Sermon Tone Analysis

Called to be a Disciple-Maker

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Amen.

…”

Introduction:

A- What is a disciple?

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

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

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.

1.

A DISCIPLE-MAKER’S QUALITIES.

A. The disciple-maker must have had a definite conversion experience.

() “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.

Test yourselves.

Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?”

· Check to make sure of your own salvation experience.

· Ask yourself some personal, penetrating questions.

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

o Did this experience produce changes in my attitudes and actions?

B. The disciple-maker must have a growing daily walk with Christ.

() “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

· 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. The disciple-maker must possess a genuine desire to see people grow in Christ-likeness.

() “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy.

For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

() “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

· 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. The disciple-maker must possess a willingness to invest his life into the lives of others.

() “So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.”

· 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?

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

A. Remember that new believers are spiritual babies.

() “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby”

() And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes 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.

() “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it.

But let each one take heed how he builds on it.”

· Encourage them to profess Christ openly.

o () "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

· Encourage them to follow in believer’s baptism.

o Following the Biblical mandate and example:

§ () "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you..”

§ () “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized..”

§ () Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

Now as they went down the road, they came to some water.

And the eunuch said, "See, here is water.

What hinders me from being baptized?

Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may."

And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

So he commanded the chariot to stand still.

And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.”

· Teach them how to have a quiet time.

o () “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.”

· Help them become assimilated into the fellowship of believers.

o () And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.

And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.”

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

() Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.

This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.

So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue.

When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God 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 () “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

o () And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan!

For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’"

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 () "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…”

· Help them to see the rewards of Discipling others.