OCA Discipleship

Jesus tells us in the Great Commission that we are to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” ¹ What is a disciple? A lexicon definition of the word disciple in Matthew 28:19 is:

27.16 μαθητής b , οῦ 2 m: (derivative of μανθάνω a ‘to learn, to be instructed,’ 27.12) a person who learns from another by instruction, whether formal or informal—‘disciple, pupil.’ ³

The word disciple, like discipline, comes from the Latin word discipulus, meaning “pupil” or “learner.” Consequently, to learn is to discipline oneself. For example, if one is to advance in the arts or the sciences or athletics, one has to discipline himself and to learn and follow the principles and fundamentals of the best teachers in that area of study.

A pastor once defined the word disciple as, “A lifelong learner under discipline.”

Oakwood Christian Academy exists to produce disciples of Jesus Christ and prepare students for a lifetime of service to the Lord in numerous fields. OCA is dedicated to preparing and raising up children to defend and stay committed to Christian beliefs for a lifetime and to be the light to those who do not know God. To do this, OCA's goal is to prepare students as they develop a Biblical worldview in science, apologetics, history, and all other subjects that they can use to “…be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…” ⁴ and bring others to Christ.

¹ The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 28:19. m masculine
³ Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 327.
⁴ The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), 1 Pe 3:15.