Disciple-Making and Healthy Churches

Number 1 Indicator

Training young pastors in the states. I asked them: What is your greatest fear? Them: Not making it to the end.

How do we make it to the end?

I’ve already made the case for healthy church leadership. But, how do you get there? Discipleship.

Why Discipleship?

The Great Commission was given to us by Jesus.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

William Carey helped us to realize this is the responsibility of every believer: to make disciples.

What is Discipleship?

What comes into your mind when you think about the Great Commission? Most say “Go”, “Baptize”, “Reach”. But, what about “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you?”

Discipleship is teaching how Jesus taught. (“teaching them”)

By instruction.

By illustration.

By immersion.

Discipleship is teaching why Jesus taught. (“to observe”)

The “why” separates Christianity from all others.

“observe” = “keep” in John

Obey Jesus because you trust Jesus.

John 8:51 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

Obey Jesus because you love Jesus.

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Obey Jesus because you abide in Jesus.

John 15:10 ESV

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

Discipleship is teaching what Jesus taught.

Not a book study; a life study!

Jesus IS the curriculum. We think so much of birth and so much of his death, but we need to reflect more on his life. Jesus’ life is the curriculum for Christian discipleship. He is the epitome of what the transformed, Kingdom life will look like. We need to search for fewer shortcuts and fewer Christian life hacks, and spend more time with Jesus.

What did Jesus command us to do? He commanded us to love and live like him. How in the world can we do that? by spending time with him? In the culture that Jesus lived, a disciple would literally shadow and memorize every last thing their teacher did. How many steps on the Sabbath? How many hours studying and memorizing scripture? How did they play with their kids? When did they eat their meals? How long did they grow their hair? The disciples spent so much time with their teachers that they became perfect duplicates. That’s what Jesus is calling for here. As disciples we must spend so much time with Jesus that our lives become indistinguishable from his, and then, as teachers we reflect what Paul says, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” (1 Cor 11:1) We are both learners and teachers, but our responsibility really doesn’t change much in the Great Commission. Trust Jesus, love Jesus, abide in Jesus, and then imitate Jesus. And, when we imitate Jesus, we will make and teach more disciples because that’s what Jesus did.

Who Do We Disciple?

FAT People!

Faithful

Available

Teachable

How do we disciple?

Open Discipleship Funnel Sermon