Making Disciples
II Timothy 2:2 • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Discipleship is a buzzword among Christian leaders. Usually it is equated to a certain week course that church members go through to understand doctrine and philosophy more clearly.
In your church, you have a similar thing where people go through a curriculum in order to get you grounded in the Word.
This is essential in the discipleship process. But discipleship is just that. It is the process of our sanctification. We will never “arrive” as disciples of Jesus.
We must always strive to be more Christlike in following Him. Discipleship is the process of a lifetime. But what is discipleship? How do we make disciples? Who do we disciple?
Tonight I want to answer these questions as we address this topic of making disciples.
What Is Discipleship?
What Is Discipleship?
In order to define discipleship, we must develop a definition of it as it relates to the Word of God. What I did in looking at what discipleship is, I simply did a word study on disciple.
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256 times the word “disciple” is used in the books of Isaiah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts.
It’s interesting, a lot of times when you do a word study in the Bible, if you want to know what a word means one of the places you start in Bible study is the first time it is mentioned in Scripture.
I was surprised to find that the word disciple is found in the Old Testament one time in the KJV. The Hebrew word is used multiple times in the OT, but in this case it is translated as disciple.
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Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
At this point and time, God’s people were acting foolishly. They were rejecting the Word. They were making bad decisions. They were looking to devils instead of God. The Word of God and obedience to it was not even a thought.
But here Isaiah is commanded, “bind the testimony, and seal the law among my disciples.” More than likely this message that Isaiah had was of things to come and was not fully revealed at that point of what would happen.
But this is the point I would like to make. Who was in the presence of this sealing of the law? Isaiah and the disciples. This word “disciples” comes from the Hebrew word lemmuda.
It means pupil; taught, trained. It is translated other places as taught, accustomed, learned, used to. So there are two elements of a disciple I see right off the bat just from this OT mention.
The Word of God plays an important part.
Being a disciple means being one who is taught.
So when you put those two together,
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A disciple is a student of the Word.
It is one who is trained in the Word of God. Let me say it this way. You cannot be a disciple if you are not in the Bible.
Barna came out with a research study last year about Bible usage among adults. Listen to these statistics:
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“Adults who use the Bible daily account for 14 percent of the total adult population, followed by 13 percent who use it several times a week, 8 percent who do so once a week, 6 percent about once a month and 8 percent who use it three to four times a year.” -Barna Research Study, 2018
How can we know how to live for God if we don’t look at His Word? The Bible teaches us how to be disciples. Those who were considered disciples in the Old Testament were so called that because they took God’s Word seriously. They put it into practice.
Transition
So first, a disciple is a student and follower of the Word. But also I found this interesting correlation in my word study, the Gospels particularly, that when the disciples were mentioned, they were usually doing something.
I want you to listen to just a few of many, many of these verses and see if you get the theme.
, the first mention in the NT says:
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
What is the recurring theme? The disciples followed Jesus. What does a disciple do? They follow Jesus! When that word “follow” is used it means to obey. One of the definitions given for this Greek word literally means, “to be a disciple.”
Disciples follow. They obey. You see the recurring theme. They submit themselves to Jesus and His Word.
But I want us to look at one more passage of Scripture before we get to the real practical part of this in making disciples, and I would be foolish to talk about discipleship and not look at this passage.
And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Luke 14:25-
That is a very strong message is it not? Being a disciple could cost you everything, even your own life! So do you still want to be a disciple?
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Disciples take up their cross daily, which symbolizes surrender to the Savior. What is a disciple.
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A disciple is one who is a student of the Word, obeys the Word, and surrenders to the Lord daily.
So now that we have a general idea of what a disciple is, I want us to answer this question:
How Do you Make Disciples?
How Do you Make Disciples?
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The Greek word for “teach” in the first part of verse 19 is the word matheteo. The word used for “disciples” is the NT is the word mathetes. So Jesus commands us to go and make disciples.
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
matheteo
With the rest of my time I want to give you some practical tips of how you can make disciples and obey these clear commands given to us in the Word of God.
You Must Be A Disciple to Make Disciples
You Must Be A Disciple to Make Disciples
You cannot give away what you don’t already have. It’s the equivalent of an unsaved person trying to tell people about Jesus. They are trying to give out something to people that they have not experienced themselves.
-It would be like me trying to sell you something like a weight loss program. I could tell you how great it is. I could tell you success stories. How each recipe should be cooked and when to work out.
-I could tell you the developers name. I could tell you the prices. I could wear a shirt and have a bumper sticker that advertises this product. But how many of you are going to purchase a weight loss program from a fat guy?
Clearly I haven’t used it myself, or I haven’t benefited from it. This is what I’m trying to say. You will not make disciples and teach others, if your life does not reflect that of a follower of Christ.
makes it clear that Paul first had the truth, then he gave it to Timothy, who would then be able to give it to the next guy, who then would be able to give it to the next guy.
As we live the Christian life, and obey the Word of God, we can then teach others how to do the same.
So who do we start with? Let’s say that you are endeavoring the live a life for God. You are following the Lord and obeying His Word. Who do you disciple and teach to do the same?
We Must Invest in the Home
We Must Invest in the Home
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
How did Timothy know this from a child?
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Timothy had godly women in his life that taught him to Bible.
Sadly, there is a breakdown in the average household.
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50% of marriages end in divorce
If memory serves me right, that same statistic does not change in regards to those who claim to be Christian.
Parents are clueless when it comes to raising children. There is a new generation who feels that they are entitled to everything. Hard work is not taught. Manners, respect, are not taught.
It is scary what is being produced in society. Could I challenge you tonight to teach your children and grandchildren how to be disciples? Men, could I challenge you to be the leader spiritually in your home.
You ought to be exemplifying a life that as your wife and children look at you, if they follow your example they will be closer to Jesus as a result.
Take time to teach the Bible. Use everyday conversation to point to the Word. I was talking with my son the other day about a wasp nest. He asked where they all went and I told him I killed them.
He asked if they went to heaven and I said no. Coincidentally I had read that morning about how the creatures God made were made of dust and would return to dust and I tried explaining that hard theological question to my five year old son.
He has an eagerness to learn, and I as his dad ought to have an eagerness to teach. Read your kids Bible stories. Ask them questions. Pray with them. I pray with my son everyday right before he goes to school.
Pray with them before they go to bed. Pray when something is going on in the family. Like, stop everything and pray at that moment. When something good happens, praise the Lord. When something bad happens, praise the Lord and explain that to your children.
Maybe you don’t have children, could I challenge you to find some children around the church and invest in their lives? You have a great opportunity to make a huge difference in some children’s lives.
You can have a big impact on some teenagers lives. You say, “What can I do?” Here’s an idea, invite one of them to lunch after church one day. Of course, get permission first. Take them to McDonalds. Just talk to them.
Ask them about school. Ask them about what they like to do. Get to know them. Then, talk about age appropriate things. Obedience to parents. Importance of submission to authority.
Talk about what you’re reading in the Bible. Ask them what they are reading. Tell them about your life growing up. Invest in this up and coming generation!
If you have a project at the house, involve them, pay them, and teach them how to work hard. Have conversation about life and how to deal with it by the grace of God. Talk about the goodness of God.
That leads me to the next point that:
The Older Must Teach the Younger
The Older Must Teach the Younger
Did you know that this is COMMANDED to happen within the local church?
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
I’m talking tonight to those who are the more experienced in this room. You like how I didn’t say old? You are called to be examples and teachers to the younger within the church.
You play a very significant role within the church. It saddens me how churches are marketing to a younger generation and some want nothing to do with the older generation in their church.
If you say, “Mike, I don’t
It is just as unhealthy for a church to have all millennials as it is for it to have all senior saints. Healthy churches have all generations. The older are called to teach the younger.
Where should parents learn how to raise their children? Where should husbands and wives learn how to stay faithful in marriage? Who should be an encouragement to young couples and families in the church?
The older generation. We like to complain about the millennials, but how did they become that way? Obviously they made their own choices, but could it be linked back to the fact that they have not been taught the right way?
I get tired of hearing people talk bad about the millennials. If you see someone needs help and is way off course, before you complain about them offer to help them.
Before you complain about the new couple that has kids that are off the wall and disrespectful, maybe you could ask them when the last time was they had a date night. Volunteer to watch their kids.
Invest in those kids like you were their grandma or grandpa. Play with them. Teach them manners. Teach them respect. Probably when that young couple has questions, guess who they are going to go to? YOU!
If you are older, find a young family in this church and pour your life into them. Teach them. Don’t be pushy. Don’t give your 2 cents every time you see them. That’s not what I’m saying.
Really is more about modeling something than mentioning something. Display kindness to them. Encourage them. Tell them they’re doing a good job. Light a fire under them and pray for them.
Model faithfulness to them.
-I was teaching a lesson last week to our senior adults about not giving up on serving the Lord. We were talking about staying faithful regardless of where we find ourselves in life.
-I mentioned the how Paul was ready to die with no regrets. A man in our group told me, “Paul found himself in a different role than his usual. He was a missionary. He was preaching the gospel. Now he is in a prison cell.”
-”He wasn’t able to do what he was called to because of persecution. But because he was in that prison cell, God used him to write II Timothy.
You may not be able to do all that you used to. You may feel like you’re in the prison cell in regards to how you can minister. But we would never have that wonderful book of the Bible, if Paul wouldn’t have been in the cell.
Maybe one of the reasons God has placed you in this church is so you can disciple those who are younger. Remember, you can’t give away what you don’t have yourself.
But then I want you to consider this:
You May Make Investments that You’ll Never See the Fruit Of This Side of Heaven
You May Make Investments that You’ll Never See the Fruit Of This Side of Heaven
Jesus heavily invest in 12 men. The multitudes would come, and they would vanish as quickly as they came. When Jesus died, he only had a church of 120 people.
If you were to look in our world today, we would say that Jesus was insignificant in his ministry. What he left behind, having only that many “disciples” and people in the upper room.
But Jesus poured his life into these men. One of those men, Peter, would preach Pentecost, and about 3,000 souls would be saved. Later because of the ministry of Stephen, Paul would be converted.
The Bible says in 6
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
What did Jesus focus on in His ministry? He had a burden for the multitude, don’t get me wrong. But the stories of Jesus often have to do with the individual.
We must have a similar focus. Can Vero Beach become a city full of disciples? Of course it can. But in order for that to happen, we must focus on individuals. Remember the model?
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
You may not see that in your lifetime. You may not see where your investment into people ends up. But stay faithful at it.
-I was just talking to a couple this last week, they are in their 60’s. They were talking about when they were in their early marriage and they wanted to give up.
-Their pastor and his wife would spend hours upon hours with them. Investing and counseling. Probably banging their head against the wall wondering if they would ever get it.
-This went on for a year. Guess what? They’ve been faithful to church ever since. They are an example of faithfulness to their grandchildren. Because someone invested into them.
Pray that God would send you someone to disciple. Teach them the Bible, teach them doctrine, teach them the Christian life, teach them how to endure hardships, teach them how to parent, how to have a good marriage. Teach them faithfulness.
Conclusion
Conclusion
I have some very special people with me here tonight. Bro. John and Miss Sue Conrad.
