Disciple-Making: The Model of Jesus

Have them play the game?

Story of Dawson Trotman and Billy Graham

“I think one of the first things I would do would be to get a small group of eight or ten or twelve people around me that would meet a few hours a week and pay the price! It would cost them something in time and effort. I would share with them everything I have, over a period of years. Then I would actually have twelve ministers among the laypeople who in turn could take eight or ten or twelve more and teach them. I know one or two churches that are doing that, and it is revolutionizing the church. Christ, I think, set the pattern. He spent most of his time with twelve men. He didn’t spend it with a great crowd. In fact, every time he had a great crowd it seems to me that there weren’t too many results. The great results, it seems to me, came in this personal interview and in the time he spent with his twelve.” (Billy Graham)

Story of Milt Hughes

Selection: Prayerfully select a key person(s) to help grow.

Luke 6:13 ESV

And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:

Faithful, Available, Initiative, Teachable, Heart for God

Association: Get lots of time with them

Mark 3:14 ESV

And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach

“More time spent with less people, leads to greater Kingdom impact.”

Weekly Discipleship meeting.

Meals together

Play together

Projects together

Share the gospel together

“Discipleship is more than a weekly meeting, but never less.”

-Robby Gallaty

Consecration: Call them to Discipleship

Luke 5:10–11 ESV

and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Jesus called these guys to follow him for a period of expedited training. He used the Rabbinic style, which was were guys would give themselves full time to learn.

You may not be calling people to dorp out of school or quit there job. But, you need to call them to something, not just hang out. Not even just read the Bible. Eventually, you need to call them up to be trained for impact.

For me, I will usually go to the person I want to train, and share with them that I would like to help them grow in their faith. I’ll ask them to pray and consider being a part of a small discipleship group that meets weekly for accountability, Bible reading and training. And that I will be giving them assignments to help them grow. I will usually give them a few days to pray about it to see if this something they feel led to do.

I think it is really important that the person has a conviction that God is leading them. Otherwise, the person will not value the help you give to them.

In our first meeting I will usually lay out the commitments on paper, which is for all of us (including myself) to prioritize the group meeting time, as well as working hard to do the assignments.

I’ve found that when everyone is fully commited, the group has a sense of energy and excitement. People are growing and learning. But without that commitment, the whole morale of the group seems lazy and half-hearted.

So, I’ve learned that it is better to be upfront about the expectations, even if it means having a smaller group; than to be lax about the expectations and have a bigger group that is not committed.

Impartation: Invest sacrificially

On the job training. Constantly teaching them, making them think and challenging them.

But he also gave of himself. His time, his money, his energy. He gave his life training these 12, and eventually he died for them.

“They saw how their Master denied himself many of the comforts and pleasures of the world and became a servant among them.”

— The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Emerson Coleman

John 15:13 ESV

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

For us, impartation includes teaching them what we have learned, as well as giving sacrificially to those we train.

Discipleship is messy. Often times, those you train won’t realize the sacrifices you make for them right away. That’s ok. I am realizing more and more the cost of the sacrifice others made to invest in me.

Teach them to love God’s Word, hide it in their heart and joyfully obey Jesus. And share your life with them.

Some of you guys got to meet my friend Josh Jenkins over Spring Break at one of our Fire Talks. Josh’s example.

Demonstration: Show them what to do and set the pace

He practiced, “Show and Tell” ministry. He didn’t just tell them what to do, he showed them how to do it.

Jesus set the pace with the lifestyle.

This was everything from how to pray, to how to serve.

John 13:15 ESV

For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

People need a real life example to look too. The Disciple-Maker must set the standard. He must set the pace.

Alot of times people don’t even know something is possible for them, until they see someone who is just one step ahead model it.

Cross Country:

7-8 minute mile

Michael Felkins sub 6 minute

Track Sub 5 minute

As a runner, I needed someone just a little ahead of me to set the pace. Or else I would have continued to stroll at an 8 minute mile pace.

In the same way, people need someone else spiritually to look to. We need men and women who are gaining traction in their faith: Getting into the Word of God, memorizing scripture, actively being a witness for Christ and engaging in fellowship.

Otherwise, all people have is old stories to look to of hero’s of the faith, and they might never consider that they could really make an impact for Christ.

Tommy Carpenter

Delegation: Give them tasks and opportunities

As the disciples grew, he delegated assignments to them in order to gain experience. At first, he gave them simple tasks, such as handing out bread and fish; but then he gave them greater responsibilities. such as going on short term missions trips.

Luke 9:1–2 ESV

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

Give them assignments. This may be inconvenient for you. Alot of times, when you first delegate something, the person does such a novice job, that it it would have been easier for you to do the job yourself. You may think it is counterproductive. And it would be if the goal was just to get the task done. But it is a crucial part of training that they get experience.

When I take guys out to share the gospel, no one is good at it at first. I will first, I’ll just have them watch me. Then, I will have them do something small. Then gradually, they are learning to share the gospel. At first, they are of little help. In fact, the mission may seem slowed down. Instead of me spending time sharing the gospel I am needing to train them and debrief with them. But in the long run. Ohhhh what an impact it makes when they are trained.

And it’s not just in evangelism, it is all sorts of little things. I will often assign one guy to teach another on something he has learned. I could have just tought the other guy. But I would rather let someone else get that experience learning to teach what he has learned.

The goal is to give people assignments that you know they are capable of, but will stretch them just beyond their comfort zone.

Supervision: Help guide, debrief and correct

He looked for teachable moments. He would debrief things with them. Answer questions. Make them think and give them correction.

Mark 8:17 ESV

And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?

This is where watching and giving feedback comes in. Sometimes this means giving correction. If you want to see how humble a man is, give him correction. Proud people hate to be corrected. But someone who is teachable will gain priceless maturity and growth from it. I have learned to love correction. Yes, it stings a little, but the benefits of growth from it last a lifetime!

If I can have one person look into my life, see an area where I need to grow, and give me direct correction about what I need to do differently, that is more valuable than a thousand sersoms. The help that man has given me is priceless.

You take a risk though, any time you try to give correction. The person may get defensive. It is almost always uncomfortable. But, often times they come around and find it so helpful.

Replication: Expect them to do the same with others

The time came though, when the Disciples would be expected to replicate; Jesus had trained them, now it was their turn to train others.

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

So what was Jesus’ plan for reaching the world? The answer… 11 key men.

They would lead others to Jesus, and teach them to obey. Then they would lead others and teach them to obey. And the process would continue.

Making disciples is not just for the full time minister. And it is not just for the one with tremendous leadership ability. We all have different capacities and time limitations. But I think pretty much every Christian can grow in Christ to the point where they can begin training another to follow Jesus.

A student can reach another student. A Business man can reach another businessman. A mom can mentor another mom in how to follow Jesus.

Results are sometimes slow, but if we are making disciples one or two or three at a time; and then keep doing that for the rest of our lives… man that is going to have a huge impact.

What’s your next step?

Accept Christ

Get established in walking with Christ

Help others learn to do the same

Discussion Questions:

Out of the 8 principles of Jesus’ for making disciples, which was most interesting to you?

Out of all the ways Jesus could have chosen to reach the world, why do you think he did it through training a small number of people?

Is there a next step God is putting on your heart?