Simple Disciple Maker plan 4 of 4 - MINISTRY
Final Review:
The simple Disciple Maker plan is summed up in a module teaching format which consists of one topic in each of one the three pursuits of Knowing God, Christian Character and Ministry being taught to complete a module cycle.
For example:
Module 1
Lesson 1: Knowing God – a one month long teaching on one topic of Knowing GodLesson
2: Christian Character - a one month long teaching on one topic of CharacterLesson
3: Ministry - a one month long teaching on one topic of Ministry.
The three month long cycle repeats maintaining the format and changing the topics over the course of three years until the main 36 topics are learned, understood, experienced and practiced. (Notice Jesus trained the Apostles in 3 years and Paul was trained for 3 years in the desert by Jesus too.)
3. MINISTRY -- The journey of Ministry is in 2 parts; ministry to the Lord & ministry to mankind.
GROWING IN The two great commandments - “Love the Lord your God…Love your neighbor” Matthew 22:37-39
The three requirements – “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
The works – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
A. Ministry to the Lord:
Love God = walk humbly with God, praise, worship, tithes, offerings, holiness, obedience etc.
B. Ministry to mankind:
Love mankind = act justly, be merciful, and use your Spiritual gifts to benefit them and not yourself.
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in it’s various forms” 1 Pet 4:10
There are at least 25 different Spiritual Gifts listed in the Bible and probably many more exist: Teaching, Wisdom, Knowledge, Prophecy, Administration, Missionary, Faith, Song, Leadership, Giving, Helps, Exhortation, Pastor, Voluntary Poverty, Intercession, Tongues, Evangelism, Healing, Miracles, Mercy, Discernment, Hospitality, Exorcism, Service, Interpretation of tongues, etc. (see 1 Co 12-14; Rom 12:6-8; 1 Pet 4:11; Eph 4:11)
Avoid errors & getting out of balance.
The out of balance – Neglecting our ministry to God (Malachi 3:8-15; Acts 5:4)
The out of balance – Faith without works (James 2:26)
The out of balance – Gifts & Works without God (Matt 7:21-23 & 24:24)
The out of balance -- Religion without power & gifts. (1 Co 4:19,20; 2Tim 3:12)
The out of balance – Gifts & Works without love (1 Co 13:1-3)
Jesus is our supreme example of ministry service to God and to man. The apostles are our secondary example, and third is someone in your life now.
The goal of growing in all 3 of these areas (Knowing God, Christian character and Ministry) is found in Ephesians 4:11-13:“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” NASBWe can consolidate this into three main areas which will be our goal in making a disciple:
1. Knowing God – “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God;”
2. Christian Character - “to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ;”
3. Ministry – “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service.”
“ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” Acts 20:24
“He who started a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” Phlp 1:6
Next will be a module session lesson on Knowing God.
May the Lord Jesus make you into His Disciple today,
Disciple Maker
Monday, April 20, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Simple Disciple Maker Plan part 3 of 4
Simple Disciple Maker Plan part 3 of 4 - Christian Character
Review:
A disciple of Jesus is one who is learning to: Know God, be like Jesus in Character and Minister to others. A disciple maker is teaching & encouraging the disciple in those three things, making sure the disciple grows and reaches the goal of maturity and balance in all three. The second is as follows:
2. The journey to be like Christ in our character. This journey is also twofold, like two wings on a bird and if we are strong in both we fly high if not we fly in circles or never fly. The 2 parts are getting rid of the fruit of the flesh and growing in the fruit of the Spirit.
“Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other.. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16,17,25
A. Put off & Get rid of the sin. Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 4:17-5:20; Colossians 3:5-11. Romans 6-8, 1 Pet 1:13-15 & 2:1,11etc.
How strong do you want this wing of resisting temptation and living a holy life to be?
B. Put on and Grow in the fruit of the Spirit: The Nine Fruit of the Spirit – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.” Galatians 5:22. Also see Ephesians 4:1,2,15; Colossians 3:1-4,12-17; Romans 6-8; Hebrews 12:1-4, etc.
How strong do you want this wing of bearing fruit and living a spirit filled to be?
Avoid errors & getting out of balance:
The out of balance legalist - focusing on the struggle against sin and neglecting the Spirit. (Col 2:20-23, etc.)
The out of balance liberal - focusing on the grace and neglecting the struggle against sin. (Jude 1:4, Rom 6, etc.)
How balanced are you?
A disciple maker can only reproduce him/herself. To the extent we have grown we can help others grow to this same level.
Jesus is our supreme example of living on this earth in this world in perfect holiness and fullness in the fruit of the Spirit. The apostles are our secondary example, and third is someone in your life now.
Jesus said follow me in this (Mt 4:19; Lk 9:23,24; Jn 10:27), the Apostles said follow us as we follow Christ (1 Cor 11:11; Php 3:17) and follow your leader’s example (Titus 2:7; 1 Tim 4:12) Study their lives in Scripture.
Whom has God placed in your life to help you become more like Christ? Follow their example as they follow Jesus and if in some area they are not following Jesus then don’t follow them in that area.
Whom has God put into your life to help become more like Christ? Be a disciple maker and make them into a disciple of Jesus.
How far do you want to grow in being like Christ?
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3
“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8
Thus Christian character comes from our knowing God and to the extent that we apply it and work it out in our own lives this knowledge of God gains in productivity.
“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling” Philippians 2:12
May the Lord bless & make you a disciple and a disciple maker,
Disciple Maker
Review:
A disciple of Jesus is one who is learning to: Know God, be like Jesus in Character and Minister to others. A disciple maker is teaching & encouraging the disciple in those three things, making sure the disciple grows and reaches the goal of maturity and balance in all three. The second is as follows:
2. The journey to be like Christ in our character. This journey is also twofold, like two wings on a bird and if we are strong in both we fly high if not we fly in circles or never fly. The 2 parts are getting rid of the fruit of the flesh and growing in the fruit of the Spirit.
“Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other.. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16,17,25
A. Put off & Get rid of the sin. Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 4:17-5:20; Colossians 3:5-11. Romans 6-8, 1 Pet 1:13-15 & 2:1,11etc.
How strong do you want this wing of resisting temptation and living a holy life to be?
B. Put on and Grow in the fruit of the Spirit: The Nine Fruit of the Spirit – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.” Galatians 5:22. Also see Ephesians 4:1,2,15; Colossians 3:1-4,12-17; Romans 6-8; Hebrews 12:1-4, etc.
How strong do you want this wing of bearing fruit and living a spirit filled to be?
Avoid errors & getting out of balance:
The out of balance legalist - focusing on the struggle against sin and neglecting the Spirit. (Col 2:20-23, etc.)
The out of balance liberal - focusing on the grace and neglecting the struggle against sin. (Jude 1:4, Rom 6, etc.)
How balanced are you?
A disciple maker can only reproduce him/herself. To the extent we have grown we can help others grow to this same level.
Jesus is our supreme example of living on this earth in this world in perfect holiness and fullness in the fruit of the Spirit. The apostles are our secondary example, and third is someone in your life now.
Jesus said follow me in this (Mt 4:19; Lk 9:23,24; Jn 10:27), the Apostles said follow us as we follow Christ (1 Cor 11:11; Php 3:17) and follow your leader’s example (Titus 2:7; 1 Tim 4:12) Study their lives in Scripture.
Whom has God placed in your life to help you become more like Christ? Follow their example as they follow Jesus and if in some area they are not following Jesus then don’t follow them in that area.
Whom has God put into your life to help become more like Christ? Be a disciple maker and make them into a disciple of Jesus.
How far do you want to grow in being like Christ?
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3
“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8
Thus Christian character comes from our knowing God and to the extent that we apply it and work it out in our own lives this knowledge of God gains in productivity.
“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling” Philippians 2:12
May the Lord bless & make you a disciple and a disciple maker,
Disciple Maker
Saturday, April 4, 2009
The Simple Disciple Maker Plan 2 of 4
The Simple Disciple Maker Plan part 2 of knowing God
From part 1 we can conclude this type of out of balance disciple has knowledge of the book yet not knowledge of God and is summed up this way, “Knowledge puffs up but love builds up” 1Corinthians 8:1.
Knowledge that is NOT building a loving relationship with the Lord will end up building an intellectual Christian instead one deeply rooted in the love of God.
Love builds up and it is this personal experience of God’s love that will build up the disciple. The Lord reveals Himself to those who seek Him and Love Him.
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NASB
"THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:9,10
This is a journey – the journey to know the Lord. God revealed himself to the prophet Samuel through the Word.
“Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him... ..And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, because the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.” 1 Samuel 3:7,21 NASB
The Lord revealed Himself to Job through experience with God.
"I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; “Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:5,6 NASB
The two wings or parts to knowing God - as stated before - are:
A. Knowing about God – Head knowledge via Reading & Studying the Bible, Hearing Sermons & Teachings, Conferences, Reading Christian commentaries & books, Bible School, Seminary, etc.
B. Experiencing God – Heart knowledge via Relationship, Prayer, Meditation, Revelation, Dealings and Personal Direct Interaction with our Lord.
This is summed up in -" FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAELAFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.” Hebrews 8:10,11 NASB
The out of balance disciple can be weak in the Word and strong in experience and this must be guarded against as well.
“For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.” Romans 10:2 NASB
“It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.” Proverbs 19:2 NIV
The often repeated story of a lady who took hours to put on a pair of socks waiting for the Lord to tell her which color to wear is an example of a person caught up with experience but without knowledge.
Another form of out of balance is the disciple who has dreams and visions all the time but is without knowledge -
“For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.” Ecclesiastes 5:7 NASB
“Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.” Proverbs 25:14
"The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth What does straw have in common with grain?" declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:28
Experience should be encouraged but balanced with knowledge. Knowledge should be encourage but balanced with experience. It takes both to really Know God.
Two strong wings is the goal:
“Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:31 NASB
Jeremiah 9:24 " let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me the Lord..." --
this is what the Apostle Paul boasted about even though he was not a good speaker.
2 Corinthians 11:6 "But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things."
more later..
May the Lord Jesus make you into His Disciple today,
Disciple Maker
From part 1 we can conclude this type of out of balance disciple has knowledge of the book yet not knowledge of God and is summed up this way, “Knowledge puffs up but love builds up” 1Corinthians 8:1.
Knowledge that is NOT building a loving relationship with the Lord will end up building an intellectual Christian instead one deeply rooted in the love of God.
Love builds up and it is this personal experience of God’s love that will build up the disciple. The Lord reveals Himself to those who seek Him and Love Him.
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NASB
"THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:9,10
This is a journey – the journey to know the Lord. God revealed himself to the prophet Samuel through the Word.
“Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him... ..And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, because the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.” 1 Samuel 3:7,21 NASB
The Lord revealed Himself to Job through experience with God.
"I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; “Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:5,6 NASB
The two wings or parts to knowing God - as stated before - are:
A. Knowing about God – Head knowledge via Reading & Studying the Bible, Hearing Sermons & Teachings, Conferences, Reading Christian commentaries & books, Bible School, Seminary, etc.
B. Experiencing God – Heart knowledge via Relationship, Prayer, Meditation, Revelation, Dealings and Personal Direct Interaction with our Lord.
This is summed up in -" FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAELAFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.” Hebrews 8:10,11 NASB
The out of balance disciple can be weak in the Word and strong in experience and this must be guarded against as well.
“For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.” Romans 10:2 NASB
“It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.” Proverbs 19:2 NIV
The often repeated story of a lady who took hours to put on a pair of socks waiting for the Lord to tell her which color to wear is an example of a person caught up with experience but without knowledge.
Another form of out of balance is the disciple who has dreams and visions all the time but is without knowledge -
“For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.” Ecclesiastes 5:7 NASB
“Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.” Proverbs 25:14
"The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth What does straw have in common with grain?" declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:28
Experience should be encouraged but balanced with knowledge. Knowledge should be encourage but balanced with experience. It takes both to really Know God.
Two strong wings is the goal:
“Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:31 NASB
Jeremiah 9:24 " let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me the Lord..." --
this is what the Apostle Paul boasted about even though he was not a good speaker.
2 Corinthians 11:6 "But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things."
more later..
May the Lord Jesus make you into His Disciple today,
Disciple Maker
Saturday, March 28, 2009
The Simple Disciple Maker Plan part 1
The Simple Disciple Maker Plan 1
The simple Disciple Maker plan is summed up in a module teaching format which consists of one topic in each of one the three pursuits of Knowing God, Christian Character and Ministry being taught to complete a module cycle. For example:
Module 1
Lesson 1: Knowing God – a one month long teaching on one topic of Knowing God
Lesson 2: Christian Character - a one month long teaching on one topic of Character
Lesson 3: Ministry - a one month long teaching on one topic of Ministry
The three month long cycle repeats maintaining the format and changing the topics over the course of three years until the main 36 topics are learned, understood, experienced and practiced.
Module 2
Lesson 4: Knowing God – a one month long teaching on a second topic of knowing God
Lesson 5: Christian Character - a one month long teaching on a second topic of Character
Lesson 6: Ministry - a one month long teaching on a second topic of Ministry
And so on and so forth.
Following this module format keeps the growing disciple focused on being a well rounded & balanced one who is gaining the knowledge of God without loosing sight of Character and Ministry, it lays a strong balanced three cord foundation that can hold up in times of testing.
The three pursuits are each like a bird with two wings and requires both wings to be strong in order to fly well and not fly in circles.
Thus “Knowing God” is two fold; one wing is “Knowing about God” which we build by knowing the Bible. The other wing is “Experiencing God” which we build through developing an intimate relationship with God in our prayer life and interaction with HIM. If one wing is weak then our Knowing God will be a flight path of circles instead of soaring on the heights.
“Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary” Isaiah 40:31 NASB
It is possible to know the Bible and not know God. It is also possible to have many spiritual experiences and not know God.
Another problem could be knowing many things about the Bible and not knowing the Bible, some seminary graduates are like that for they know all sorts of things (Hebrew, Greek, Textual Criticism etc), but ask them what does the Bible say about x and they don’t know.
Jesus ran into some Pharisees and Sadducees like that who had PhD’s in Theology but not a clue as to what the Bible says.
“Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures,' THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD,AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'?.... 45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them.” Matthew 21:42,45 NASB
“But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.” Matthew 22:29 NASB
"You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” John 5:38-40 NASB
more later..
May the Lord Jesus make you into His Disciple today,
Disciple Maker
The simple Disciple Maker plan is summed up in a module teaching format which consists of one topic in each of one the three pursuits of Knowing God, Christian Character and Ministry being taught to complete a module cycle. For example:
Module 1
Lesson 1: Knowing God – a one month long teaching on one topic of Knowing God
Lesson 2: Christian Character - a one month long teaching on one topic of Character
Lesson 3: Ministry - a one month long teaching on one topic of Ministry
The three month long cycle repeats maintaining the format and changing the topics over the course of three years until the main 36 topics are learned, understood, experienced and practiced.
Module 2
Lesson 4: Knowing God – a one month long teaching on a second topic of knowing God
Lesson 5: Christian Character - a one month long teaching on a second topic of Character
Lesson 6: Ministry - a one month long teaching on a second topic of Ministry
And so on and so forth.
Following this module format keeps the growing disciple focused on being a well rounded & balanced one who is gaining the knowledge of God without loosing sight of Character and Ministry, it lays a strong balanced three cord foundation that can hold up in times of testing.
The three pursuits are each like a bird with two wings and requires both wings to be strong in order to fly well and not fly in circles.
Thus “Knowing God” is two fold; one wing is “Knowing about God” which we build by knowing the Bible. The other wing is “Experiencing God” which we build through developing an intimate relationship with God in our prayer life and interaction with HIM. If one wing is weak then our Knowing God will be a flight path of circles instead of soaring on the heights.
“Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary” Isaiah 40:31 NASB
It is possible to know the Bible and not know God. It is also possible to have many spiritual experiences and not know God.
Another problem could be knowing many things about the Bible and not knowing the Bible, some seminary graduates are like that for they know all sorts of things (Hebrew, Greek, Textual Criticism etc), but ask them what does the Bible say about x and they don’t know.
Jesus ran into some Pharisees and Sadducees like that who had PhD’s in Theology but not a clue as to what the Bible says.
“Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures,' THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD,AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'?.... 45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them.” Matthew 21:42,45 NASB
“But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.” Matthew 22:29 NASB
"You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” John 5:38-40 NASB
more later..
May the Lord Jesus make you into His Disciple today,
Disciple Maker
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Goal of Disciple Making
The Goal of Disciple Making
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 NASB
Jesus desires that people of all nations will be made into his disciples. A disciple is not born as one but rather made into one and therefore Jesus commanded his servants to do the hard work necessary to make people into disciples of Jesus.
When referring to a disciple of Jesus this word disciple simple means a learner, student and follower of Jesus and we know there is a goal and destiny for such a student and follower of Jesus. A good disciple maker will keep that goal in mind until it is reached.
The goal is found in Ephesians 4:11-13:
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” NASB
We can consolidate this into three main areas which will be our goal in making a disciple:
1. Knowing God – “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God;”
2. Christian Character - “to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ;”
3. Ministry – “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service.”
A disciple of Jesus is one who is learning to: Know God, be like Jesus in Character and Minister to others. A disciple maker is teaching the disciple those three things and making sure the disciple grows and reaches the goal of maturity in those three things.
“As a result, we are no longer to be children tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself )in love. Ephesians 4:14-16
Why do we see so much corruption, lack of love and lack of maturity in the Christian Church of our day?
One reason is clear, we no longer make disciples as we ought even though we do make many believers, seminary students, pastors and even build many church buildings. We must keep in mind a believer in Jesus is not a disciple of Jesus by merely being a believer nor is a seminary graduate a disciple of Jesus by merely being a graduate of religion, nor is a pastor a disciple of Jesus by merely preaching every Sunday and finally the size and luxury of a church building has nothing whatsoever to do with being or making disciples of Jesus; all of which may shock those who are not disciples. A disciple is distinctly different for Jesus did not say “Go and make believers, seminary graduates, pastors and build wonderful church buildings” but rather he said “go and make disciples”.
May the Lord Jesus make you into His Disciple today,
Disciple Maker
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 NASB
Jesus desires that people of all nations will be made into his disciples. A disciple is not born as one but rather made into one and therefore Jesus commanded his servants to do the hard work necessary to make people into disciples of Jesus.
When referring to a disciple of Jesus this word disciple simple means a learner, student and follower of Jesus and we know there is a goal and destiny for such a student and follower of Jesus. A good disciple maker will keep that goal in mind until it is reached.
The goal is found in Ephesians 4:11-13:
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” NASB
We can consolidate this into three main areas which will be our goal in making a disciple:
1. Knowing God – “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God;”
2. Christian Character - “to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ;”
3. Ministry – “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service.”
A disciple of Jesus is one who is learning to: Know God, be like Jesus in Character and Minister to others. A disciple maker is teaching the disciple those three things and making sure the disciple grows and reaches the goal of maturity in those three things.
“As a result, we are no longer to be children tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself )in love. Ephesians 4:14-16
Why do we see so much corruption, lack of love and lack of maturity in the Christian Church of our day?
One reason is clear, we no longer make disciples as we ought even though we do make many believers, seminary students, pastors and even build many church buildings. We must keep in mind a believer in Jesus is not a disciple of Jesus by merely being a believer nor is a seminary graduate a disciple of Jesus by merely being a graduate of religion, nor is a pastor a disciple of Jesus by merely preaching every Sunday and finally the size and luxury of a church building has nothing whatsoever to do with being or making disciples of Jesus; all of which may shock those who are not disciples. A disciple is distinctly different for Jesus did not say “Go and make believers, seminary graduates, pastors and build wonderful church buildings” but rather he said “go and make disciples”.
May the Lord Jesus make you into His Disciple today,
Disciple Maker
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