Reaching and Growing Disciples 3 - Make Disciples!

I. Introduction

A. Matthew 28:18-20

B. Go! - Nothing about your walk with Christ is static, it’s dynamic. So many times along the way we turn into settlers instead of pilgrims, we stop and get comfortable in religion. .

Jesus used this word when he sent out the twelve, the seventy two, and then here at the commission. Every time he sent them into discomfort.

Do you know why many churches become static? They get tired of friction and just want comfort. It’s impossible to be moving without friction. Energy, the power of God creates friction, because friction begets change.

C. Make Disciples - There is no “make” so it’s should be Go therefore discipling - a verb, an action we partake in and help others partake in.

1st century disciple? Disciples of Rabbis - Rabbis or teachers traveled around with a small number of students following them. They not only taught them their interpretation of the law but of life in general. Many scholars today say the best modern word for disciple should be apprentice.

The goal was not the same as our western education where we sit in class and take notes for a test. The goal then wasn’t informational but transformational. It wasn’t to learn something it was to become someone.

21st century disciple? Do we have disciples today? Do we have rabbis today?

We all follow something and what we are following is forming us. Forming our worldview that leads to our identity that leads to our lifestyle.

“Powerful forces have a vested interest in our believing the myth that we are following no one at all..If they can make us believe that each person is a bland slate, just following an inner compass of our ‘authentic self’ in an upward march to happiness, they can keep us blind to all the ways we have been discipled—formed and manipulated by desires. If we are not intentionally being formed by Jesus himself, then it’s highly likely we are being unintentionally formed by someone or something else.” John Mark Comer

I would propose to you in our age a Rabbi of the world has emerged and has countless disciples. Who is this Rabbi of our age? The internet and media. What we follow, what we listen too, what forms our worldview. A horrible rabbi that is destroying our culture.

II. Making Disciples

A. Be With Him - John 15:4 ((NIV) “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

“meno” the word for “remain” or “abide” means to stay, dwell, make your home in. The presence of your Rabbi Jesus is a home that can never be taken from you. Where ever you make your home determines your fruit.

The sights, sounds, smells of home are either the greatest comfort and confidence in your life or the greatest hurt and hinderance. Jesus is the only true safe place to make your home in.

It is impossible to be a disciple of Jesus and spend no quality time with Jesus. You have no foundation in which to embrace your identity and purpose. Do you abide with Jesus?

B. Become Like Him - Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV) “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

The Fruit of the Spirit will always be the litmus test for the character of God in our life. Are we walking, living, thinking like Jesus?

You become like whoever you spend the most time with. If you aren’t like this, there is only one answer: Spend more time with Jesus. Read the gospels again, talk to Him again, open yourself up to Him again.

Only when you see through his eyes and hear through his ears will you become like him. Just like a spouse that over time you see and hear things the way they do.

C. Do What He Did! -Luke 4:18–19 (NIV) 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,  because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,  to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

Jesus quotes the prophet and proclaims his mission statement. This is what the first disciples saw Jesus do and this is what they knew to be the actions of the a disciple of Jesus.

Preach Good News - deliver the mail of good news of the gospel.

Proclaim Freedom - bind up the enemy and turn on the lights with the keys of salvation.

Recover sight and set oppressed free. - walk with people out of their blinding past.

Proclaim the Lord’s Favor - keep the vision of the new heaven and new earth.

Another way to condense is that Jesus both preach the gospel of His kingdom in power and then demonstrated it in love.

Practical Step: At the dinner table at the restaurant, tell your server that you will be praying for the meal and ask them if there is anything you can pray for them about?

III. Conclusion and Invitation - Sam Roberson