Disciples make disciples.

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go 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 all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

This passage in Matthew is by far the most famous scripture when it comes to discipleship. While it wont be the text we are in today its commandment is so clear. Go and make disciples. Unfortunately discipleship has taken a back seat in the church. Even in a church like FBC Newcastle, we struggle with discipleship. Before we get started in todays text I want us to have a good definition of what discipleship process looks like . Robby Gallaty in his book Growing up answers the question so what is disciple making? He says we could say that it is intentionally equipping believers with the Word of God through accountable relationships empowered by the Holy Spirit in order to replicate faithful followers of Christ. REPEAT x1 Making disciples is not about making converts. Rather it is about making faithful followers of Christ. So you may say Luke that sounds great, but what does it look like in the context of the local church? Let us look to scripture and see what it has to tell us.

If you would turn in your bibles to it says, “1You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us. 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful for he cannot deny himself.

If you are taking notes I have 5 points.

The first is disciples live out the gospel. If you turn back to chapter 1. Paul had same key things that have led us to chapter 2 verse 1. Look at a few of these verses. If verse 6 he says, “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” In verse 7 it says, “or God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” verse 8 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.” verse 9, “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. verse 12 “which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. verse 13 “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” verse 14 “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” Paul is reminding Timothy of grace he has is Christ Jesus. Paul wants Timothy to be strengthened by his grace. As a disciple of Christ we to need to be strengthened by the grace of God. Because our greatest strength doesn’t lie within our own accomplishments. Our greatest strength comes from the grace of God. It is only by that grace are we able to be disciple of God in the first place. From the grace we can live out the gospel in our everyday lives, and see the discipleship process work out.

The second is disciples make disciples. This is a core value of our church. Paul reminded Timothy of the many witnesses that heard his message. All these faithful men believed the gospel message that came to them. Paul wanted to remind timothy of that as he prepared him for his greatest task. If you look at verse 2 you can clearly see that Paul is asking Timothy to intrust faithful men who are able to teach others also. If you remember Gallaty’s definition he says we must intentionally equipping believers with the Word of God. Paul is entrusting Timothy to do this very thing. Notice what he isn't saying in this text. He isn't saying send faithful men and women to biblical college, and seminary. He isn't saying give this young man or young lady a new book to read about discipleship. While those things are good things they are not at core of discipleship. He says Intrust others who can teach others also. I love what one commentator wrote, “Paul’s message went from a hole in the ground in Rome to where I am writing from North Carolina roughly two thousand years later. How did this happen? Simple some faithful men practiced . They did not let the gospel die with them.” That is a convicting quote. I believe many of us at times which includes my self are content to let the gospel die with us. We are so focused on the temporary things in this life, that we fail to teach about the good news of the gospel that came to us most likely from someone else. Church we must be a people who passes on that good news! Notice the point I had I said disciples make disciples. Not books make disciples. Not seminaries make disciples. Disciples make disciples. We can use Paul’s model for discipleship because God has giving us his word. His word teaches us how to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ. If you are a born again Christian you have the Holy Spirit and his word as the foundation for true discipleship. Now Paul was an example to Timothy, and true disciple of Christ. In Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” A disciple who makes disciples imitates Christ, and shows others how to do so. John Macarthur states. From Paul to timothy to faithful men to others encompasses four generations of godly leaders. That process of spiritual reproduction, which began in the early church, is to continue until the Lord returns.” The great commission and Pauls call to Timothy cannot be some great suggestion. It must be the core in every local church. Discipleship is decreasing in churches and we have seen the result. Are you discipling someone? Or being discipled? Dont leave here today thinking this is just some great suggestion it is the great commission, and if we are going to be faithful to this task we must be involved in discipleship and actively making disciples.

If you look at verse 2 you can clearly see that Paul is asking Timothy to intrust faithful men who are able to teach others also. If you remember Gallaty’s definition he says we must intentionally equipping believers with the Word of God. Paul is entrusting Timothy to do this very thing. Notice what he isn't saying in this text. He isn't saying send faithful men and women to biblical college, and seminary. He isn't saying give this young man or young lady a new book to read about discipleship. While those things are good things they are not at core of discipleship. He says Intrust others who can teach others also. I love what one commentator wrote, “Paul’s message went from a hole in the ground in Rome to where I am writing from North Carolina roughly two thousand years later. How did this happen? Simple some faithful men practiced . They did not let the gospel die with them.” That is a convicting quote. I believe many of us at times which includes my self are content to let the gospel die with us. We are so focused on the temporary things in this life, that we fail to teach about the good news of the gospel that came to us most likely from someone else. Church we must be a people who passes on that good news! Notice the point I had I said disciples make disciples. Not books make disciples. Not seminaries make disciples. Disciples make disciples. We can use Paul’s model for discipleship because God has giving us his word. His word teaches us how to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ. If you are a born again Christian you have the Holy Spirit and his word as the foundation for true discipleship. Now Paul was an example to Timothy, and true disciple of Christ. In Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” A disciple who makes disciples imitates Christ.

Paul was an example to Timothy, and true disciple of Christ. In Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” A disciple who makes disciples imitates Christ.

The third point is disciples have discipline. Paul uses the examples of a soldier, athlete and farmer in the next few verses. If you have ever met a good soldier or farmer you know that have disciple. They have to its critical for either one to practice disciple. If a solider doesn’t practice disciple he could die. If the athlete never trains he will not live up to his full potential and win the prize. If the farmer doesn’t practice disciple many with starve. Notice what the text says here, share in the suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Now what is the difference between a good soldier and a bad soldier. Charles Spurgeon put it like this, “ A truly good soldier of Jesus Christ knows nothing about difficulties except as things to be surmounted. If his Master bids him perform exploits too hard for him, he draws upon the resources of omnipotence, and achieves impossibilities. Wellington sent word to his troops one night, “Ciudad Rodrigo must be taken tonight.” And what do you think was the commentary of the British soldiers appointed for the attack? “Then,” they all said, “we will do it.”So when our great Captain sends, as He does to us, the word of command, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (), if we were all good soldiers of the cross, we should say at once, “We will do it.” Notice next in verse four No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. A disciple of Christ will be disciplined to pursue the things of God. A good soldier, and a disciple of Christ are about the things of the lord. A disciple of Christ does not get caught up in the distractions of this world, but he sets is eyes about the God who called him to his new life. If we are going to be true disciples of God we must be about the fathers business just like the good soldier is. The next illustration Paul gives us is an Athlete. Who in here at one time or another played competitive sports? Do you remember the hours of disciple it took to become better athletes. For many of us it took years to become good at the sports we played. If we didn’t discipline our bodies we paid the consequences, and never won the prize. The same is true for the disciple of Christ. Many of us do not think about discipline when we think about discipleship, but it a key to our growth as a disciple. If you have not had a chance to read spiritual disciplines for the Christian life by Donald Whitney you are missing out of a true blessing. In his book he speaks of different disciples Christians need in order to be faithful followers of Christ. One of my favorite quotes comes from the first page of the book where he says, “discipleship without discipline is drudger.” I would say discipleship without discipline is like an athlete without his equipment. We can know the game in which we are about to play, but we if we dont have the right tools we will fail miserably. The same goes for the disciple he must be disciplined in order to fulfill the call to discipleship. The final illustration he gives is that of a farmer. The word hardworking in this text means to labor to the point of exhaustion. Paul is not calling Timothy to an easy task, he has calling him to intense labor. Discipleship is not an easy task. It takes hard work. However, that hard work manifests itself into something glorious. The soldier trains for the purpose of protection. The athlete trains for the purpose of winning. The farmer fields for the purpose of survival. BUT the disciple disciplines himself for the purpose of Godliness. I love what Paul says next in verse 7. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. If Timothy was to faithfully pass the ministry down to others, he had to think the words that Paul just told him. If we are to make disciples we must too think about those same words and pass them down until Jesus returns.

A truly good soldier of Jesus Christ knows nothing about difficulties except as things to be surmounted. If his Master bids him perform exploits too hard for him, he draws upon the resources of omnipotence, and achieves impossibilities. Wellington sent word to his troops one night, “Ciudad Rodrigo must be taken tonight.” And what do you think was the commentary of the British soldiers appointed for the attack? “Then,” they all said, “we will do it.”

So when our great Captain sends, as He does to us, the word of command, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (), if we were all good soldiers of the cross, we should say at once, “We will do it.”

The forth point is discipleship is centered around the gospel. Paul is gospel centered. He intrusted to Timothy the gospel message. Notice in verse 8 that Paul says Remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead, the offspring of David as preached in my gospel. He shows two things in this text 1 Jesus is not dead! 2 Jesus is the promised offspring of David. This is important for Timothy. The Lord is not dead, and he is real person that came in the flesh to live life that you and I could never could live. He died on the cross, and rose again on the third day. Thus showing us that he was Lord even over death. Disciples of Christ can never forget the Gospel, because the gospel is central to discipleship. At times the discipling process will be hard and show little fruit, being reminded of the gospel will help us through those times.

Disciples of Christ can never forget the Gospel, because the gospel is central to discipleship. We could spent hours just on this subject for the sake of time I will move on.

The fifth and final point is true disciples endure to the end. All disciples endure to the end. Paul again brings up his suffering, but notes an important truth GODS WORD IS NOT BOUND, Paul may be bound, but his word is not bound. One day we may be bound but the word of God will never be bound. Part of the reason for making numerous disciples is so we can continue on when others may not be physically able to do so. Paul’s sufferings in this text are an example to Timothy and us that even through suffering we will endure to the end. Look at Pauls proclamation starting in verse 10, he says, “ 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us. 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful for he cannot deny himself.” In verse 10 Paul proclaims that he endures everything for the sake of the elect. He is willing to suffer greatly in order that people may come to know Christ as Lord. As a disciple of Christ we to must take that same stand and prepare to lay our lives down for God’s elect. We do that because we have experienced Christ and salvation that comes in him alone. Knowing that one day we will be with him, and knowing that in him we have true life. A disciple of Christ knows were he is going, and that fuels him for life. The promises found in just text give us reason to pour our lives into other people. It give hope that what we are doing is having eternal impact. Dont be like it says here at end of the text faithless to commission that God has giving to you, be faithful because he is faithful. He has always been faithful, and he will never deny himself. Where are you at today? Are you living your life for the gospel? Are you following the path to become a faithful disciple of Christ? Are you making disciples? Have you brought others along side you and poured into their lives? Are you disciplined? Do you read scripture faithfully? Are you practicing other spiritual disciplines? Is your life centered around the gospel? Do you live in light of the promises of God found in Scripture? If your answered yes to those questions praise God, keep pouring your life into others until the Lord comes or calls you home. If you have answered no get in a discipling group. There are men and women in this church who are ready to invest in you!

So what are we to do as a church? Thankfully the leadership, and elders at FBCN are setting the foundation to see this in our own body. In the Fall we are launching D-Groups. These groups are to consist of 3 to 5 individuals men with men, women with women. The goal is to meet for 1 year, and then reproduce. These groups will be marked with 5 core things. 1st They will all be missional. Living out our lives on mission. 2nd they will be accountable. The accountability will be personal private between one another. 3rd they will be reproducible. The goal is not for one to be settle into this group forever but for everyone to reproduce. 4th they will be Communal. We will have true genuine relationships with one another. 5th they will be scriptural. All D-groups will read and study scripture together. I challenge each and everyone of you to step out be apart of something that will truly change your life. Whether you have discipled many people or never been discipled there will be a group for you. Step out get uncomfortable, and see your life be truly changed.

As we are closing out

8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he also will deny us;

13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself.