Be Disciples Who Make Disciples

Why I am so passionate about discipleship

2 years ago, I would have said that my favourite passion was preaching, but that has changed.

we started mentoring groups, which slows turned into discipleship groups.

I have a front row seat to see God do transformative work in people’s lives. It’s thrilling.

I am being transformed myself in the process, I’m grateful.

I see discipleship as the primary way that God builds his church, and as the primary way that his Kingdom will come.

This commission happens on a mountain in Galilee, (not Jerusalem,) that Jesus had prearranged with his disciples.

What is the

Imagine that at the end of the summer, you will have to give an account to God for how you spent your time.

What is a Disciple?

School - learn

My prayer is that God could say to you, “Well Done”.

followed their teacher for a period of time, watching them teach and live.

We are going to take a close look at a passage from the Gospel of Matthew that has been nicknamed “The Great Commission”.

business = be profitable

it is true that a fisherman man not catch fish … but no true fisherman is ok with that. If I weren’t bringing souls to Jesus I’d cry out night after night …

Matthew 28:16–20 HCSB

The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Then 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.”

given an opportunity to teach alongside of.

sports = championships

Timeline

Let me tell you what is going on historically when this “Great Commission” is given by Jesus to his disciples.

Christian = make disciples

Over time, you can look at the Disciple, and identify the teacher.

Timeline

Today we are talking about being Disciples of Jesus. We want to be able for people to look at us, and identify Jesus through our words, actions and lives.

Jesus has died on the cross, and been raised to life again.

This is after the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus.

He has

Who is a Disciple of Jesus?

It is after he appeared to his disciples, and after Thomas had his doubts relieved.

Matthew 28:10 HCSB

Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”

according to , it is people who are baptized, learning and living what Jesus taught, and discipling others.

Matthew 28:19 HCSB

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,

Matthew 28:19–20 HCSB

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.”

Matthew 28:

I should point out that to be a disciple of Jesus, is to accept his teaching. Jesus made the claim that he alone is “the way, the truth and the life”. . A disciple of Jesus believes every word that he spoke is true, and a disciple trusts their lives and their souls to the care and leadership of Jesus.

When are people discipled?

discipleship is meant to begin when we answer Jesus call to follow him, and is a lifelong joy and pursuit.

This means that for each one of us, discipleship is meant to begin when we answer Jesus call to follow him, and is a lifelong joy and pursuit.

Who should make disciples?

Making Disciples is the the work of the Holy Spirit. That is, God does the work in a person’s life, but he uses his church, (us), to do the work.

To simplify things, Disciples make Disciples.

How are people discipled?

We disciple people as a Church community, and it plays out on a few levels.

Through weekly teaching (sermons)

Through intentional relationships

Through the church to the community

Lets take a look at Jesus final commission to his Disciples that is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 28:18 HCSB

Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Lets take a look at Jesus final commission to his Disciples that is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew

This is no idle claim.

This is no idle claim.

2 years ago, I would have said that my favourite passion was preaching, but that has changed.

we started mentoring groups, which slows turned into discipleship groups.

Nothing changes lives like

I have a front row seat to see God do transformative work in my friends lives. It’s thrilling.

I am being transformed myself in the process, I’m grateful.

I see discipleship as the primary way that God builds his church, and as the primary way that his Kingdom will come.

Lets take a look at Jesus final commission to his Disciples that is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.

This commission happens on a mountain in Galilee, (not Jerusalem,) that Jesus had prearranged with his disciples.

Matthew 28:10 HCSB

Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”

Many scholars have speculated that this meeting is the one that is being referred to in .

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 HCSB

For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one abnormally born, He also appeared to me.

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 HCSB

For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one abnormally born, He also appeared to me.

They have all gathered together, in Galilee, for this prearranged meeting.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

They have all gathered together, in Galilee, for this prearranged meeting. Matthew considers it to be so important, that he makes this meeting the final words of his Gospel Letter.

this is interesting because Matthew’s Gospel is intended for a Jewish audience. Matthew shows the Jews how Jesus is the descendant of David, and the promised Messiah, their saviour.

What is Matthew doing with his conclusion? He is showing his Jewish audience that this message of life is for all the nations.

Matthew 28:16–17 HCSB

The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted.

Matthew 28:

Remember, this is a crowd of over 500 people that Jesus is addressing. They had assembled at this meeting that Jesus had called on this mountain in Galilee. What important words did Jesus have in mind for them?

Matthew 28:18 HCSB

Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Matthew 28:

This is no idle claim.

Jesus can speak to sick people, and they are made well.

Jesus can speak to nature, and it obeys him.

Jesus can command demons and angels, and they do as he says.

Jesus rose from the dead. He has authority over death.

Daniel 7:13–14 HCSB

I continued watching in the night visions, and I saw One like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before Him. He was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

:

What does this authority mean for us?

How can we say no to the one who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

His authority goes with us.

I know that for many of us, we have never been properly discipled, and we can find ourselves a little unsure of our role.

So remember this, yes you are commanded to make disciples, but you are not on your own. God is with you. You start in an act of obedience, with whatever you can, and I trust that God is going to bless you as you obey.

Yes, he commands you, but he also provides you with His Holy Spirit. This is God’s work through you. Be comforted, and encouraged, and step up to this Holy task.

Matthew 28:19–20 HCSB

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.”

Matthew 28:19

I’m going to quote Pastor J.D. Greear:

In Greek, the words ‘go,’ ‘baptize,’ and ‘teach’ are all participles which derive their force from the one controlling verb “make disciples” … which means that those things: “going,” “baptizing,” and “teaching” are only good insofar as they contribute to making disciples.

We need to look at each one of those words, but we will start with the controlling verb, “make disciples”.

“Make Disciples”

We talked about the vocabulary of making disciples at the start of the message. Let me give you two more scriptures now.

In those days, a disciple was someone who devoted their life to learn from their master. This learning was more than knowledge based. A disciple’s goal was to learn so much from their master that they would resemble their master, and of course benefit from their teaching.

John 8:31 HCSB

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples.

The crowd that day would have known that their role was to make disciples of anyone who would be willing to make Jesus the master of their life, so that one day their disciple would resemble Jesus and be a full beneficiary of the way of life that Jesus would lead them in.

John 13:35 HCSB

By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The disciple resembles the teacher. The Christian must resemble Christ. And , we are given three responsibilities for making disciples.

Going, Baptizing and Teaching

What I mean is that if you “go” in an act of obedience, but in the process your going doesn’t work to make disciples, then you aren’t obeying.

And if you baptize someone, yet they are not discipled, then you haven’t obeyed.

And if you teach someone about Jesus, but they don’t become a disciple, then you have some more work to do.

Another way to look at this as that

Making disciples can be broken up into 3 different responsibilities: Going, Baptizing and Teaching

“As You Go”

I know that the text reads, “Go, therefore, and make disciples”

But a better translation might be, “As You Go.”

Certainly Jesus intended that disciples would be make of all the nations. And at a very basic level, that has to mean that there are going to be disciples travelling to the nations to make disciples. We usually call them missionaries.

Some of you might very well go to other nations to make disciples. But I hope that you hone your skills here first.

Some of you might very well go to other nations to make disciples. But I hope that you hone your skills here first.

Others of you are going to make disciples “As You Go” through your life.

As you go to work, make disciples.

As you go to school, make disciples.

As you go home, make disciples.

Wherever it is that you are going in life, as you go, make disciples!

Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Baptism is an essential act of obedience for anyone who wants to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Baptism is when a person says to the world, I belong to Jesus Christ. It is a symbol of moving from death to life, being made clean and placing full trust in Jesus.

Baptism

Jesus does a very important thing though when he says what the disciple is being baptized into. “the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus uses the singular form of the word, “Name” and not “names.” Yet, then he goes and lists three names. So why does he use the singular form?

It is because the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are the three persons of the Triune God. God is three in one. And so although there are 3 names, we are baptized into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Baptized Into...

Often times our understanding of baptism leaves out the part where we look at what we are being baptized into. Jesus makes it very clear that we are to baptize disciples INTO the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

What does that mean? It is a public display that you fully belong to God, and that you want His name overtop of your life. He is your identity.

adoption

church

holiness

new way of life under the command and support of God Almighty.

NOTE - Baptism is incredibly exciting for the person being baptized, and the people who are doing the discipling. It is a gift of God to see that transformation happen in a persons life. I hope that you get to experience this many times in your life.

Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you.

They would have thought back over the past 3 years, to all of those things that Jesus commanded them.

They had not only listened to what Jesus had said, they had lived what Jesus had said.

Now it is time to take that lesson to the nations as a part of making disciples.

We see many of their teachings in the Pastoral Letters of the Bible. From Romans to Revelation, the apostles are teaching what Jesus taught them.

You need to both learn and live what Jesus has taught.

bike illustration - we need more than information, we need to live out what we learn.

Read your Bible to learn about how God has made this world, and how he has designed you. Read looking for places to obey and trust.

When you got to talk to someone about God, You will be living proof of this gospel that you are proclaiming.

NOTE - Jesus doesn’t give advice for consideration. He gives commands to be obeyed. If you are a disciple of Jesus, then you do what he says.

Discipleship to Jesus Christ will be one of the great joys of your life. And that is because God Blesses discipleship. And what’s more, is that Jesus gives the promise that he will be with us as we carry forward this command.

Matthew 28:20 HCSB

teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew

This promise is fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when Jesus promise of the Holy Spirit, God himself, was given to every single disciple. They found that this task wasn’t just going to be based on their obedience, the task of Discipleship is the work of God through their obedience.

As we make disciples, we always know that it is God doing the work. But this work won’t happen accidentally. It’s not automatic. It takes planning on our part.

Let me just tell you how we do discipleship in the youth group. It is not the only way, but God is blessing us. And it is a real life example.

Discipleship Groups

Voluntary - no one has to be discipled. But we make it available for everyone.

Scheduled - we have found that meeting weekly works best.

Groups - we meet together in groups for a couple of reasons.

if someone is away, the group can still continue

we learn from many perspectives

we can challenge each other

What happens in our weekly meetings.

What happens in our weekly meetings.

Very simple. Bible Study, Questions & Prayer

-currently going through the sermon on the mount to see what Jesus taught, and then figure out how we can live it out.

QUESTIONS (Also goals for the summer)

Let me just tell you how we do discipleship in the youth group. It is not the only way, but God is blessing us. And it is a solid example. planning on our part..

SUMMER STRATEGY

Pray

2. Learn - What are you learning as you read your Bible

Questions - Who are you asking questions to?

(We see questions as a gift. They help us, and others, clarify our thoughts and values.)

Theological Conversations - Who are you having these conversations with.

I am convinced that everything in the Christian faith is intrinsically tied to discipleship. I believe that God uses discipleship to transform lives, churches, cities and nations over ever other single method. This is the command of Christ. Make Disciples. It’s more than just talking about what we know, it is living this amazing life that Jesus has died for us to live.

I am convinced that everything in the Christian faith is intrinsically tied to discipleship. I believe that God uses discipleship to transform lives, churches, cities and nations over ever other single method. h

This is the command of Christ. Make Disciples. It’s more than just talking about what we know, it is living this amazing life that Jesus has died for us to live.

It’s more than just talking about what we know, it is living this amazing life that Jesus has died for us to live.