heavenly possessions (2 Cor. 8:9), so that He could obey His Father, come to earth, and lay down His life for us. He gave up everything to do the will of His Father. All out of faithful love for Him and us.

What did Jesus then invite His disciples to do? The same.

Near the end of His time with them, when He knew He had loved them to the end and was soon to return to His Father, Jesus humbly washed His disciples’ feet, saying, “If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you” (John 13:14–15).

Then He shifted gears. Having cleaned His rabbi dust off their feet, He revealed something new to them. They could not take the next step with Him. “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later” (John 13:36). The one place they (and we) couldn’t follow Him was in doing what He alone could do—to lay down His life as our substitute—to represent us in His role as high priest.

Yet He was still discipling these disciples. In His horrific suffering, Jesus showed how to glorify God even during seasons of great pain and persecution.

After His resurrection, Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I also send you” (John 20:21). They followed His example and went, imitating His ministry—lovingly preaching the gospel from city to city by the power of the Holy Spirit, praying in faith, baptizing believers, serving genuine needs, performing miracles, and teaching the Word of God.

During this five-day devotional, we’ll explore Jesus’ words of the Great Commission, what they mean for His followers, and how you can begin discipling others.