Being A Disciplemaker

Matthew 28:18–20 CSB

Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

INTRO—

QUESTION: Who was your favorite teacher in school?

[Any school…elementary, high school, college, etc.]

For Me — Mrs Elias (5th Grade), Mr. Staggs (HS History), Dr. Rick Byargeon (Col. OT); Dr. John Mahoney (Sem. Sys Theo)…[[& after being in Hannibal, MO yesterday—I might just have another one in Sam L Clemens!]]

WHY?? [because they made the subject interesting; they invested in me (spent time, etc.); I saw them beyond the classroom]

Teaching…Passing Along (to the next generation)…Stepping Up to Hand-Off/Receive the Baton…

THE COMMISSION [Matthew 28.18-20]

Matthew 28:18–20 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

[So the already assumed answer is…YES! We should also remember that this Commission is the sole privilege and responsibility of The Church]

“Make Disciples”

Make = convince; persuade; urge; compel (but not coerce, etc.]

“GOing”

Hitting the road…no matter how long of a road you may choose (or may be chosen for you).

GOing involves constant intentionality…[vigilant vision]

“Baptizing”

Identification with Christ…and with other Christians

“Initiation into Christian community”

This action, in many contexts, in quite costly [Senegal, et al.]

“Teaching”

Learning, Growing, Living…the truth God has revealed

“A life-long task”

THE LIFE [Acts 16-20; 1 Timothy 1; 2 Timothy 2]

PAUL & TIMOTHY

Introduction [Through GOing!]

Acts 16:1–2 Paul went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek. The brothers and sisters at Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him.

Paul was certainly intentional and vigilant in his GOing!

Connection [The resulting impact (implications) of Baptizing]

Acts 16:3–5 Paul wanted Timothy to go with him; so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they traveled through the towns, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem for the people to observe. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

Baptizing and baptizing encouraged(s) the Christians of P&Ts day…us, too.

Acts 17:10–15 As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men. But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and upsetting the crowds. Then the brothers and sisters immediately sent Paul away to go to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed on there. Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible, they departed.

Think about all that Timothy was able to see and do! (Especially this example of the Bereans.)

Development [Teaching & Exemplifying to reproduce/replicate]

1 Timothy 1:18–20 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, having faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

Continuing instruction is ‘in keeping’ with our calling as Christ followers. To neglect, or reject, sound teaching will cause our life of faith to be shipwrecked…which is bad, but never has to be fatal, final!

2 Timothy 2:1–2 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. What you heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

[Note: ‘men’ in v. 2 is ‘mankind’ (people)…not just males!; Kay Arthur, Ann-Marie Glidewell, Charlotte Moon, Beth Moore,…] Just keep passing it along and passing it along!

CONCL—

Whose favorite teacher would you like to be? How many peoples’ favorite teacher would you like to be?

When it comes to my favorite disciplers… Mike Jordan, Roger Brumley, My Wife… [Paul Riley, Alan Cross…]

INVITATION:

Salvation

Intentionally Discipling

Intentionally Being Discipled

[For these last two…doesn’t mean ‘formally,’ but INTENTIONALLY]

Acts 16:1–2 CSB

Paul went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek. The brothers and sisters at Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him.