I was at a conference last week where there was a lot of talk about the purpose of the church, the purpose of small groups, the purpose of Christian community. Discipleship is obviously a key to these spheres. One of the pastor-speakers said it this way:

Jesus started out simply 'Come, and follow me.' No lengthy doctrinal presentation, series of classes and then a pass/fail exercise - but an invitation to come and see what life in the Kingdom was all about. Along the way more and more was revealed. 3.5 years later Jesus was talking about "eating my flesh/body" and "drinking my blood" as a mysterious and rich word picture for living in Christ. We need to help take people from "come and follow" to "eat my flesh, drink my blood" spiriutally. That's discipleship - taking them from wherever they are at to truly experiencing Christ as bread and wine, as flesh and blood of their life...but understanding whatever step they are in that process and meeting them there.