Discipleship and Ecclesiology: Toward a Lukan Ecclesiological Approach

Abstract

In the context of the recent discussions on discipleship and ecclesiology in the Protestant and Seventh-day Adventist world, the need to deepen both topics in the areas is perceived: (a) theological, because of diffuse concepts and theoretical inaccuracies; (b) pastoral, because of paradigms of  evangelization and praxis dissociated from a biblical discipleship scheme added to the development of emerging, congregationalist, anti-institutional ecclesiologies, which emphasize the individual over the systemic; and (c) administrative, because of the loss and apostasy of members with their pragmatic, programmatic and strategic implications. In this context, this article seeks to be an ecclesiological approach to the themes of discipleship and the church and its interrelationship from the perspective of Luke developing the concepts of discipleship about authenticity, belonging, goal, method and evaluation. Also, in the present will be deployed the ecclesiological concepts of corporativity, administration, and mission. Finally, it will be shown that the Lucan texts provide a model of focused discipleship that will lay the foundations for the development of a healthy, united, solidary, solid and missionary church that expands harmoniously and symmetrically under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.