Jesus Christ, the Disciple maker pt. B

MAIN IDEA

God’s primary plan for the church is for disciples of Jesus to develop other men and women and children into disciples.

DIGGING IN

Let’s read .

18 "Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 "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, 20 "teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” ()

Here Jesus is commanding His followers to spread the word of salvation to the whole world which leads us to the PROBLEM: There is probably no other more primary matter of negligence in the church today than our failure to follow the Lord’s command to develop disciples.

The PROBLEM: There is probably no other more primary matter of negligence in the church today than our failure to follow the Lord’s command to develop disciples. Because of this gross neglect, many Christians think of themselves as an audience to be entertained rather than an army ready to march. The first-century church, composed of a tiny band of committed people, brought the mighty Roman world to its knees. In the twentieth century, however, it often seems that we who are many in the church have allowed the worldly culture to disciple us into its way of thinking.

Because of this gross neglect, many Christians think of themselves as an audience to be entertained rather than an army ready to march.

The first-century church, composed of a tiny band of committed people, brought the mighty Roman world to its knees. In the twentieth century, however, it often seems that we who are many in the church have allowed the worldly culture to disciple us into its way of thinking.

I don’t believe that we are ‘ignoring’ our marching orders or deliberately avoiding God’s plan for His church; rather I believe that most of us have been brought through years of attending church with our focus in the wrong place.

Because of this gross neglect, many Christians think of themselves as an audience to be entertained rather than an army ready to march. The first-century church, composed of a tiny band of committed people, brought the mighty Roman world to its knees. In the twentieth century, however, it often seems that we who are many in the church have allowed the worldly culture to disciple us into its way of thinking.

Discipleship isn’t something that we tack onto our existing church structure, as a 10 week program or something. Making disciples has to function as the heart of our church as we minister. In fact, everything that we do should be evaluated and we should ask ourselves: Does this help make disciples? Does this contribute towards developing disciples?

What is it about disciples that is so crucial to the life and work of the church?

The answer is nestled in a familiar illustration given by Jesus on the eve of his crucifixion: Let’s read John 15:7-8

7 "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 "My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.” ()

These passages outlines for us four characteristics that describe a disciple.

As we go over this outline you’ll see portrait of yourself, in the sense of how God’s grace has molded you. As you see these things, think also of how you can deliberately help others to be mature and be formed as a disciple.

A Characteristic of a Disciple is they remain.

Someone is a disciple only if he or she remains in Christ, consistently walking with him.

“If you remain in Me...”

Nowhere does the New Testament teach perfection in this lifetime. It does, however, teach progress in the Christian life. We grow as we immerse ourselves in God’s message to us, for Scripture is the very heartbeat of God. Then, as we send up our message to him in prayer, the process of spiritual dialogue becomes more complete.

A Characteristic of a Disciple is obedience.

The words to obey have been referred to as the great omission in the Great Commission.

The great omission is that we have not really made disciples if we have not taught them to obey.

There is no discipling without training, and there is no training without accountability. Indeed, God wants our love. But love is primarily a verb, an action that is demonstrated through obedience ().

A Characteristic of a Disciple is they bear spiritual fruit.

If a person is remaining in Christ, established in God’s Word and prayer, and living an obedient lifestyle, that person will inevitably bear fruit, both in attitude and in actions.

It is just as unthinkable for a disciple to be fruitless as it is for a healthy apple tree not to yield its natural harvest. You can recognize disciples by the results they produce in their own life and in the lives of others.

A Characteristic of a Disciple is they glorify God.

Perhaps our foremost spiritual goal as disciples is to give God the glory He deserves.

But we honor the Lord best by heeding his primary directive to the church—disciplemaking. There is no other task or investment of our energy as crucial as this one.

As think back to Jesus as those 12 disciples. And turn to and read vv 8-12.

8 "“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. 9 "Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 "You are not to be called instructors either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 "The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” ()

On one occasion He actually taught them why and how they were to be a different breed of disciple. Jesus used the Pharisees as an example of how not to disciple others. He explained why their training was abusive, selfish, and hypocritical (). They represented the traditional way to influence others, but Jesus offered an alternative.

(v8) Christians have but one teacher, no one will ever emerge who will eclipse Him and establish their own ways of understanding what God wills for His people.

On one occasion He actually taught them why and how they were to be a different breed of disciple. Jesus used the Pharisees as an example of how not to disciple others. He explained why their training was abusive, selfish, and hypocritical (). They represented the traditional way to influence others, but Jesus offered an alternative.

There is and can be only one Jesus.

The effect of this is that “you are all brothers and sisters.”

Jesus used the Pharisees as an example of how not to disciple others.

Brothers & sisters are equal, and they cannot be arranged in a hierarchy.

Over against Jesus we all hold inferior rank, and none of us is in a position to lord it over the others.

11 "The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” ()

Throughout his teaching Jesus insists that his followers must be lowly.

He set the example himself, for in his whole life he forsook the path of power and

was content to be a lowly teacher,

mostly in the remote rural areas of the province in which he lived.

He has earlier taught plainly that his followers must tread the lowly path, and

He has linked their service with His own,

going on to say that he would give his life a ransom for many (20:26–28).

The theme of lowliness is now resumed as part of the contrast with the Pharisees that

must mark the lives of the servants of Jesus.

If they are seeking to be great, they are not to look for the kind of prominence that Jesus has denounced in this discourse.

Serving others. This is how those who are truly great are to behave.

Using the resources that make them great in the service of the other followers of Jesus.

For them to be great is to take the place of a servant...

(earlier he has taught that they must be like little children, 18:4).

It is in giving service, not in receiving praise, that true greatness consists.

The culture around the disciples had come to believe that those Pharisee’s who exalted themselves were certainly excepted by God as truly exalted ones.

But God does not see them as they see themselves, and in the end such people will be humbled.

The other side of that coin is that the person who takes the lowly way here and now will in due course be exalted.

So v11 identifies proper behavior for the great, v12 marks out a path to greatness. We see the pursuit of greatness as God’s gift through self-humbling before God and the Christian community.

That’s the path of greatness.

This is the same path that leads us to true discipleship.

Jesus is looking for genuine lowliness, the attitude of the person

who is not seeking personal gain of any sort,

but simply the opportunity of doing service.

That is what truly matters, and it is that, that He could not find among the Pharisees of His day.

Jesus’ disciples knew He was different by being around Him and hearing Him teach.

He explained why their training was abusive, selfish, and hypocritical ().

They represented the traditional way to influence others, but Jesus offered an alternative.

Then he built the bridge for us.

We are all family (v8). We are to serve others (v11), thus not lording it over each other.

They had only one teacher and that was the Christ.

They were not to open the School of John or Peter or James.

The purpose of their teaching was to produce more followers of Jesus.

Jesus taught the power of

humility in spirit and

submission in community.

submission in community.

This is what ultimately help them get transformational traction, to practice a faith that transforms.

Adopting the characteristics of a first-century disciple, as taught by Jesus,

is the secret to personal transformation

that will lead to church transformation

that will lead to church transformation

that will result in cultural transformation.

that will result in cultural transformation.

So the teachings here, as we follow Jesus are designed to change you as it did those first disciples.

Your personal transformation will lead to our church being transformed by Jesus.

Then Jesus will use us to transform our culture!