Commanded to Make Disciples

My hope over these past couple of months has been to corporately - as a Congregation see the importance of being a Disciple of Jesus Christ and one who wants to be involved in Making Disciple.

The fact is, once you have said ‘Yes’ to Jesus invitation to follow him through repentance and baptism, you became a Disciple. What ‘kind’ of Disciples is completely up to you.

In today’s text Jesus is speaking specifically to 11 of the 12 men who followed him for 3 years and learned from him what it means to obey God. Jesus modeled for them how to be a disciple, who makes disciples looks like.

Robby Gallaty writes: “As Jesus discipled the 12 men whou would change the world, He gradually released them into ministry. The four-step progression HE initiated applies to disciple making today.

First Jesus ministered while the disciples watched.

“First Jesus ministered while the disciples watched.

Second, Jesus progressed to allowing the disciples to assist Him.

Thirdly, the disciples ministered, and Jesus assisted.

Fourthly, Jesus observing as the disciples ministered to others.

We have defined a disciple at its core is a person who follows the example of another and emulates what they see and hear. Another way of saying it is they are a learner, one who is set on growing and developing based on what they have been taught by another.

Now as he is speaking to them, they begin to realize this may be the last time they see him on this side of Heaven.

I. Their love for Jesus as a Disciple began with Obedience

In the beginning, they followed his call to “follow Him and He will make them ‘Fishers’ of men.” Now at the end of the disciple making process they obeyed by going where he told them to go.

Matthew 28:17 NIV

When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

Matthew 28:16 NIV

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.

Their obedience was based on faith! Faith in what they had seen and heard from Jesus. They were willing to listen to Jesus because they knew him as a man of authority but more importantly, they believed in Him as the Son of God, who himself was obedient to God the Father and was willing to become the sacrifice required for the sin of all humanity.

Obedience is responding to a directive given - and in this case, it was Jesus giving a directive, but more importantly, it must be understood as “A Command” coming from one in Authority!

A coach has authority over the team… a General over the troops… an Admiral over the fleet. All because there need to be someone who can give wisdom and direction and is in charge willing to take responsibility for what happens.

Jesus is our Lord - the one who saved us from sin by his obedience, being willing to die on a cross. Knowing his heart and love for us, should lead us wanting to do as Jesus commands.

These verse are not a suggestion or a request, as some would want us to believe. This is a command, one which requires obedience.

As we have looked at Discipleship, we know that we’ve been ‘Called.’ We know it ‘Calls’ for ‘Commitment,’ there is a ‘Cost,’ and it requires ‘Conditioning.’ There will be ‘Challenges’ that we could have never imagined. However, in the end, there is an overwhelming sense of peace and joy, knowing that your life has had purpose.

II. Secondly, their love for Jesus as a Disciple included Worship

Matthew 28:17 NIV

When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

Worship is acknowledging ones worth… they are worthy of our respect and obedience. Worship acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God; that he is the One and Only true authority. Following him will give us wisdom, strength, love, joy, and peace.

What was the command?

1. ‘Go’ - This means “as you are leaving this place, wherever you are going, wherever you are at, have the mindset and put into action the process of being a disciple (follower of Jesus) who is making disciples (one who is speaking into and being involved in) the life of those around you.

When you are at a basketball, volleyball, football, hockey game; when you are at a restaurant, taking a walk in the neighborhood; taking an extended vacation… go into “all” the world.

This isn’t about someone like Kim and Wes, or Tim Nash, or the Varbergs and Dr. Pat... going to a different country. This is talking about ‘You’ being in the country you’re in and the community you live in and be a disciple.

2. Secondly he says ‘Baptize’ them…

a.) people who are baptized are following an action known to us as ‘repentance’ which means i’m now turning away from my sins, confessing to God that I am a sinner (agreeing with God that I need him).

b.) People who are being baptized are identifying themselves with Jesus as one who has died to self, was buried and rose again.

Baptism is a commitment in the name of Jesus - literally “into” his name, implying entrance into an allegiance to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16:16 NIV

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

3. ‘Teach’ A disciple who makes Disciples takes on the role and responsibility of teaching the Truth about Jesus and His Word. They teach ‘all’ that Jesus taught. Not just what feels good, but what is hard as well.

Here is what is involved in making disciples. We must:

Evangelize – If our intent is to make disciples, it stands to reason that we must share the Gospel, praying for them to Christ first. One cannot follow Christ apart from a personal relationship with Him.

Baptize – The Lord calls for new believers to be baptized following their conversion. As Baptists, this is essential for church membership. We do not teach that baptism saves, but we do encourage others to follow through with baptism, publicly professing their faith in Christ, and becoming an active member in a local body of believers. We must strive to encourage those we reach for Christ to be baptized and join the local church.

Equip – Once they are baptized, and join the local assembly of believers, we then become responsible to equip them in the faith. As we are called to make disciples, the new convert receives the same call. We are to make disciples, who in turn make other disciples. The body is responsible to equip new believers in the faith.

Here is the good news… Jesus said, “I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.”

He has given us the promise of the Holy Spirit, who teaches us what we need to know; he gives us the words to speak and the power whereby we can deliver the message.

In Jesus said

Acts 1:8 NIV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Earlier he said to them as recored in

John 14:15–17 NIV

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Being a Disciple of Jesus is not a spectator’s sport. It is putting on you Jersey, lacing up your shoes, and getting into the game. Being a disciple means, “I’m going to do my part in speaking about my relationship with Jesus; about equipping others to know the depth of God’s love; about wanting others to experience the joy of salvation that come from Jesus.