The Profound Simplicity of Disciple-Making
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As we transition from I Thessalonians 1:1-5, where I think we begin to see the reasons why this particular local church was such a spiritually healthy local church, as we move on to the next paragraph we begin to see exactly what that particular local church was doing in practical ministry that enabled them to both grow spiritually and reproduce spiritually.
It is one thing to talk about motivation of ministry, or one’s mindset in ministry- but it is really helpful to be able to tangibly put your finger on a specific practice and say- this church was doing this practically and our church isn’t- and maybe this is why there is such a difference in outcomes between our two churches.
When we talk about the doing the Christ commanded task of the Great Commission a lot of the times we get really discouraged. Why is that? Why is it when a preacher gets up behind the pulpit and gives a message on actually doing the Great Commission that sometimes we leave really really discouraged? We leave feeling really really guilty, we leave feeling like failures, we leave with little to no hope? Why?
Part of the reason is the scope or the size of the task of the Great Commission. It’s huge!
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
That’s is a monumental task! We have to reach first and foremost our Jersualem (our local community), then we have to reach our Judaea/Samaria (state/country), then the uttermost parts of the earth! So I have just taken the responsibility to reach 7 billion souls and dumped it on your shoulders. And most of the time I never tell you how you are supposed to accomplish this monumental task- just that you need to be doing it. So with little to no instruction on how, I just dump the combined weight of the souls of the whole world on your individual shoulders and what happens? You walk away feeling discouraged, guilty, like you are a spiritual failure, and you have little to no hope.
Folks, can I just say- God never intended it to be this way. God did not leave us hanging. He actually gave us a way to do the task of the Great Commission in a way that makes sense- we have somehow overly complicated things.
Point-in-case: Matt 5.16
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
When we read Matt 5:16 what kind of light do you picture in your head? More often than not we picture a light on top of a hill and it’s like a mega strobe light reaching out for miles and miles for the whole world to see. When actually the light in Matt 5:16 is probably talking about a small oil lamp with a small flame that would be only big enough to light one small room with light.
God never meant to put the weight of the world on your shoulders. You are not a giant strobe light- you are just a small oil lamp. God never meant for you alone to reach to the uttermost parts of the earth. God meant you for you to shine in your Jerusalem- in your neighborhood, through your local church, and that out of just reaching people where you are at- out of that God will reach your Judaea/Samaria and out of that God will reach the uttermost parts of the earth. But it starts small. It starts with just a little bit of joyful obedience to the imperatives of Scripture- and then out of that God does the rest.
OK, so what does that small start look like? What specifically can we be doing to start accomplishing the Great Commission in our small church in our small community in small Oconomowoc WI?
Let’s start by asking the question what specific actions did the Thessalonians do that enabled them to be spiritually healthy?
And I’m telling you the actual process of implementing disciple making and thus accomplishing the Great Commission is profound- and yet it is simple.
What did the believers in the local church of Thessalonica do differently than we do in our church today?
I. They became imitators of a spiritually mature believer- they Followed One (vv. 5b-6)
I. They became imitators of a spiritually mature believer- they Followed One (vv. 5b-6)
On thing that most or all of the believers in the church of Thessolonica did to become a spiritually healthy church was they personally imitated/followed the example of a spiritually mature believer. They connected their life to another life with the purpose of spiritual growth.
6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
6 Καὶ ὑμεῖς μιμηταὶ ἡμῶν ἐγενήθητε
And you also became imitators/mimickers of us
καὶ τοῦ κυρίου,
and of the Lord,
The key word is in v. 6- “Followers/imitators”
μιμητής- we get our English word mimic from the Greek. It refers to a person who copies the words or behavior of another.
16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.
1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Paul states of these Thessalonian believers- you became mimickers of us. Who is the us? Paul, Silas, and Timothy- maybe more.
And through virtue of imitating these godly men, the Thessalonians also became imitators of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
This was one of the keys to their success. The whole church (you became- addressing all the believers in the church- c.f. v. 1), they all became mimickers of mature believers who were themselves following after Christ- and together they grew spiritually. They became more and more like Christ. Because they were mimicking each other, they were also mimicking Who? The Lord! So through this personal relationship of less mature believers imitating more mature believers they all became mimickers of the Lord.
Notice the context of how this took place-
End of v. 5
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
καθὼς οἴδατε οἷοι ἐγενήθημεν °1[ἐν] ὑμῖν διʼ ὑμᾶς.
Just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake
End of v. 4 Paul states- We know God’s choice of you. How did Paul know that? Because the gospel didn’t come to them in word only, but in power, in the Holy Spirit, and in full assurance. That is what Paul and Silas and Timothy knew of the Thessalonians. What did the Thessalonians know of them?
End of v. 5- “Just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you”
Verb “proved to be” is a to be verb- it is a condition verb- it means to enter or assume a certain state or condition. What condition did Paul enter into the lives of the Thessalonians? He became unto them a mature believer in Jesus. And as we will find out he worked sided by side with the Thessalonians over a period of time, and the Thessalonians saw His example, and Paul proved/he became unto them a life filled with the power of the gospel and the moved by the Holy Spirit, Paul’s life became something they could mimic.
It took time- Paul had to live along side of them.
It took personal interaction- He had to prove what kind of man the gospel had made him to be, as he lived and spent his days with them.
How else did this imitating take place?
Middle of v. 6
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction
Notice that this relationship of less mature believers following more mature believers involves receiving the Word of God. “Having received the WORD in much affliction.”
Not only is Paul proving to be a follower of Christ by his example, but he is also alongside of that, communicating to them the Word- the Scriptures. Like, this is the beauty of the simplicity of this. What did the Thessalonians do differently in their local church that we are not doing that made them such a spiritually health church? They studied the Word together on a person to person basis. That’s it. This isn’t rocket science. Every life in that church was connect to another life, and they start mimicking each other and the Lord, and they started studying the Word together.
What if we started doing that? What if the pastors of this church equipped you the saints with the tools to study the bible together. And what if you connected your life with the life of someone else in this church and you started imitating Jesus together through the resource of the Word of God? Do you think that might encourage spiritual growth in your life?
But Pastor, they had the Apostle Paul! Wouldn’t you like that? Wouldn’t it be great if we had Paul here to imitate and to learn from? Well, it wasn’t an ideal situation for the Thessalonians either.
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction
If you remember back to Acts 17 we know for sure that Paul spent at least 3 Sabbaths in Thessalonica- 3 weeks. He may have spent more time there, we don’t know. But you get the impression that Paul and Silas and Timothy don’t spend a whole lot of time in the city. Because the Jews from the city rose up against Paul and he had to flee.
So Paul says you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the Word, but it was in the context of much tribulation. This is not an ideal situation. But because the biblical model of disciple making was followed- where each believer became mimickers of more mature believers- even in the context of much tribulation spiritual growth took place.
We might not have Paul or Silas or Timothy- but I personally believe that if we just follow the biblical model of disciple making- if we would become imitators/followers- spiritual growth will take place.
Finally, how else did this imitating take place?
with joy of the Holy Ghost:
Why will spiritual growth take place in our local church if we are willing to obey the imperatives of Scripture? There was nothing special about the believers in Thessalonica! They were sinners just as much as we are sinners. But, they obeyed. They followed one- and even in the midst of tribulation there was a joy that was infused in them by the person of the Holy Spirit.
Disciple making is simple- attach your life to another life and study the bible together and become imitators of each other and the Lord. And yet it is profound. Because, as we joyfully obey the commands of Scripture our obedience is supernaturally moved along by means of the Holy Spirit. There is no hope of spiritual health outside of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit does not work outside of the context of joyful obedience to the Word of God.
Why is disciple making in the church profoundly simple? Because you don’t have to shoulder the weight of the souls of the world on your back. Just start by following one other life in your local church- and when you do the Holy Spirit will take that little bit of obedience and bring wondrous joy to your own personal growth in Christ and in the effectiveness of our church for the Great Commission.
Pastor how do we do that?
What did the Thessalonians do?
They became imitators of a spiritually mature believer- they Followed One
What do we need to do? Same thing
We all must become imitators of a spiritually mature believer. Just Follow ONE! That’s it! Start by obeying Scripture and finding one person to follow in your local church in a personal spiritual relationship where you both become better followers of Christ through the Word.
We are in the grass roots of this in our church right now. In our Bible Study Hour- we are learning together the first resource- the first tool- that we are equipping you the saints to do the work of the ministry. And if you want to do this- if you are tracking with me this morning and you see the need to start- to Follow one, then make sure you start coming to our Bible Study Hour. And let’s grow in our understanding of this together.
What did the believers in the local church of Thessalonica do differently than we do in our church today?
They became imitators of a spiritually mature believer- they Followed One
II. They became an example to a less mature believer- They Led One (vv. 7-10)
II. They became an example to a less mature believer- They Led One (vv. 7-10)
7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
The key to this paragraph is v. 7.
7 ὥστε γενέσθαι ὑμᾶς ⸀τύπον πᾶσιν τοῖς πιστεύουσιν
So that you became an example to all the believers
ἐν τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἀχαΐᾳ.
In Macedonia and Achaia
The verse starts with a connecting word- “SO THAT”- and it connects the main idea of v. 7 to v. 6.
In v. 6 the main idea is that the Thessalonians became imitators/mimickers of Paul- and they imitated Paul’s life and by extension they imitated Jesus- they did that so well / so thoroughly- SO THAT (For this reason)- you became examples to all the believers.
Here we see the Biblical idea of spiritual reproduction. They imitated Paul and Paul taught them everything that He knew, SO THAT the Thessalonians could go out into their city and do the exact same thing with other people.
Paul, Silas, and Timothy replicated themselves in the believers in Thessalonica, they equipped them with what they needed- SO THAT they could turn around and become examples themselves to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
The key word in v. 7 is τύπος (example)- a mark made as the result of a blow or pressure, mark, trace. It has the idea of taking a stone out of the ground that leaves a hole that bears the contours of the stone, but in effect the stone has made the impression. The Thessalonians left an indent, they made an impression on the lives of other believers. They became for them a moral pattern of life- an example for others to follow.
12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.
7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,
The Thessalonians imitated the τύπος of Paul and Silas and Timothy- SO THAT they turned around and became themselves a τύπος (they made their mark/indent) on the lives of others.
Who did they influence? Upon whom did they leave their mark?
ALL the believers in Macedonia and Achaia!
Map of Macedonia and Achaia
Verse 8 is a little intimidating and overwhelming if it is not understood in its proper context.
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
For from you the Word of the Lord has been sounding forth
ἐξηχέω- to cause to resound or to be heard, to cause to sound forth or ring out.
It has the idea of a thunderclap, where the noise of the thunder originates in one specific area and then radiates outward for miles in every direction.
Paul is marveling that from them sounded forth / rang out the word of the Lord.
This is a perfect verb- so the word of the Lord has started ringing out at some point in the past and the sound just keeps going- it is continuing to spread- The Word of the Lord has been sounding forth.
This is also a passive verb- meaning the action of the verb is happening indirectly through the Thessalonians believers. This is really really important.
Like I said earlier this verse can be overwhelming and intimidating. Why? Because if you understand this verse out of its context then we all have to become mega strobe lights on the top of the hill don’t we! Our light has to be bright enough to reach all 7 billion souls. The weight of the souls of the world is back on our shoulders.
But, this verb is passive. So the Word of the Lord is going out, it is reaching all of Macedonia and Achaia, and not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place their faith is going forth, but it is not doing so actively through them. Someone else is doing the action of carrying the message of the gospel to the know world. It involves the Thessalonian believers, but only passively. What is going on here? How is the Word of the Lord sounding forth into all of Macedonia and Achaia?
VV. 8b-10
ὥστε μὴ χρείαν ἔχειν ἡμᾶς λαλεῖν τι.*
so that we have no need to say anything!
Get this- this is huge! Paul is saying that passively the Word of the Lord is radiating out from the Thessalonians- and it is reaching everywhere that Paul is going. And it is so effective that when Paul gets to a new city he is finding in that city believers, and when he goes to teach those believers in those cities throughout Macedonia and Achia, he is finding that he does not need to say anything! His job is already done before he gets there, because of the disciple making ministry of the local church of Thessalonica.
What does Paul mean- he has no need to say anything?
9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Why doesn’t Paul have to say anything?
For/Because they themselves (who are they? the believers that Paul is running into everywhere he goes- these believers ) shew or report about us- What do they report?
1. What kind of reception we had among you
1. What kind of reception we had among you
What does that mean?
Entering /Reception- means the act of finding acceptance or to receive a welcome from someone.
Basically- I think the Thessalonians are sharing their testimony with other believers. Now think about this. How did these people become believers? Back to verse 7- the Thessalonians became examples to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. How is this possible? Did they personally do it? NO- remember the verb is passive it happened indirectly. How?
They copied the example of Paul and Silas and Timothy. What did Paul and Silas and Timothy do? They came to town, they worked alongside of the Thessalonians, they gave them the gospel, and they taught them in the faith. So what do the Thessalonians do? They go out into their city and they find spiritually needed people, and they build relationships with them, working alongside of them, and they give them the gospel. And eventually other people start trusting Christ. And then the Thessalonians start teaching them- what do they teach them? The teach them how Paul and Silas and Timothy did the Great Commission. Here is how we learned to do it, we will become examples for you, so that you can go out and do it for someone else.
They didn’t reach all of Macedonia and Achaia by being strobe lights, they were just small oil lamps and they reached people right in their own home town with the gospel. But they didn’t stop there, after giving them the gospel, they reproduced themselves in the lives of other people. They connected their life to a life and taught them all things.
Look at what else the Thessalonians taught these new believers!
2. How you turned to God away from idols
2. How you turned to God away from idols
They taught them what genuine faith really looks like. It is not only about being saved from hell, it is about being saved from sin itself. Real faith produces obedience. And they shared that- we turned to God and away from idols. They taught them the message of Acts 26.18
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Look at what else the Thessalonians taught these new believers!
3. To serve the the living the living and true God
3. To serve the the living the living and true God
They not only turned away from their idols, but they turned to God- and what that looked like was a life of joyful loving obedience. The Thessalonians taught these people that they won to Christ what the practical daily life of being a Christ is really like. It is this wonderful opportunity to lovingly serve Jesus and its like the best thing ever.
4. To wait for Jesus who is coming back from heaven one day
4. To wait for Jesus who is coming back from heaven one day
They taught these believers about the rapture, and the second coming of Jesus, and the eternal kingdom!
5. That God raised Jesus from the dead
5. That God raised Jesus from the dead
They taught them I Corinthians 15- the vital truth of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and all that truth means to a Christian.
6. That Jesus is going to save us from the wrath to come
6. That Jesus is going to save us from the wrath to come
I think this is talking about a pre-tribulational rapture of the saints based on the context of chapter 5- we talk more about that later.
So try to wrap this all in your thinking- Paul is going around Macedonia and Achaia and he is attempting to do the work of the Great Commission, but everywhere he goes he keeps running into believers already established in these areas. And when Paul meets with these believers to teach them about the faith he finds out that he has no need to say anything! He is like out of a job- he can move on. Why? Because the Thessalonians were a disciple making minded church.
They became an example to a less mature believer- They Led One
They became an example to a less mature believer- They Led One
And this is why disciple making is profound and yet simple.
The believers in Thessalonica didn’t lead hundreds or thousands of people to Christ. I think they actually led a small amount of people personally to Christ. Then why did they have such a big impact? They followed the pattern of the Great Commission.
What is the pattern?
Follow ONE / Win ONE / Lead ONE
Follow ONE / Win ONE / Lead ONE
I don’t think the call of the Great Commission ever meant to put the weight of the souls of the world on your shoulders. There is a priority to the Great Commission. First reach your Jerusalem, then your Judea/Samaria, then reach the uttermost parts of the earth.
But the call for you personally is small- your an oil lamp. Focus on what God is calling you to do personally in the Great Commission. And I think we can summarize it with this simple idea.
Follow ONE- just find one believer in you local church that you can imitate. Spiritually healthy people GROW!
Win ONE- pray that God would lead a spiritually needy person into your life. What is we just pray that in our entire lives God would allow us to lead just one person to Christ in our Jersualem.
Lead ONE- then when God brings that spiritually needy person into your life and you win them to Christ, connect your life to their life for the rest of your life and teach them all things that Christ has commanded. Spiritually healthy people REPRODUCE themselves.
Imagine the impact/ the mark we would leave on Oconomowoc if everyone in this church did that- Just Follow ONE, and then when you have opportunity Lead ONE. That’s it! By God’s grace we can do that. It is simple, and yet it is profound. It is profound because God can take our small steps of obedience and multiply it above all that we could ever ask or think.
Penny illustration! Ask a child if they would rather have a million dollars today or a penny that is doubled once a day for a month.
Penny Slide
Folks how did the Thessalonians do v. 8?
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
They Followed ONE, they Won ONE, the Led One
The city of Thessalonica is on the crossroads of a major travel corridor.
Map
Gene L. Green
“The great success of Thessalonica was due in grand part to the union of land and sea, road and port, which facilitated commerce between Macedonia and the entire Roman Empire. No other place in all Macedonia offered the strategic advantages of Thessalonica, a fact not lost on the Christian heralds.”
Via Egnatia
How did the Thessalonians have such a big impact? They Followed, won, led- ONE. The understood they were only pennies, but if they could double themselves- if they could reproduce themselves in the life of just one other person- and they could reproduce- and they could reproduce- pretty soon you have verse 8.
Follow ONE / Win ONE / Lead ONE
Follow ONE / Win ONE / Lead ONE
What did the believers in the local church of Thessalonica do differently than we do in our church today?
They became imitators of a spiritually mature believer- they Followed One
They became an example to a less mature believer- (They Won One) They Led One