Lesson 3 · Chapter 3
The goal of discipleship is the restored image of God. We are made to fight for an image — the question is which one. The gospel redirects our fighting away from false images (success, beauty, virtue) and toward Jesus, "the image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15). Discipleship is becoming like what we behold.
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another."
— 2 Cor. 3:18
We are all fighters. Men fight in sports and video games; women fight to be noticed, unique, beautiful. "The desire to fight isn't exclusively masculine or feminine; it's human. Deep down we all want to be noticed; we want our lives to count for something." The problem isn't the fighting — it's what we fight for. Agassi won all four Grand Slams and was still miserable. "His image failed him."
We project false images of ourselves — online and off — because we find the real image inadequate. And we believe a lie: that obtaining these images will make us happy. "We lose weight, thinking a thinner body will bring us happiness. We work long hours climbing the vocational ladder, thinking success will give us worth." We put our faith in what is false.
Christianity is about image — but not the way the world means it. We were created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26–28), and this image is our essential dignity as humans. It was disfigured in the Fall (Rom. 5:12–21). And the key consequence of the image is relationship: "Let us make man in our image" reflects a tri-personal, communal God. Our relationships are shot through with hurt because our image is broken — but God has done something decisive to restore it.
Between the initial and final gaze is a fight. The New Testament word is agonizomai — to contend, to agonize (1 Tim. 6:12). "Biblical fighting is spiritual contending to believe the truth of the gospel." The reluctant fighter gets beaten to a pulp — Paul warns that refusing to fight wrecks our faith (1 Tim. 1:18–20). Nobody sins because they want to be deceived; we sin because we believe sin's lie. So we fight by talking back with truth: "We fight to believe that Jesus is more precious, satisfying, and thrilling than anything else."
Before you meet with your disciple, ask: what image are they fighting for? A job, a body, a reputation, approval? The fight of faith gives you a real target — helping them behold Jesus, not just fix a behavior. And it's grace-driven, not effort-driven: "Grace is opposed to earning, not to effort."
What is the goal of discipleship?
Correct: The goal is the restored imago Dei — becoming like what we behold, transformed into the image of Christ from one degree of glory to another (2 Cor. 3:18).
All options 22–29 chars — no clues from formatting. Morality, membership, and knowledge can all be pursued apart from Christ; the image of God cannot.
What does "we become what we behold" mean for discipleship?
Correct: "Where we look is important because we become what we behold." Beholding the glory of Christ by the Spirit transforms us into his image (2 Cor. 3:18).
Equal-length options again. All four are plausible — but only Christ-gazing is the Spirit's transforming vision.
What is "the fight of faith"?
Correct: Agonizomai — to contend, to agonize: spiritual contending to believe the truth of the gospel, that Jesus is more precious than anything else.
Options are 28–31 chars. The fight is a fight of faith — not of willpower, which is the very thing we're being freed from.
Primary source for this lesson: Chapter 3, "The Goal of Discipleship" in your local copy of the book (gospel-centered_discipleship_1.md, lines 382–477) — or the print edition pp. 55–66. Read it once with the three gazes in front of you.
For depth on why we become what we worship: G. K. Beale, We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry (IVP, 2008) — the book Dodson cites for the "beholding → becoming" principle.