Called to be a Disciple-Maker

Called to be a Disciple-Maker

Matthew 28:18–20 (NLT)

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Introduction:

A- What is a disciple?

μαθητεύω: to be a disciple of one; to follow his precepts and instructions

A person who follows the teachings of another.

Not just believing what Jesus says, but living by it.

B- What is a disciple-maker?

διδάσκω: to teach one; to impart instruction; instill doctrine into one; to explain or expound a thing; to teach one something

A disciple-maker is a person who wins people to Jesus, teaches those won to obey Him and teaches that disciple how to spiritually reproduce.

I. A DISCIPLE-MAKER’S QUALITIES. (Matthew 28:18a)

Matthew 28:18 (NLT)

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

καὶ προσελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς λέγων· Ἐδόθη μοι πᾶσα ἐξουσία ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς·

A. A definite conversion experience.

(2 Corinthians 13:5)

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT)

5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.

Check to make sure of your own salvation experience.

Ask yourself some personal, penetrating questions.

Can I remember a time when I asked for forgiveness of my sins and asked Christ to save me and be my Lord?

Did this experience produce changes in my attitudes and actions?

B. A growing daily walk with Christ.

(2 Peter 3:18)

2 Peter 3:18 (NLT)

18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

· The disciple-maker can’t help those he is discipling if he is not in a growing daily walk with Christ.

· Ask yourself some diagnostic questions.

o Do I have a daily time when I talk to God and allow Him to speak to me through His Word?

o Do I attempt to put the principles God is teaching me into practice in my daily life?

o Do I see evidence that I am closer to Jesus today than I was a year ago? Two years ago?

C. A genuine desire to see people grow in Christ-likeness.

(2 Corinthians 11:2)

2 Corinthians 11:2 (NLT)

2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.

(Colossians 1:28)

Colossians 1:28 (NLT)

28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.

· Unless you possess a genuine desire to see people grow in Christ-likeness, you will be ineffective.

· Ask yourself some serious questions.

o What is my internal reaction when I see someone trust Christ as Lord and Savior?

o Do I sense excitement when I see other believers growing in their faith?

o Do I really want to be an active part of helping other people experience salvation?

o Do I really want to be an active part of helping other believers grow closer to Jesus?

D. A willingness to invest his life into the lives of others.

(1 Thessalonians 2:8)

1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT)

8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.

· Discipling others does not take place without personal investment of self.

· Ask yourself the following:

o When I think of leading others to Jesus and spending time and energy taking them “under wing” to help them become more like Jesus do I ….

§ Become excited and expectant about what God can do in the process? (or do I)

§ Become resistant to the idea because I don’t want to be that involved?

II. A DISCIPLE-MAKER’S MUST FOLLOW CERTAIN PRINCIPLES.

A. Remember that new believers are spiritual babies.

(1 Peter 2:2)

1 Peter 2:2 (NLT)

2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

(1 Corinthians 3:1)

1 Corinthians 3:1 (NLT)

1 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.

· Their spiritual understanding is limited.

· Their spiritual strength is limited.

· Their spiritual walk might be inconsistent.

· They will need conscious encouragement to follow Christ.

B. Focus initially on teaching the basics of how to have a daily walk with Christ.

(1 Corinthians 3:10)

1 Corinthians 3:10 (NLT)

10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.

· Encourage them to profess Christ openly.

o (Matthew 10:32-33)

Matthew 10:32–33 (NLT)

32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

· Encourage them to follow in believer’s baptism.

o Following the Biblical mandate and example:

§ (Matthew 28:18-20)

Matthew 28:18–20 (NLT)

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

§ (Acts 2:41)

Acts 2:41 (NLT)

41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

§ (Acts 8:35-38)

Acts 8:35–38 (NLT)

35 So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.

36 As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”

38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

· Teach them how to have a quiet time.

o (Psalms 63:1)

Psalm 63:1 (NLT)

1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

· Help them become assimilated into the fellowship of believers.

o (Acts 9:26-28)

Acts 9:26–28 (NLT)

26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer!

27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.

28 So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

C. Follow up by leading the person to pursue a balanced and fully committed walk with Christ.

(Acts 18:24-26)

Acts 18:24–26 (NLT)

24 Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt.

25 He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism.

26 When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.

· Help them to understand that they need to grow in the Biblically balanced way (involving the five purposes).

o Planned for God’s pleasure (Worship)

o Formed for God’s family (Fellowship)

o Created to become like Christ (Discipleship)

o Shaped for serving God (Ministry)

o Made for a Mission (Evangelism)

· Help them to understand that their commitment must be to Christ and His Word (not you).

o (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 (NLT)

4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.

5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

o (Luke 4:8)

Luke 4:8 (NLT)

8 Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

D. Impart the knowledge of how to disciple others to Jesus.

· Help them to see that Christ’s commission to us all is to make disciples, not just believers.

o (Matthew 28:19-20)

Matthew 28:19–20 (NLT)

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

· Help them to see the rewards of Discipling others.

o Joy here and now

o Knowledge of Eternal Impact

o Crown of Rejoicing in Heaven

§ (1 Thessalonians 2:19)

1 Thessalonians 2:19 (NLT)

19 After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you!

Conclusion:

· The work of disciple-making has been patterned for us:

o Jesus discipled the Apostles.

o The Apostles discipled others, who carried on the process.

· One Man’s Testimony:

o Aa a teenager was won to Christ and was baptized.

o A Pastor (Bro. Murphy) and Deacon (John Regland) invested their lives into him, grounding him in the faith, and teaching him to lead others to Jesus.

o Teachers (teacher who gave ride to school, Jerry Terry, Jess Hill) in a Christian school invested their lives in him, paving the way for God to call him to preach the gospel.

o Other people invested in his life (Fred Dyess, T.W. Terral).

o Through his life hundreds have come to Christ and many others have learned to follow Jesus and have grown spiritually.

o He has invested his life in his family and many others resulting in many more coming to Christ and becoming disciples of Christ.

o Only eternity will tell the impact of those who invested themselves in the task of Discipling that young man to Christ.

· You and I are here because of this work through the years. In order for the Lord’s work to continue, we must continue to make disciples.