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Sep 12, 2025 06:00am

From Cavemen to Christians: Why Discipleship Is Still the Mission

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Do you remember the movie Encino Man? It was a comedy released in 1992 of two teenage friends who uncovered something incredible. While digging a pit for his new pool, Dave finds this massive block of ice with something inside of it—a man. When he and his friend “Stoney” thaw out the ice, they discover that the man is a teenager like them—only he is from the Stone Age.

They set out to help this caveman, who they name Link, to be a modern-day teenager. However, Link doesn’t have the best start with Stoney being one of his examples to follow.

This goofy movie came to mind as I was reading this verse:

1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

Paul encouraged the believers in Corinth to follow his example of what it meant to be a Christian. At that time, the New Testament hadn’t been written yet. They didn’t have the Bible fully laid out before them to study, learn from, and follow. But they did have Paul. And he knew it was his responsibility to teach them how to be a follower of Christ.

You may not realize it, but there is always someone watching and learning from you. Maybe it’s your son or daughter, students in your classroom, someone who just started at the office, a teammate, or a friend. They are watching and learning from you.

What are you showing them? Does your life point them towards the truth about Christ or away from Him?

Like Paul, we should expect people to follow us as believers. Why? Because if we are followers of Christ, that means we should have a desire to know Him, the real Him, the true Him, and we should reflect who He is.

Not what the world wants us to think about Him, but what the Bible teaches us about Him.

Will we make mistakes? Absolutely. We are flawed people. But Christ lives within us and we have a great example to follow and point them to. We can teach them who Jesus is, how to study the Bible, and how to grow closer to Him. We can show them how to pray, how to share their testimony, how to serve, and how to love.

It’s called discipleship. And it’s the very thing Christ called us to do.

“Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” – Matthew 28:18–20

The question is: Are you ready? Would you be a good example for this new believer?

I know what you’re thinking. I’ve been there. But there comes a time in our life when we have to get serious about our relationship with Christ and the truth about what He’s called us to do. How can I be sure of that? Because it was serious enough for Jesus to die for you.

No more excuses.

Today is the day. Start learning what it means to be a disciple of Christ and then teach others to do the same. I’d love to help you. The first step is to go to follow.lifeword.org. This is a great tool to use to learn and then share. I’m here if you have questions. It’s time to be the example Christ called you to be.